I'm going to continue this subject from the former Steve McNair thread due to the fact that the conversation went off topic to a more serious discussion. Going from the death of a football star to the salary of "undeserving athletes" that people say they are.

First of and for most in the situation is that the consumers drive the market.

It is the fans that make the league more money. The more money they make the more that can be distributed throughout the league (which makes salary caps). In an organization like the NFL, MLB, NBA and so on, they try to bring in the best of the best around the world. The better their team, because of these drafted players, the more they win. The more they win, the more popular they will be. The more popular they are, the more consumers they have obtained, and lastly the more consumers brought in, the more money that there is made. So, when a player is given a high sum it is because many other club teams wanted them and are willing to out bid the competition. That leads to high salaries for players. Now, to say that professional sports don't help society at all, so it's a bad profession that is undeserving. That is incorrect. How many other jobs are created because of the major organizations? Hundreds! From people that work at the stadiums, to people that work for companies that make products for fans to use/consume. How much more are soda, beer, chips, dip, meat, clothing companies, shoes companies and so on and so forth making because of these athletes making a simple sport so exciting to watch?

Away from the money making, how many programs are created because of sports, I'd say there are many. They also get people to strive to better themselves, which involves them physically and their character. It also has people strive to use their abilities to get a free education. It gives people a reason to live. Brings people together, but it also divides, BUT ONLY in a good sportsmanship manner. These athletes that are "over-paid" do more than just play the game. They are role models for the youth and above even.

All in all. Professional Athletes help society in many more ways than people may think. And it is not logical to relate their job to other jobs because the other regular jobs out there aren't in an industry that makes money by the millions and if they are, there are many more employees out there for that business when the Pros is limited.

Professional Athletes are paid accordingly and there, I believe, leaves no arguement.

I can understand where you are coming from. I mean the audience does play a big role in athletes paychecks just like with TV shows, and Movies, and so on. Your also right that it is a completely different market and the way it works is a lot different then average jobs is my guess. But I do still think they get too much money just like any celebrity. Too much money = mansions for houses, 50 cars in your garage, and so on.

But they put their bodies on the line, careers on the line, and constantly train and travel so they miss a big chunk of their life if they have a family.

Plus their careers are shorter, don't athletes retire pretty young? Like in their 30's / 40's. So I guess it could equal out to normal people in the end but it would be great if others got paid higher amounts, because after all it is the fans who make their paychecks great even if they can barely afford a ticket.

They should do charity games every now and then because I feel there is a big gap. Or atleast give back to the fans by giving away $1000 or something each game it could help the little folks out.

They give back in many different ways. Different organizations do different things and different individuals do many different things as well. A lot aren't commercialed but they are out there. Google 'em I'm sure many won't be hard to find.

One instance was Ladanian Thomlinson and the chargers gave out 10,000 turkeys for Thanksgiving. That is just one example. It's not entirely a selfish organization.

Not all athletes give back, though. And how is it reasonable that baseball players can make over $24 million in one year? Are they even going to use most of that money? Of course not. If you can live comfortably off of half of a player's salary, then the person is overpaid. Baseball players aren't even really putting their bodies out on the line, either. Baseball may have the longest season, but it's the least strenuous sport.

No one in this world needs more than $100,000 a year to live. Anything more than that is just fun money.

And most people don't even need that much money. I agree that it is ridiculous that people can earn that much money in a single year.

However, I am a capitalist and if you can earn more than you need I say go for it.... but think about how you spend it. No one needs 25 cars, or a 5000 square foot home etc etc. Or 6 homes all over the world....

Is it correct that you get into a business that you love and let alone the best place to make more money? These athletes do what they love, they out compete people across the globe, not anyone could be a professional athlete.

Yes, baseball players get paid the most, but it is because they play more games, it is tough too. Constantly traveling and competing the next day, changing time zones all the time. Getting traded around having to move.

It is true that some are selfish with their money but there are more that aren't. They donate into nearly every program they can.

On another note, a lot of the athletes use most of their money on medical bills and they get taxed far more than the average American.

If you were getting paid that much money would you say you got too much? Or say you got paid accordingly to your worth in the Organization. I don't think people know how much money the league really makes, they put money everywhere across the globe yet they still can make a lot themselves. All because of us...the fans. Without us, they would get nothing. I say, if you think they don't deserve what they get...don't turn on the TV and watch them. Don't buy anything involving sports. Don't go to a game.

Originally posted by Cookieman003

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It is true that some are selfish with their money but there are more that aren't.

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That isn't true at all. Generally, players pick a bigger paycheck over staying with the same team regardless of which team is better

Originally posted by Cookieman003

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On another note, a lot of the athletes use most of their money on medical bills and they get taxed far more than the average American.

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Most? They don't get hurt so much that they are constantly in the hospital. And those surgeries they get certainly don't cut their pay checks in half. And the reason they get taxed higher is because they A) make far more money B) can afford to be taxed higher

Originally posted by Cookieman003

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If you were getting paid that much money would you say you got too much?

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Well if I were a pro athlete, I'd take a large pay cut to play with my home team or a team I like. I wouldn't take the ridiculously large contract offered by the Cowboys over one half the size from the Eagles. What I'm saying, is that I wouldn't take some insane contract just because I could have the money. Even not being overpaid, an athlete could and will still make tons of money anyway

Only to get their worth in the league. It is the more seasoned vets that could care less on what they get and it happens to be that most of the starters are vets.

And yes, medical treatment is common. An athlete retires in their 30's and 40's sometimes even in their 20's because of the pound they take on their joints, more so on football players. People that aren't dedicated athletes don't understand the pains pros, and even avid athletes, face for the rest of their lives because of their sport. And dur because they have more money they get taxed more, but it makes that sum they get a whole lot smaller.

I also said, people don't get too much, they just get their worth in the league. The money thrown around the league is gonna be big regardless, the minimum pay in the NFL is set at $360,000. If the players didn't get the money, where else would it go? You think they should just give away money in the millions just because their business is successful? I don't see McDonalds or Walmart doing that.

Also, I love the Cowboys.

EDIT: I guess are you saying that they get too much but it's not a bad thing?

But people don't get paid their worth. The problem, is that some people feel they're worth more than they are, get paid a lot of money, then play like crap. 2 examples: Samuel Dalembert and Adam Eaton. Both players got huge contracts only to play poorly, and that happens a lot.

And even thought the money they get is smaller, it's still A LOT.

And what I'm saying, is that athletes as a whole get a lot of money without being overpaid, and that's fine. But many athletes still are overpaid, and being overpaid is a problem

I can almost agree with you but I don't understand why it is a problem. There are bad investments and good investments and lot of investments get better over time. But that being over paid is a problem? Where would the money go?

Originally posted by Cookieman003

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I can almost agree with you but I don't understand why it is a problem. There are bad investments and good investments and lot of investments get better over time. But that being over paid is a problem? Where would the money go?

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I have an idea about where the extra money could go, back to the fans. Most of the mechandise that are sold are quite expensive. Or it could be spent to send the team on training away from their usual grounds (ie a team building/boot camp). Just some ideas.

The only problem with that it seems like their business isn't for themselves. What is it? I business for they work in to make money for other people? I'm not gonna work at a fast food place to just give to other people. The money is far more than a fast food place of course but my point stands that the money they make is from a successful business. The fans are the ones using their money, they know where it goes. They know the prices, yet they are still willing to fork out their money whether they are rich or poor. It's the choices of the people that make these athletes salaries and I'm sure they want it to go to the people they watch. Not the team owners.

Originally posted by Cookieman003

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It's the choices of the people that make these athletes salaries and I'm sure they want it to go to the people they watch. Not the team owners.

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Unfortunately as it is a business the team owners do make a majority of the money. The players only get a percentage of it.
Also I've never baught a shirt hoping that it attributes to my fav player's salary. I baught it because it has a logo/slogan I like and is the colours of that team.

Well that just comes to show you that if anything in this business the owners get paid too much, not the athletes. Another thing, you bought something the League created, so you contributed regardless of your intensions.

That doesn't mean that the athletes don't, just that owners do just as much. If owners and athletes weren't overpaid, maybe tickets to NFL games would be AFFORDABLE for me and my family. I've only been to one game, and it was before the Eagles were good (it was in '98 I think). We can't spend money on such expensive tickets now

Well are not a dumb business, they will put the prices where they are right enough to the point where people can still buy them, of course not all are willing to pay them. But more are. They can't worry about a few. Not everyone will ever be happy. I don't understand how people can whine about a professional athletes salary. It's their money, they can make that money regardless. There is so much money its rediculous. But they can't just go throwing it out on the streets. There are programs, there are donations. There are many good things and guess what they still have tons more! Sorry to people that have a negative opinion on the salary but that's how it is.

I agree with Cookieman in general, that athletes aren't really overpaid cause that would be like saying that anyone in the entertainment industry is overpaid. Actors get paid much more than athletes, while most actors go through nowhere near the physical strain that athletes do. A major concern of mine is that sports may have gone the way of music where people are getting into it for the check and not the love of the game.
One thing that I always think about though is that Olympic athletes dedicate their lives to their sports, training rigorously and (with few exceptions) get little to no recognition and they work like everyone else. I wonder where are these peoples 100,000 dollar contracts?

I'm probably the last person to talk on this subject since I don't watch sports much , but i thought I would drop my two incoherent thoughts .

Now Olympic athletes are well underpaid. They work so hard and they really don't get more that a little recognition. Also, actors are WAY overpaid. The behind-the-scenes people do most of the work and get far less money for it

People aren't going to watch a movie because of a camera man. They go for the actors, they pay who's wanted more really.

Well without a good camera man you can guarantee any movie will stink, for example... blair witch the camera work on that was enough to make any person puke.

The people behind the scenes are what make it great without them the product would most likely blow. I as well as other people see movies because of the behind the scenes names like Stephen Spilberg or Stanley Kubrick and so on. Actors are only a small part of it's success. You can put any big name actor in a movie, if the plot sucks, and the people behind the scenes fail to do their best then you got garbage no matter how good of acting is done.

People behind the scenes do a lot more work then the actors, they spend over a year polishing it up marketing it and getting it out there.

I do agree with you but I think people put too much glorification into actors, like Obama for instance. I don't care what he or any other candidate says, it's the people behind the scenes that make the changes and sell a product, and do most of the work. The people who market him, all the press, in reality, if it wasn't for those two things he would have failed. Actors are just the frosting that's all That's my opinion...