When an athlete comments on how much they love a particular place and says that they don't want to leave, then turns around and takes more money someplace else, they should not be expected to be seen as a returning conquering hero when they get back to their previous home town city.
You the athlete can control your own situation. I don't blame you for taking more money, but I do blame you for talking about how much you want to stay and then you leave anyway.
That is why you get booed upon returning and a player that gets traded to another team will be cheered when they return because that situation was out of their control.
For specific examples, see Kenny Lofton during the 1997 All-Star game when he came back after being traded to Atlanta. He got a standing ovation. For the other side, witness Jim Thome and Johnny Damon. They both said they wanted to stay and then took more money to go elsewhere and got booed when they came back.
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