Potentate is a powerful, evocative word that is biblical, medieval and regal with roots in Middle English, Old French and Late Latin. Potentates make life-altering decisions for billions of people because they are defined as possessing great power or authority, especially a ruler or monarch. It is just a really big important word often used by really big important people and we can thank Boston Red Sox chief executive and part owner Larry Lucchino for bringing it into a sporting context. A little less than a year ago, Lucchino was wearing the smugness of success when he addressed members of the media. His Red Sox had gone from worst to first, winning the 2013 World Series after a horrendous 2012 season. The team had also successfully managed to shed a number of onerous and horrid contracts in the process. Naturally, Lucchino was beaming and could not resist taking a poke at his arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers, two teams that were spending like sailors on shore leave. There is a new potentate in town, a voraciously hungry and over-arching one with more money than Central America "These guys want to win and they want to win now," he said. "Money is not an issue. I suppose potentates in other leagues around the world want to do that too, but it's a different business plan than we have. They don't want to win any more than we do. They're just not as concerned about reasonable spending as we are." Well, hypocrisy is a fantastic word as well and without it there would be no need for opinion merchants because, after going from worst to first and back to worst this year, the non-potentate got very potentatish. The Red Sox began their spending frenzy by throwing US$110 million at Hanley Ramirez and then gave Pablo Sandoval US$100 million, both five-year deals. They then proceeded to offer free-agent pitcher Jon Lester, a guy they had traded midseason to Oakland, a six-year deal for roughly US$150 million. That's US$360 million worth of "reasonable spending". Of course, unless you are a dues paying member of Red Sox nation who has plopped down some serious coin to watch one of their games over the past couple of years, why should you care? It's not your money. And while Lucchino is far from the most endearing figure in New England, if you are a Red Sox fan then maybe you should revel in the fact the owners are spending money to better the team. The question is, are they spending wisely? Lucchino's studious co-owner, John Henry was gushing one year ago as well in a BusinessWeek cover story about how studies have repeatedly shown that players under 30 are underpaid while players over 30 are routinely overpaid. "Yet teams continue to extravagantly overpay for players above the age of 30," he said. Well, guess what? Ramirez will turn 31 this week and has been ravaged by injuries, while the portly Sandoval will be 33 when his contract expires. Lester will be 31 when the season opens, which is even more damning as pitchers tend to break down quicker. According to the reverse psychology the Red Sox brain trust is using, it's probably a good thing Lester turned down their money because, despite Boston's best efforts, the Chicago Cubs signed the ace left-hander to a six-year US$155 million deal that, with incentives, could be worth US$170 million. That's right, there is a new potentate in town, a voraciously hungry and over-arching one with more money than Central America. Lucchino and Henry presided over the Red Sox renaissance that has seen them win three World Series in the past 10 years after going a mind-numbing 86 years without a title. But that is peanuts. The Cubs are entering their 106th season without a championship. They have not even played in a World Series since 1945. They are hungry and cash-flush and are playing in one of America's greatest cities and its third biggest market. They have a decent, youthful roster and are rich with talented prospects who can fetch star players in a trade. They added a colourful and successful manager in Joe Maddon and, most importantly, also employ in president Theo Epstein a prominent architect behind the Red Sox resurgence. But one thing the youthful Epstein did not bring from Boston was the ego. So far at least, he is a straight shooter who will let his feats define his legacy. He is a big reason why the Cubs are fresh and happening and that is a good thing. After all the old, tired, self-serving tripe coming out of the Red Sox potentates, we desperately need a whiff of fresh air.