should athletes get paid what they do?

Should they get paid? Yes. But IMO they get too much for what they do. But then again the paychecks they receive are that ridiculously high because the demand is there.

I feel there is absolutely no reason on the face of this planet that they should receive the amount they do. 42 million for a 4 yr contract? 32 million plus sponsorships for 5 yrs. :banghead these amounts are just ridiculous. If their pay was split in half and then added together I am sure it would be a nice chunk of change that could and should go to something worthwhile, like the national deficit, or american education etc.

Yes, but not the OUTRAGEOUS amounts that the do get paid. They make the organization MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars for doing what they do well......

they should have to earn most of their money, like golf and jockies.

Here is my thing with it, these guys are getting paid a ludicrous amount of money to do what they (assumingly) love to do. I think it sucks, most people work at jobs they don't love and in some cases are better for the world and get paid fractions of cents to their dollars.

They get paid WAY TOO MUCH IMO...especially since they are supposed to LOVE what they are doing...its sports...what most people do in their free time for fun!

Don't get me wrong I understand that they make alot of money because some of them bring in a lot of money (people wanna watch them) But I get so irked when they think they need MORE money...like 2.5 mil a year is chump change to them!

I understand that their career life expectancy is low. I also understand that the years they would be off at college or starting a career are spent in sports. So they need to have enough money to suplement their inability to work a normal job. I understand that their job comes with many health risks. I feel they should be compensated. But with all that said, I do think they make too much. I think making over 10M a year is a bit crazy. But I pretty much think that no matter what you do for a living.

I don't think they should be making that much. What urks me is that if you town has a good time you can't go to a game because the ticket price is sooo damn high, which it has to be high because they are paying 10 million a year to one person. :no

We as fans control their earnings. The prices are high for tickets because they can be. Fans still go, we still buy thier products, and we still tune in to tv to watch them. As long as there is "business" they will continue to earn crazy amounts of money.
In most cases these men and women have been working HARD for most of their lives to get to where they are. They have "climbed ranks" just like each one of us. They just chose a path that leads to more money. Much like actors and actresses.
Though they work in a job they love there is much more to professional sports than just a two hour game twice a week.

I feel there is absolutely no reason on the face of this planet that they should receive the amount they do. 42 million for a 4 yr contract? 32 million plus sponsorships for 5 yrs. :banghead these amounts are just ridiculous. If their pay was split in half and then added together I am sure it would be a nice chunk of change that could and should go to something worthwhile, like the national deficit, or american education etc.


It's a question of supply and demand. The marketable skill is the talent; they're doing sometihing that comparatively few others in the country can do at that level. If it was easy, we'd all be doing it.

Considering that any of them are /this/ far away from a career-ending injury at any given moment, and even then they're usually only making that kind of money for a few years, those numbers aren't as big as they sound. The smart ones (like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods) make their money off endorsements, because they can continue to be in the public eye many years after their playing career is over.

It's a business. The money they make is a direct result of their ability to produce: that is, to win.

They get paid way too much money. Yes they could have a career ending injury anytime, however so could the average person if you think about it. There is no need for them to make as much money as they do.

Just to play advocate, I grew up around sports. My Dad was team doctor for many of the teams here in Tampa (Lightning, Storm, Mutiny etc etc) and some of these guys have made football, baseball etc their careers. This only lasts so long. They aren't going to play forever and many of the injuries are very disabling to the point they can't work. I don't see the issue if the demand is there for them to get paid that much. It's no different than everyone else famous in the world.

I just read that A-Rod makes more than the entire Florida marlins team! EEK!

Way to much pay IMO
"people do that sport for free on the weekends and they dont take steriods " -foamy :P

Supply and demand. That's what it's all about. People love sports and are willing to pay a lot for merchandise and watching games, the athletes supply them with that entertainment. I think it's stupid personally, but they're giving the people what they want so they're entitled to the money they earn from them I figure.

While I think that they make too much, I think that this is more of a reflection on the people who pay to watch athletes, not a reflection on the athletes themselves.

And yes, watching TV is paying the athletes... You're watching advertisements, which turns into money for the advertiser (if ads didn't make money, there would be no point in them), which then pays the athletes.

If you don't think that athletes should be paid as much, then stop watching them play. As for me, I'm going to keep watching the Diamond Backs play, and I'll even go to a few of their home games whenever I can. ;)

While I think that they make too much, I think that this is more of a reflection on the people who pay to watch athletes, not a reflection on the athletes themselves.



:tu


Which is why you'll never seeing me watching any type of sport. :lol

They get paid WAY TOO MUCH IMO...especially since they are supposed to LOVE what they are doing...its sports...what most people do in their free time for fun!

Don't get me wrong I understand that they make alot of money because some of them bring in a lot of money (people wanna watch them) But I get so irked when they think they need MORE money...like 2.5 mil a year is chump change to them!

:agree seriously!

:tu


Which is why you'll never seeing me watching any type of sport. :lol

Okay, that's your choice. But do you watch TV? Do you think Britney Spears deserves to make as much money as she makes? Do you rent/buy CDs? Movies?

It's their job, and they're only getting paid what the market will bear.

I don't get these types of arguments. Who should the money go to then? The owners? Managers? Coaches?