(the Basketball Olympics thread reminded me of something I always tell people, thought you guys would enjoy discussing) I think it would be great if there was a Pro Athlete salary cap. For arguments sake lets say 500K/year, Max, no matter who you are or what you play. Keep in mind this is SALARY. They are free to make as much as they can with endorsements, appearances, etc. I think it would weed out the whiney ones and leave us with those that truly love to play the sport. You are getting paid to play a sport... deal with your still WAY above average salary or move along and get a job... I have more thoughts on this but we'll start small...
So 56 mil to play a sport is a-okay in your book? I think it's flipping ridiculous... How about a "You play a sport and get paid way too much TAX" that would be used to help the less fortunate? (not the lazy less fortunate, the actual deserve something less fortunate)
You think Spies, Rossi, Button and the guys who put their lives on the line on the weekends are only worth $500K? Sorry, no. Even the stick and ball guys deserve what they can get.
It is perfectly ok to make what they make when they are brining in countless $$'s for the owners of the team. Their salaries relate to the income they generate plus their effectiveness in the sport. If you could cap owners revenues, tickets prices, food/beer prices it may fly. But all that would do is make the rich richer.
Fine, I'll modify, even thou being a cop or serving your country has an equal risk of death and pays a lot less than 500K... However, If your sport has an inherent risk of death, 2 million. If you are the 500ft high vertical face speed free climbing champ you deserve it. If you throw a ball and no one has died playing your sport EVER... or maybe a few EVER, then no, you get 500K and will be happy with it, or do something else.
nope. these thoughts have nothing to do with politics. they are merely my thoughts on overpaid egotistical a$$hats.
They're not overpaid though. They're paid what their agents negotiate with the owners agent. This is based on a bunch of things like prior performance, expected future performance, how much revenue their team has, and expects to have, salary cap in some sports, marketability, and other factors.
Maybe tax was the wrong word. Point was that if they arent happy with a smaller amount to play a game, then do something else.
Good for them for knowing how to get money doing something they love. It only seems excessive because we're/you're jealous. I wish I had negotiating skills like their agents and then the talents to back it up. If every job interview required a slam dunk, a 4.40, or 300+ yard drive we'd all be out of work!
Thats basically what i was thinking. Not that i really care what the players get paid, but then again im not going to a game to pay the overinflated prices either. I didnt think the "endangering your life" thing was too well thought out.
Athletes generate money for there team owners, leagues, etc by playing/competing. TV money, advertisers, ticket sales, food/beer, mechandise, etc. They get paid a portion of that. Why should they play/compete and risk injury or death for smaller portions of the total revenue than they get now? All of the football negotiations were pretty recent and public. The players get about 50% of the total revenue. Why should they be willing to play for less? So the owners/league can keep more?
Let their agent negotiate with endorsements, etc. If there was a cap there would be no need to negotiate salary. I understand that since there is a TON of money in professional sports that they CAN get millions, my point is they dont DESERVE it...