6 thoughts on “250 Million: Let me Count the Ways”

1. So agree. I know what I would do with at least part of it! I cannot say I agree with the huge salaries; that is what the industry & greed for some created. This is not just in sports, either. Some players do think somewhat beyond the salary. Some, we may have no idea because it may be kept private. Most players don’t make those huge amounts. It is amazing that older players made small amounts next to these with larger salaries. They played with no steroids, played on sheer talent & some luck. They played for the love of the game. Some I’ve wondered, do they love the game, or just the fame and money. So many older players have medical problems & no help, and retirement?? It is ridiculous that not just players, but CEO’s of huge companies make so much money, have perks, and the employees are either pink slipped, dropped to part-time with no benefits, or make minimum or just above minimum wage. Seriously, at what point is too much too much? Poverty level.. more in it. and yes, the middle class is disappearing. Congress, wouldn’t it be nice to have their benefits after one term. What a topic Mr. Drew L.

2. Good Morning from Omaha,

   You just jumped into a deep well, Drew. Audrey is correct. a lot of people who make “big” bucks tend to be very generous with their giving. Things right now are out of whack. Its not just a new development. I still remember when everyone was so upset about Joe Namath’s new contract back in the ’60’s.

   As we find our niche in life- our calling- we make our choice. While its not the proverbial “vow of poverty” being a teacher is not a road to riches. The ability to invent, reinvent or just better yourself is part of that illusive American Dream.

   Just as some people were able to ride the bubble and burst cycles of the last half of the century, others who are still trying to find their calling have been living day to day. While we would all like to earn the big money, we can’t let the fact that some do, delude us from finding that the real things in life are not things.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

3. Good morning from Minnesota. Forgive me Drew, I may have written a short story.

   I understand the frustration with the players salaries, but it doesn’t upset me as much as some. It’s still sort-of supply&demand-ish. My math may not be entirely correct, but it should work to show my point. There’s 1,696 players in the NFL (53 players time 32 teams) and there’s roughly 312,771,000 people in the US. So the percent of people who make the NFL is 0.0005% and even less than that are mega-star quality. Look at the percentage of people who follow sports, who are more willing to buy expensive tickets to go see a mega star, who are willing to go buy that stars jersey, and other stuff like that. Yet despite the bad economy, people are still going to pro sports games in huge numbers, the demand is still pretty good.

   Then compare that to say a teacher. Teachers do good things, but add up elementary schools, junior highs, high-schools, and high education schools and then take that times the number of teachers at each. It’s certainly a ton more teachers than NFL players. There’s not a problem with getting applicants for jobs, especially in this economy, so it doesn’t remotely make sense that the players’ salaries would be the same as teachers and other jobs like that.

   For me what is worse than players salaries, is how despite the overwhelming amount of sports fans, the amount of demand, how the sports owners still don’t buy their own buildings. They most certainly could do so, but they know they don’t need to do so. Yet they still get their stadiums. Not only that, but they’re pretty much golden palaces; they get the best seats, humongous scoreboards, top notch everything. Again it’s supply and demand, so towns bid against each other to get the teams but for myself the teams should pay for their own stadiums.

4. Is it a wonder that our schools are failing? Kids these days think that all they need to do is play a sport well enough to get drafted and rich. Therefore all they concentrate on is playing that sport and forget about the real reason for an education. And then the government came along and said you cannot leave an under achieving child behind because of the emotional damage that will cause.

5. As a teacher, I appreciate the sentiment that I be better paid…but that means raising taxes. Run for office with that platform and let me know how far you get.

   As for Pujols, he’s making $25 million for a job (and being an elite athlete is work, make no mistake) in which he’s not forcing me to pay his salary. What’s more, Pujols is an immigrant who grew up in a rough neighborhood in New York and later Independence, Mo. (The move after he witnessed a street shooting outside his home).

   The rich I have a problem with are those who make their money off of illegitimate forclosures, unwarranted tax breaks, purloined pensions and after a choice between keeping their bonus or laying off 100 workers. Say what you will about Pujols, Tom Brady or Kobe Bryant, but their riches aren’t at the expense of anyone else making a living.

   If we really want to fix it, we could have unions for workers that were as strong as those for athletes.

6. Drew,

   I couldn’t have said it, or drawn it (that’s for sure) than you.

   There is nothing else I could say to add to your thoughts;

   other than that I agree.

   Well done!

   Peg