Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Athletes and "Worth" (with a few TO ref's)

blakngold4 · 04-15-2005, 07:45 PM

okay, i was having a discussion on another board about this topic today and was absolutely appalled at the slant of the discussions. before you decide to tear into me after reading my little rant, i wanna make it abundantly clear that i know and understand the following...

1) athletes make a lot of money for what they do, more than many make in a lifetime

2) it's a pretty damn good life for 'em

3) they're hardly sympathetic figures given their financial situations and the perceived ease with which their wealth is acquired.

now, with all of that said, i'm sure the football fans among us have noticed TO's current situation. his agent botched his contract out last year, he wound up getting traded, and signed for a relative bargain in philly, considering the money coming to randy moss and soon to be heading marvin harrison's way. one year later, he's looking for a new, more front-loaded deal that would guarantee him a payout and likely keep him in Philly for a longer period of time. the hypocrisy of the people complaining about TO's negotiation is what's killing me. i understand where they're coming from, but many are living in fantasyland.

first, they bitch about TO not honoring his contract, failing to realize that it'll be a cold day in hell before any 7yr deal in the NFL is fully realized. beyond that, they don't have any moral qualms with the concept of the team being able to cut him for any reason or no reason at all whenever they want.

second, and this is the one that really burns me, they get on their highhorse and start complaining how athletes aren't worth what they're paid blah blah blah. that's fine. he'll make upwards of 40 million bucks in his career for catching passes and blocking for RB's. yeah, seems a little high. but the people that complain fail to see other side of the equation. whether you think an athlete should be paid seven million dollars or not, the following things are true...at least 60,000 people in his town are willing to pay 50 bucks a pop to see him play ten times a year. millions more watch on tv when the nfl gives them a chance. the team also has radio contracts, merchandising, and other game revenue (parking, concessions most notably) flowing their way because, in part, they want to see him (or whatever other relevant star) play.

whether you think a star athlete deserves their fat check or not, don't you HAVE to concede that the star athlete is worth their deal on an economic level? i don't want this to spiral into a discussion of TO's specific issues (or randy moss's, or ron mexico's, or anyone else's) but the people complaining about athlete salaries (especially in football or basketball, where they have caps) should realize that salaries are determined by league revenue, and salaries are high because the teams make that much money and more. still, i hear complaint after complaint, and when pressed for an alternative, one doesn't show up. so long as people are willing to pay $50 each to see these guys play, ticket prices will NOT drop. so long as people watch on tv, tv revenue will not drop. as such, salaries will not drop. even if they did, i'd much rather have a league with owners making millions and players making millions than one where owners just exploited the shit out of the players and sent 'em home when they were done. it's healthier for the league's long-term prospects. without the promise of big money, fewer would strive for success in the game. quality of play would decline over time. eventually, fans would trickle away, prices would drop, salaries would drop, and the game would be open to everyone (albeit as a second class sport) but that's something i'd rather not see happen.

am i insane? do i talk too much? does anyone else have a take on this?

04-15-2005, 07:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
blakngold4 Upright	Athletes and "Worth" (with a few TO ref's) okay, i was having a discussion on another board about this topic today and was absolutely appalled at the slant of the discussions. before you decide to tear into me after reading my little rant, i wanna make it abundantly clear that i know and understand the following... 1) athletes make a lot of money for what they do, more than many make in a lifetime 2) it's a pretty damn good life for 'em 3) they're hardly sympathetic figures given their financial situations and the perceived ease with which their wealth is acquired. now, with all of that said, i'm sure the football fans among us have noticed TO's current situation. his agent botched his contract out last year, he wound up getting traded, and signed for a relative bargain in philly, considering the money coming to randy moss and soon to be heading marvin harrison's way. one year later, he's looking for a new, more front-loaded deal that would guarantee him a payout and likely keep him in Philly for a longer period of time. the hypocrisy of the people complaining about TO's negotiation is what's killing me. i understand where they're coming from, but many are living in fantasyland. first, they bitch about TO not honoring his contract, failing to realize that it'll be a cold day in hell before any 7yr deal in the NFL is fully realized. beyond that, they don't have any moral qualms with the concept of the team being able to cut him for any reason or no reason at all whenever they want. second, and this is the one that really burns me, they get on their highhorse and start complaining how athletes aren't worth what they're paid blah blah blah. that's fine. he'll make upwards of 40 million bucks in his career for catching passes and blocking for RB's. yeah, seems a little high. but the people that complain fail to see other side of the equation. whether you think an athlete should be paid seven million dollars or not, the following things are true...at least 60,000 people in his town are willing to pay 50 bucks a pop to see him play ten times a year. millions more watch on tv when the nfl gives them a chance. the team also has radio contracts, merchandising, and other game revenue (parking, concessions most notably) flowing their way because, in part, they want to see him (or whatever other relevant star) play. whether you think a star athlete deserves their fat check or not, don't you HAVE to concede that the star athlete is worth their deal on an economic level? i don't want this to spiral into a discussion of TO's specific issues (or randy moss's, or ron mexico's, or anyone else's) but the people complaining about athlete salaries (especially in football or basketball, where they have caps) should realize that salaries are determined by league revenue, and salaries are high because the teams make that much money and more. still, i hear complaint after complaint, and when pressed for an alternative, one doesn't show up. so long as people are willing to pay $50 each to see these guys play, ticket prices will NOT drop. so long as people watch on tv, tv revenue will not drop. as such, salaries will not drop. even if they did, i'd much rather have a league with owners making millions and players making millions than one where owners just exploited the shit out of the players and sent 'em home when they were done. it's healthier for the league's long-term prospects. without the promise of big money, fewer would strive for success in the game. quality of play would decline over time. eventually, fans would trickle away, prices would drop, salaries would drop, and the game would be open to everyone (albeit as a second class sport) but that's something i'd rather not see happen. am i insane? do i talk too much? does anyone else have a take on this?