Professional athletes

[RationalThought110]

Why do the majority of them receive salaries in the millions?  Also, why do they get pensions after retirement? 

Maybe they should be singled out and taxed higher to pay for the liberals social programs.

Lance Briggs is complaining that Chicago won't offer him more than $7 million per season.  That's near the top in the NFL and for his position. 

[RationalThought110]

Any opinions? 

[Ehud]

They receive those outrageous salaries because sports are very high on Americans' priorities.  They make big  bucks because sports makes big bucks and athletes are in high demand.  Millions of Americans watch sporting events religiously and pay exorbitant prices for tickets and sporting memorabilia.  I don't agree that they should be singled out and taxed higher.  Why do they deserve to be taxed higher while a garden variety millionaire doesn't?  Seems arbitrary and unfair to me. 

[RationalThought110]

They receive those outrageous salaries because sports are very high on Americans' priorities.  They make big  bucks because sports makes big bucks and athletes are in high demand.  Millions of Americans watch sporting events religiously and pay exorbitant prices for tickets and sporting memorabilia.  I don't agree that they should be singled out and taxed higher.  Why do they deserve to be taxed higher while a garden variety millionaire doesn't?  Seems arbitrary and unfair to me. 

What I mean though is, why should there be professional athletes who get way overpaid?  Some players underperform after they sign big contracts. 

After some NBA players play in the league for a year or two, they really won't need any more money. 

[Dr. Dan]

All due respect, the majority of athletes put their physical bodies to the ultimate limit.

To what purpose?  Well, I do agree that it is to no purpose but to win games and entertain people.  I think our soldiers who put their bodies and life to the ultimate shoudl be getting salaries and pensions like the athletes..well not that hight.

Or the doctors and teachers who put their brain, heart and time in saving lives and teaching.

Or police officers and firemen who risk their lives to save others.

but athletes shouldn't work for free and deserve a good salary...not sure what good means..but yes 21 million a year is ridiculous...

[Trumpeldor]

It doesn't bother me. Their careers are short and they have a talent. Teaching 5th grade math may be important, but it is not as rare a commodity as being able to dunk a basketball. Supply and demand, my friend.

[Dan]

OK, I agree they should receive bigger salaries but not millions $$$... I think that some of these athletes are people from the sewers of society and having that much money only influences more garbage to follow in their footsteps, hence what is going on right now! We have all sort of athletes arrested for crimes and all the young kids wanting to be in their shoes.
It's sick !
The Elitist in the US want to keep average folks dumb down and illiterate  without any morals for it's much easier to control a society of morons, than one of thinkers and spiritual beings. Thank G-d for JTF !

[Trumpeldor]

OK, I agree they should receive bigger salaries but not millions $$$... I think that some of these athletes are people from the sewers of society and having that much money only influences more garbage to follow in their footsteps, hence what is going on right now! We have all sort of athletes arrested for crimes and all the young kids wanting to be in their shoes.
It's sick !
The Elitist in the US want to keep average folks dumb down and illiterate  without any morals for it's much easier to control a society of morons, than one of thinkers and spiritual beings. Thank G-d for JTF !

I don't think we have any place to tell athletes what they can/should make. Most athletes are not arrested for crimes. When they are, it is big news, and gives the impression that all of them are troublemakers.

It's true that the media portrays them as role models at the expense of real role models. Still, why hold the athletes accountable? I don't believe they owe society anything.

[Zvulun Ben Moshe]

Russians used to have free of charge chess clubs for the youth. That's where the nation's intellectual power was growing, and not in football clubs.

[Masha]

It doesn't bother me. Their careers are short and they have a talent. Teaching 5th grade math may be important, but it is not as rare a commodity as being able to dunk a basketball. Supply and demand, my friend.

Having a talent for teaching is also very rare. I'm telling you as a non-talented person who had some experience teaching.

[Masha]

Athletes are modern gladiators. I have objections to today's "big sports" on moral grounds. You can always tell when society is in the state of decline and decadence - it is when sports occupy culturally central position and become a craze, and athletes become heroes. Soldiers should be heroes. And culture should center around religious ritual and high-quality arts. The proper place for sports should be on a local level, such as competitions between streets or neighborhoods. There shouldn't be such a thing as professional sports. Sports should be participatory and amateur.

[newman]

I know all about supply and demand but it breaks my heart to see these illiterate, drunken, pack-raping cement heads earning in a week what would take a cop 4 years to earn.

[TheCoon]

I know all about supply and demand but it breaks my heart to see these illiterate, drunken, pack-raping cement heads earning in a week what would take a cop 6 months to earn.

I'll agree that it's terrible but unfortunately it's something we gotta live with because the alternative is socialism.

[Dan]

I agree with you Masha, just look at the Greek and Roman empires how they collapsed over time.
Once people get comfortable and don't care anymore this is what happens.
I played college basketball here and Europe(Serbia) so I know and understand this.
I love to play and brings me joy to go out there and compete, but I played for Free not millions $$$. Most of the players are of the lower IQ and should NOT be looked upon as anything more than what they are modern day Gladiators...
They should not be given MORE money, They should NOT be given a platform to speak for anyone, and most definitely they shouldn't be looked upon as role models. They are just AVERAGE joes that are physically cabable to do more than AVERAGE.

[RationalThought110]

Alex Rodriguez, who receives the highest salary in baseball, has bonus in his contract for making the All-Star game and for being a starter in it--a combined $300k.  The highest paid player shouldn't need any incentives. 

[RationalThought110]

It doesn't bother me. Their careers are short and they have a talent. Teaching 5th grade math may be important, but it is not as rare a commodity as being able to dunk a basketball. Supply and demand, my friend.

Don't buy that excuse that their careers are short.  Now, all retired players in the team sports, receive a pension after they retire. 


Anyone know what typical salaries were in the NFL 30 years ago?  Some retired players are claiming they can't afford health-care.  Last week, they were complaining to Congress--I'm not sure why Congress should have anything to do with that.    If any of the current players made this statement though, it would definitely be a lie. 

[RationalThought110]

Latrell Sprewell--the basketball player who tried to coach--retired from the NBA because he claimed $7 million per year wouldn't be enough to feed his family. 

[RationalThought110]

Athletes are modern gladiators. I have objections to today's "big sports" on moral grounds. You can always tell when society is in the state of decline and decadence - it is when sports occupy culturally central position and become a craze, and athletes become heroes. Soldiers should be heroes. And culture should center around religious ritual and high-quality arts. The proper place for sports should be on a local level, such as competitions between streets or neighborhoods. There shouldn't be such a thing as professional sports. Sports should be participatory and amateur.

Pat Tillman is a hero.  Unlike many professional athletes who are so greedy over contracts--I mentioned in the beginning of the thread how a player in the NFL says $7 million per year isn't enough for him--Tillman turned down millions to leave the NFL and serve the country. 

At one point in his NFL career, Tillman turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from the St. Louis Rams out of loyalty to the Cardinals.

Tillman turned down a contract extension offer of $3.6 million over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army.

[Dan]

RationalThought110 , I completely agree with you!
There was an appeal by some of Pat's friends and family to have him inducted  into the NFL Hall of Fame, the motion was rejected because he didn't have enough stats to qualify! That's bull S__ , HE HAS STATS THESE OTHER BABOONS WILL NEVER HAVE!