The salaries paid in professional sports should be embarrassing. Billions of dollars (or Euros, or Pounds, or Dracmas) are spent in pursuit, of the best players. And yet in a game of win or lose, there can only be one supreme winner, one winner for every 100 or 1,000 also rans.
Isn't it really all about is entertainment? The spectator is there for the show, for a diversion, for an escape. An exciting game is entertainment, but there can be so much more to the show.
Here is a bold idea. Cap salaries at $200,000 a year per player. Enough to make a good living, but not enough to create divas. Hire players that will put on the most entertaining show for the money. Lower the ticket prices and encourage spectators to come for the fun, win or lose, for a good show. I want to see players who are truly enjoying what they are doing. When the team has fun, so will I.
Yes, the players have a limited career, they would need to plan for a life after professional sports. To live a life much more like the person sitting the stands, hoping for a good show today.
For the life of me I will never understand how or why these people and that of actors and singers get paid these fees???? They are good at what they do, but worth that much???? It's not like there making science discoveries, finding cures, or saving lives. I think it's obscene, and why the egos are created. Eventually the prices for these things will be so high, already started, that many will not be able to go to see them except the utlra rich. Would you rather have a packed-out stadium or theater of many at averages prices, or just a small crowd of a 100 or so who will pay thousands per ticket just to make up the price?
ReplyDeleteTicket prices and the ticketing monopoly are related issues.
DeleteAlong with another currency of a despotic country, billions of riyal
ReplyDeleteWe were watching Australian Rules Football on TV the other night
DeleteThis infuriates me and makes it difficult for me to watch professional sports. I start stewing about the obscene wealth of players and owners and related people and I can’t enjoy the game.
ReplyDeleteThere was an article recently on the difference in salary for a first round pick in the NBA and the WNBA. It was like 12-million vs $120K.
DeleteThe only problem I have is that the owners will then makes ALL the money when they do nothing at all to make the game, or the player, better.
ReplyDeleteThe players who are good are the draws for the crowd so they should be compensated for their talent ... though, yes,m the amounts they are paid are insane.
It's like actors who makes millions and millions per film; it seems obscene. But I go to the movies to see a certain actor, not a certain film studio or producer. And if an actor stars in consistently high-grossing films, they should be compensated accordingly.
Unless it's Will Ferrell; then, No.
And the owners want the taxpayers to build them billion dollar venues to make money in.
DeleteWell, that is something to think about. I agree, the amounts paid to certain individuals are insane.
ReplyDeleteIf we were in charge of the world
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