Do athletes deserve the pay they get?

[Evan Wears Prada]

Do athletes deserve the pay they get? I love sports and have nothing against them but I believe professional athletes are way overpaid. An example of how much athletes are paid can be found on this site: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/fortunate50-2010/index.html.
These athletes make millions of dollars throwing a ball, or shooting it in a hoop. Why do they make so much more then people that are working to cure cancer, or aids, or doing something that will benefit the world. What are your views on this?

 

[Brendan]

Moved to Sports/Outdoor.

 

[333]

I believe they do deserve the pay. Most professional athletes have spent a good portion of their lives revolving around athletics. If some weren't gifted *Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo in particular* they would be homeless or in gangs. Anyone really could (with proper motivation) could become a doctor or lawyer. Not everyone could be in the NBA, MLB, or NFL.

 

[Marine Clark]

For my entertainment purposes, YES.

 

[Rasheed]

They do deserve the pay.

A soccer player will get paid around 100-500million a year, im talking the best players.

But they make their club alot more than that

 

[Brendan]

They do deserve the pay.

A soccer player will get paid around 100-500million a year, im talking the best players.

But they make their club alot more than that

500m a year? I think that's a little high. Even if that included advertising, sponsors, etc.

David Beckham
David Beckham was born in England and he is playing for L.A Galaxy. Salary: $49.4 million.

Source: http://www.famouswhy.com/List/Top_10_Highest_Paid_Soccer_Players_In_the_World/765.html

 

[Surround Sound]

All you see is the surface, but athletes really do have to commit to be paid anywhere near the above figures.

- A career of an athlete does not last past the age of 30, 35-40 in some sports. The rest of the population retire at 60.

- Athletes work near the same hours as everyone else. The difference is, they're putting in physical work, not sitting in an office chair. T

-They consistently put their bodies on the line; one injury can destroy their career, not to mention the inconvenience. A

- Athletes cannot put one foot wrong. They are constantly scrutinized by the media and a single mistake on booze or drugs can destroy them.

- They're ALWAYS under pressure to perform AT THEIR BEST. They can get dropped from their team at any time.

- They have to change their diet and their way of life.

- They have to ignore their family to travel the world

Athletes really do face huge challenges. If they're willing to give up their previous life and risk everything, then good luck to them.

 

[Evan Wears Prada]

Yes, athletes have to commit themselves and give up a lot, but a doctor has to do that too. The doctor had to go through all that schooling, when he finally finishes he has to find the job, when he gets the job, he is always under stress because he is operating on a person and could potentially kill them, if he makes one mistake, he can get fired and it will be hard for him to find a job at another hospital.

I just don't see how an athlete who shoots a ball in a hoop or hits a ball with a bat, gets so much more money than a doctor, who saves peoples lives and makes the peoples lives better.

 

[Niini]

Professional athletes exist to entertain, just as film stars and FM radio presenters do. But I do think they are underpaid, just as olympic athletes are underpaid. They do get alot of their income from sponsors though.

 

[Kleenex]

Their pay is alright where it's at. Considering the stress and how hard it is to become a sports star, around $20 million is a fair price. Most of their cash comes from endorsements, anyway.

Tiger Woods

Salary/Winnings $20,508,163
Endorsements $70,000,000
Total Salary $90,508,163

 

[333]

All you see is the surface, but athletes really do have to commit to be paid anywhere near the above figures.

- A career of an athlete does not last past the age of 30, 35-40 in some sports. The rest of the population retire at 60.

- Athletes work near the same hours as everyone else. The difference is, they're putting in physical work, not sitting in an office chair. T

-They consistently put their bodies on the line; one injury can destroy their career, not to mention the inconvenience. A

- Athletes cannot put one foot wrong. They are constantly scrutinized by the media and a single mistake on booze or drugs can destroy them.

- They're ALWAYS under pressure to perform AT THEIR BEST. They can get dropped from their team at any time.

- They have to change their diet and their way of life.

- They have to ignore their family to travel the world

Athletes really do face huge challenges. If they're willing to give up their previous life and risk everything, then good luck to them.

Technically athletes work 365 days a year and put in more hours then an average person at a regular job.

 

[Rasheed]

500m a year? I think that's a little high. Even if that included advertising, sponsors, etc.

Maybe i did over exaggerate, but my point i believe is still correct

The players make more for the club then they are paid.

 

[Yark]

It's the business there in that makes them the money. If nba/nfl/nhl games didn't sell out stadiums on average then they wouldn't be making nearly as much as they make. Since they followed there dream of being a pro athlete and actually made it to where there at then they more then deserve what they're getting paid.

 

[Nypm]

A professional football player (Im talking bout EPL standards)roughly gets 90-150k pounds per week.

 

[rickjames928]

no way in hell does someone deserve millions of dollars a year... I think even baseball players get overpayed... i think they should make a nice sum of money but the amount they get is ridiculous.

 

[Evan Wears Prada]

I don't see why these players need all that money, if I made that much money, I would most definitely donate most of it to charity.