by Andy Aitkens

Created on: January 02, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Imagine that you work hard all day, for almost every day in the year. Constantly training, constantly traveling. After all of these physical and emotional tolls you and your body has endured, your paycheck has been reduced because society felt it was not proper to give you the full salary you deserve. You are responsible for generating this money, why should someone else have the rights to it? It has been said that what one top professional American athlete makes in one year could feed a small country for a year. Take LeBron James, for example. He makes more than $20 million per year, and he's not alone. On average, the top 25 NBA players make $14.44 million per year. Many people are very upset by the fact that athletes make so much money. They shouldn't be. These athletes deserve every penny they make.

Supply & Demand: It's a business. America is built on capitalism.

They are entertainment and sports is one of America's favorite past times. Americans spend many hours of their life viewing sporting events. These athletes are cut from a special cloth. The entire NBA league is made up of only about 492 players. We race to buy the clothing, the latest jerseys, shoes, etc. The supply is limited. It's really only the starters who are making the big bucks. Someone like Chris McCray, for example (who plays second string for the Milwaukee Bucks), according to hoopshype makes "only" $146,744 per year, far less than other professions.

They work hard for their money. Constantly training, constantly traveling on long road trips that take them away from friends and family, signing autographs and doing endorsements when they're not on the court. They entire life IS their job. Few occupations in the world demand so much.

They put their bodies at risk and their earning potential is actually restricted by the fact that their careers are so short. The average professional athlete's career in football, for example, is only 3.8 years. After that time, in the vast majority of cases, his life is riddled with pain and physical problems that he must endure for the rest of his life. Joe Namath, Joe Montana, are prime examples. The St. Paul Pioneer Press quoted Sprewell as saying, "Why would I want to help them win a title? They're not doing anything for me. I've got a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed"

When you think about all of the money they generated through commercials, sportswear, tickets, endorsements, the final question remains. If not the athletes, who should get this money? Many people may say to donate it, although this does seem like a good alternative, athletes would lose the drive to perform and less viewers would tune in every Friday night to see the less exciting game. They work hard for it, how can we as a society say that their profession is overpaid. Many other professions also generate a substantial sum of money; we do not ask them to donate it, much less talk about how they don't deserve it.

What other business or product manages to accomplish all of the above positive role models for youth, an industry that generates thousands upon thousands of jobs and brings in significant revenue to cities, states and local economies;, offers some of the best entertainment Americans could ever hope to have? As if this wasnt enough, takes an endless toll on your body for the rest of your life. They deserve every cent they make. And as LeTrelle Spreewell stated, the money is critical. After all, he has to feed his family.

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