Posted by SamLowry at cdm-66-12-131-tyrd.cox-internet.com on February 13, 2003 at 12:35:51:
In Reply to: Re: Poll - My answers posted by on February 13, 2003 at 12:23:22:
: -I am pretty sure that I heard that Hockey players salaries are about 78% of the total revenue, as opposed to the roughly 60% that baseball players get. My stats may be old, who knows.
Whatever it is, it's way too much.
: -One thing to keep in mind too, is that these atheletes are NOT paid to play sports. They are paid to sell tickets, food, clothes, tv contracts, etc. You shouldn't be sick. Jealous maybe, but sick, no.
They ARE played to play the sport. The other merchandising comes along after they are proven "popular" among the fans.
Sports figures are put on a pedestal in high school and given everything on a silver platter. Kid has trouble reading? Can't pass math? Doesn't matter: the son-of-a-bitch sure can score those touchdowns/hit those homeruns/make those jumpshots. Kids see the salaries these people are making, and if they have the slightest athletic ability, everything else takes a back seat.
It infuriates me that players of sports (and some actors, too, let's be fair -- does someone REALLY do $20 million worth of acting for a picture?) are paid multimillion dollars for it, while teachers, librarians, and other people who actually accomplish things to help people in this country are paid squat. Policeman and firefighters who put their lives on the line daily are being denied pay increases. Teachers will do far more to influence and help the youth of America than, say, Emmitt Smith or Mark McGwire. I'm sorry, but it's true. And while the sports figures have their money guaranteed, the teachers are working 60-80 hours a week and getting bugger-all to show for it.
Jealous? Never. Sick, yes.