IF I WERE TO ASK EACH OF YOU "DO ATHLETES MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY" I THINK I COULD PREDICT YOUR ANSWER.
I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
WHEN PLAYERS ARE SIGNED, TRADED OR SOLD THEIR CONTRACTS ARE OFTEN EITHER ANNOUNCED OR LEAKED TO THE PUBLIC.
I GENERALLY HEAR THE RESPONSE "NO ONE IS WORTH THAT MUCH MONEY".
MAYBE YOU HAVE SAID THAT VERY THING.
THE ANSWER IS NOT SIMPLE OR IS THE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN.
BASEBALL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
AMERICANS LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S A GAME, A SPORT AND A PASTIME.
BUT IT IS ALSO A BUSINESS THAT BRINGS IN OVER 7 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S A SPORT WHERE PLAYERS WITH EXTRAORDINARY SKILL AND TALENT CAN EARN DOLLARS THAT YOU AND I CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.
THE LOWEST PAID PLAYER EARNS A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON AND THE HIGHEST PAID AROUND 25 MILLION.
THAT AMOUNTS TO 500 TIMES WHAT A TEACHER, COP OR FIREMAN EARNS.
AND SO WE ASK IS IT FAIR?
THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ANY MORE THAN IT IS ABOUT ACTORS, TV STARS, OR ROCK STARS FOR THAT MATTER.
NO ONE EVER ASKS ME WHETHER TOM CRUISE MAKES TOO MUCH OR KATY PERRY IS WORTH THE DOUGH SHE GETS.
WE SEEM TO LOOK AT ATHLETES DIFFERENTLY.
PART OF THE ANSWER IS THE USE OF AGENTS LIKE SCOTT BORAS WHO HAS NEGOCIATED SOME OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS IN THE BASEBALL.
WE ALL REMEMBER THE 250 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL HE GOT FOR ALEX RODRIGUEZ WITH THE YANKEES.
EVEN EVERYDAY PLAYERS EARN MILLIONS.
THE COMMON SENTIMENT OF THE AVERAGE PERSON IS THAT THE ATHLETE IS OVERPAID.
THAT IS TO SAY THEY ARE PAID MORE THAN THEY ARE WORTH BECAUSE WE COMPARE THEIR WORTH TO TEACHERS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS OR SERVICEMEN.
BUT THEIR AGENTS COMPARE THEM USING ANOTHER STANDARD.
THEY COMPARE THEIR CLIENTS TO WHAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE FRANCHISE IN TERMS OF GATE SALES, TV REVENUE AND MEMORABILIA.
SO THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER TO THE PREMISE THAT ATHLETES EARN TOO MUCH.
COMPARED TO A TEACHER YES.
COMPARED TO WHAT THE OWNERS RECEIVE FOR THEIR SERVICES NO.
YET 87 PERCENT OF PEOPLE SURVEYED SAY THAT ATHLETES ARE OVERPAID.
SO MAYBE WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE QUESTION FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.
IT REALLY DOESN'T COME DOWN TO WHAT A FAN THINKS ABOUT AN ATHLETES VALUE BUT WHETHER HIS EMPLOYER THINKS HE IS WORTH THE MONEY.
FANS ARE THE ONES WHO ATTEND AND FOLLOW THE GAMES BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO WRITE THE CHECKS.
SO ULTIMATELY IT'S THE OWNERS WHO REALLY DECIDE TO PAY THE HUGE AMOUNTS TO THEIR STARS.
IT'S THE SAME AS ANY OTHER SUPPLY AND DEMAND BUSINESS AND THAT'S WHAT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ARE.
BUSINESS!
THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF US LIVE A DREAM.
WE WISH WE COULD PLAY THE GAMES WE DID AS CHILDREN AND BE PAID THESE HEFTY CONTRACTS THAT THE ATHLETES EARN.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO GRAB OUR GOLF CLUBS AND HEAD OUT TO THE COURSE AND EARN ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS LIKE TIGER WOODS.
MY PROBLEM WITH THE HUGE SALARIES HAS NEVER BEEN THE AMOUNT.
IT HAS BEEN HOW CERTAIN STARS HAVE TREATED THEIR GOOD FORTUNE TO BE SO TALENTED AND FORTUNATE.
IN MY MIND, IF ATHLETES WANT TO BE REWARDED WITH FAME AND FORTUNE THEN THEY SHOULD BE POSITVE ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR ADORING PUBLIC.
THEY SHOULD PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ASPIRE TO BE JUST LIKE THEM.
THE HIGH SALARIES PAID ARE JUST PART OF THE SYSTEM OF OUR SOCIETY.
JUST REMEMBER IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE HIGH SALARYS THEN JUST STOP WATCHING, ATTENDING AND BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS.
IN THE END IT'S THE SPORTS FANS WHO REALLY DECIDE TO PAY THOSE SALARIES.
THIS IS GEORGE HALE WITH MY PERSPECTIVE ON SPORTS.

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