Thread: The world's most overpaid athlete

Originally posted by Corri
Anyone who's spent time around sports and athletes would know that for every teacher who's driving a Toyota instead of a BMW, there's 50 basketball players who didn't quite make that top list and are just barely putting food on the table right now.

huh? barely putting food on the table?

I highly doubt there is any pro basketball player making less than $100,000 per year.

Originally posted by Prince

I highly doubt there is any pro basketball player making less than $100,000 per year.

When I said "didn't quite make the top list" I was referring to 99.9% of people of try to play basketball for a living.. the ones who don't end up in the NBA, and end up with nothing.

IMO, only two professional athletes today deserve what they make: Tiger Woods and Micheal Jordan. All the rest are overpaid. Tiger and Jordan brought legions of new fans to their respective sports, and they brought in millions and millions in business for their sponsors. No other athlete today made such an impact on their sport as these two.

BTW Prince, the minimum salary an NBA rookie can receive, based on the NBA union contract, is $332,817. Minimum salaries then go up for each year you have service.

Corri,

I think the least paid player is $170,000.00. Something like that. But I look at this way.

That dollar amount and sitting on the bench is like making $500,000.00

I wish I could watch sports games up front and get payed for it. I would think it would be more fun then being a starter.

No, I'd rather be out there making a difference..... but that's just me

Ok, for those who dont think Professional athletes deserve the money they are getting. I ask you this: Where should the money go that they bring to the sport? Do you think they should just give it to so called underpaid teachers or physicians? If so thats absurd, IMO. I think this was already mentioned, but a majority of the athletes have charities they give money to and many of the athletes put alot into community and local sports via donations etc.

John

That is a very interesting point. Where should the money go if not to the athletes? As for players donating, it would be interesting to see that total but really, it's none of anyone's business. What if we lowered the prices of the tickets. Courtside should not cost $300+ !

Originally posted by davidjasondean Courtside should not cost $300+ !

This is pretty close to the opinion I was offering John. People gripe about having to pay $1,000 to $2,000 a year in school taxes but turn right around and don't even blink when they fork over many times that to go watch their favorite sports teams. The mentality is completely backwards. We should all be bitching up a storm and boycotting all professional sports until they get themselves under control and MAYBE then we can start a reversal in attitude and priorities. Do I think what I've suggested is realistic? Hell no, I'm not stupid, but I do think it's the way things SHOULD be.

I'm with Dero. The fans are partially responsible for the outrageousness of money flying around in Sports Entertainment.
To see MJ or Shaq/Kobe or even Larry Bird/Magic courtside is a walloping price but a lot of people are willing to pay that price such as myself.

Since we're talking sports and you are so kind to respond I need some help. I'm looking for a copy of a particular song. It's the one that's played after almost every goal in the NHL. I know it's by Gary Glitter and it's Rock and Roll Part???, is it Part I or II? Thanks.

Isn't it on any of the Jock Jams compilations, AL Bob? Just go to a good music store that he section devoted to sports and I believe you will find it their. Or, go into a search engine (yahoo, google etc.) and type in Gary Glitter, title of the song or Sports Themes. Good luck and let me know if you find it.

It's an industry though, like any other. As long as their are people who will pay $300 to see a live game, they're gonna charge it! What's wrong with TV anyway? You get better angles, and Leo Rautins (I'm watching Raptors games) does some kick ass commentary.

I firmly believe that if it's worth billions to NBC to broadcast these games, the money should be shelled out to the players for providing the best sports entertainment in the world. I mean, I could give you a basketball and put you on T.V, but that'd be as boring as sh*t to watch..

Well in the sense of me, your right, but back to the point, is it worth watching Shawn Kemp or Juwan Howard who makes millions in the tens? True stars deserve those salaries. I won't disagree.

Originally posted by davidjasondean
Isn't it on any of the Jock Jams compilations, AL Bob? Just go to a good music store that he section devoted to sports and I believe you will find it their. Or, go into a search engine (yahoo, google etc.) and type in Gary Glitter, title of the song or Sports Themes. Good luck and let me know if you find it.

A music store is a great idea, unfortunaltely I need the title by COB today. I've done the search but get both Part I and II but I'm not sure which is which and I can't download it to listen because I'm at work and that's STRICTLY frowned on.

Corri, you're preaching to the choir as to WHY the situation is the way it is but, my point is that our priorities are backwards. As for watching it on TV, I completely agree; my own comfy chair, better camera angles, instant re-play, ice cold beer that doesn't cost $5 a can, etc. I love live games but, when it's play-off time or a championship game of some sort, home is where the action is.

Thanks AlBob, I had almost forgotten the real point of this thread. It wasn't meant as a debate about whether althletes deserve their salaries or not, It was supposed to be about the overpaid scrubs who aren't earning their money..

So far I've heard these 4.. all serious contenders for the biggest wastes of money in pro sports.

- Shawn Kemp at about 12 Million
- Juwan Howard at 20 Million (3rd in the NBA, behind KG and Shaq)
- Mike Tyson at 15 to 20 Million a fight
- Mike Hampton at 15 million a year (highest paid pitcher in baseball)

FYI - just saw the life biography on Tiger Woods on the YES network the other day. When all is said and done they figure he will have made somewhere around $8 billion in his lifetime. Now tell me that's not insane!