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What value would you attach to talent? What price would you be willing to pay someone for their dedication? How about for their intensity and even plain old ability? Seriously … take a moment and think about this. If you had spent all or most of your childhood, adolescence and young adulthood training and preparing to do what you love to do (on a professional level) what things would you want someone to consider when they negotiate your salary? Think like a professional athlete for a moment. I think my perspective would have to be explained by showing you what these men and women hear on a pretty regular basis from:
Team Owners:
“Remember now, if you get hurt on the job, there is no workman’s compensation. You are expected to, within reason, get up, shake it off, and keep it moving. Maybe you didn’t sleep well the night before. Who cares? GO TO WORK! Even if a close family member or friend dies, if you are scheduled to work, you will go to work.”
It isn’t just your boss who expects this – he or she is mostly concerned about the thousands of screaming fans in attendance, and possibly millions more watching at home or from various sports bars and other venues. Your team’s owner knows who is going to watch you, critique your performance, take pictures of you at your very worst moment, and plaster these images all over the internet, television and newspapers. He also knows how this will affect the franchise…the brand. You are, after all, a PRODUCT.
Vendors:
“You see, we depend upon you. We are able to make OUR living because of what YOU do. Our clients turn to you for entertainment. We plan major events around what you are doing. We need to sell hot dogs and beer…you can’t let us down now! What will happen to us?”
Endorsers:
“Listen…I need to sell my (insert anything and everything you can possibly think of) and if I put your face on the (insert packaging description), I am sure that my profits will increase! Yes, I will give you a very small percentage of my earnings, but I will complain about it, because you are already making all that money for, I mean … that team is already paying you a hefty salary. I do not care how many expenses you have, I just want to get paid!”
Fans:
“GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME! I can’t believe you dropped that ball! We’re not going to make it to the playoffs this year because of YOU. No home field advantage? What the… What do you mean you have a torn rotator cuff? Suck it UP! All my life I dreamed of playing professional sports…now that I can live through you (since it didn’t work out for me) PLAY THE GAME THE WAY I WOULD HAVE PLAYED IT! What kind of role model ARE you? I want my kids to be able to look up to you! I can’t be a good example as a parent, so I’ve chosen YOU, sports figure, to put on a pedestal and if you do ANYTHING wrong, I will make sure you never play in this league again!”
Granted, if things are going very well for you and your sport, this makes everyone happy and your salary is justified. (Umm…how often does THAT happen?)
Still think professional athletes are overpaid? Tell me what you REALLY think. I’m just sayin…
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I believe they are overpaid… If you love something so much, U should be willingto do it for free… These bums are overpaid and they still want more… Maybe they should try managing their money better…
Did you even read this posting? Haha (and the enterprising Godfather of FB doesn’t do anything for free…)
i do not think athletes are overpayed. if the money is there they should get it. they should get a share of the profits from ticket sales, tv, nba store, etc. and what paula said in her article about dedication and talent. it’s great that they can make a fortune playing sports. praise God. and awesome that some people are actually making a ”living” with what they love to do.
Very good points, guys. The player’s talent IS key. I’m just sayin…
So pleased to enjoy such a insightful post that does not fall back on lame antics to get the point across. Thanks for an entertaining read.
We live in a society that prizes some jobs over others. Athletes, accountants, doctors, entertainers, bankers, etc. the list goes on of people who are paid an awful lot of money. The reason. Happenchance. And you wll also notice that 90% of these people are men. The reason. Sexism. And 90% of those men are white. The reason. Racism. There are many reasons people become very rich. And merit is only one. And a minor one.
This is a touchy topic but can easily be broken down into facts. The sports industry is the fastest growing industry in the US. In fact, it is twice the size of the auto industry and seven times the size of the movie industry. The sports industry estimated size(done by Plunkett Research) in 2008 is $441 billion dollars, yep, with a B. Now whether we love that or not what that means is that inside the gates of the sports industry is a flow of cash that runs in the billions. Who should pocket the cash? That can be argued but what can’t be argued is that all sports business activities including the game surrounds the player’s talent. If one hones a talent and gets into that industry and impacts the game to the point where they are bringing fans to their respective stadiums, what should that player’s percentage of that cash pile be? Moral issues are another subject altogether, we are talking industries here. When and if the white house is able to sucker people to pay to see them banter over a bill then we can compare. If the athletes do not get there equitable cut from the industries pie then I fear we have regressed back to the beginning of our gilded age.