by B. E. Shaw

Created on: October 10, 2008

Are pro athletes paid too much? Absolutely not! Peyton Manning signed a 7 year contract in March, 2004 for a reported 99.2 million dollars which means he makes a little over $14 million dollars annually. Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics is the highest paid NBA player and makes about $24,750,000 per year. Too much you say? Well let's look at the money they generate from jersey sales and ticket sales, and everything else that is sold using their likeness, image, or name. Let's also take a look at the owners. No one ever talks about the money a team sports owner makes. I've give you an example of an owners' net worth. Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks owned both teams at the same time, when both were successful, winning teams. The Braves have their own TV network and are broadcast on TBS all over the country. Of all the success, and money generated by the Atlanta Braves baseball team, it was reported that the Atlanta Braves total income generated only made up 2% of Mr. Turner's gross annual income. TWO PERCENT!

Let's look at College Athletics where the athletes are penalized if they are given $2 bucks for a cup of coffee. One guy was suspended because a booster bought him a suit to go to his grandmother's funeral and when the NCAA found out about it, the athlete was suspended from competition. Watch any major college football or basketball game and you will see 100's of 1000's of people yelling and cheering in the stands with their favorite college player's jersey on. The college athletes don't get one dime from the NCAA, yet the NCAA is selling the athletes name on jerseys, and other paraphernalia, and the college administrators, and boosters make millions.

The point of mentioning the college athlete is to show that Sports is big business. Billions of dollars are generated from sports. The college athlete should also be paid, and paid generously. They are generating millions of dollars and actually putting their lives on the line because one good collision can paralyze or even kill the athlete; and this has happened on many occasions. Consider it a job, because that's what it is; it's entertainment. All non-athletes can get jobs on and off campus and make money any legitimate way they know how, but the athlete is not allowed to make money but is supporting the entire athletic budget and beyond with his exploits on the field, or on the court.

Let's get back to the professional athlete. I was a Golden State Warriors season

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