Recently Michael Jordan wanted to de-certify the union of the NationalBasketball Association, because he felt he could never make what he was worthunder the current agreement. Michael Jordan had an estimated income of $33million in 1994.
Last year, Major League Baseball players went on strikebecause they felt the deal that the owners were proposing was unfair. Theminimum salary for a major league player is $119,000. For the first time inninety years, there was no post-season baseball, and no world series. EricTurner was designated as the Cleveland Browns franchise player.
He thenproceeded to hold out during spring training, because he knew he could get moremoney then his current $2. 15 million dollar contract. At one point in everyathletes life, there is nothing they would want to do more than play their sport,not because it fattens their wallet, but because they have a true love for it. At what point does the athlete lose the love and gain the greed?The NBA has become the land of the guaranteed contract. These players wanttheir millions handed to them on a silver platter, no matter what happens.
Ifthey get injured and can no longer play; pay up! If they averaged thirty pointsa game in college, but struggle to make the transition into the pros, andaverage only four points; pay up! If their egos swell so much that they are outof control in public and do something to disgrace the organization they playfor; pay up, because the contract guarantees that they get their money. The NFL is a breeding ground for holdout players. I think that Holdout 101,taught by Professor X-Pro Millionaire, is a required class for all profootball players. Rule number one: if you think you can get more moneythan what your contract says, holdout.
Rule number two: if you are in themiddle of a multi-year contract, then fuck that contract. Remember, ifrule one applies, who gives a shit about a commitment. A new trend in baseball started about ten years ago. Players now sign oneyear contracts, and play for a different team each year.
They don’t askthemselves if that team will be a contender, or if that’s the team they trulywant to be a part of. They look at all the offers put in front of them, and seewhich one has the most dollars signs in it. It has gotten to the point where ifsomeone asks who did he used to play for? they correct answer is six or sevendifferent teams, depending on how long he’s been playing. Professional athletes always say that there is nothing they would want todo more than play their sport. One year later they contradict themselves byrefusing to play due to a salary dispute.
I think this greed begins as soon asthe athlete realizes that he can play at the professional level. When theyrealize they can make a ton of money by doing what they have always been good at,they start concentrating on the money to be made instead of concentrating onplaying a game. The same person who played little league, then for his high schoolteam, while never making a dollar for doing it, but still enjoying it all the same,suddenly develops a greed that is unimaginable. Not only do they want toget paid, but they want to get paid more than anyone has a right to forplaying a game.
Sports will always be the owners business, the players job, and the fansgame. I think the owners and players often forget this, but the fans are theones who pay for it. The players see others players making millions, and wontplay unless they also make a ridiculous amount. The owners are willing to dowhatever it takes to get the players signed, so they pay them millions and raisethe prices on the fans. It has gotten to the point where if you want to takeyour family to a sporting event, and possibly buy some food while your there,you better take out a small loan from the bank before you go.
Every year theprices for tickets, food, parking and souvenirs increase at the same rate as thegreed of the players, and the owners willingness to pay. The solution for all of this madness is a salary cap. Baseball andbasketball due have salary caps now, but $35 million divided by twelve playersis hardly a cap. In all sports they should have a maximum of $100,00 forrookies and $1 million for everyone else. Athletes do entertain millions ofpeople, so I think they should be paid well.
No athlete would ever agree tothis because of the amount they all make today. An annual salary between$100,000 and $1 million is a hell of a lot of money. Even if the athletedecides to stay in college and get his degree, what else can you do to make$100,000 your first year after graduation. And what can you do to make amillion dollars? The truly great ones would still make money from endorsements,but they average fan would be able to go to games without going broke.Category: Miscellaneous
