In recent years, the salaries of many professional athletes have soared, allowing them to collect millions every year for merely being on a team. Worshipped by their talent and the appeal of extreme wealth, many of these athletes do not see themselves as role models, which, in turn, affects society’s younger generation. Although many of these athletes are perhaps the world’s most talented in their fields, their significantly high salaries are unjustifiable when compared to the salaries of those involved in more dangerous, even life-threatening occupations. These athletes should not receive millions of dollars a year when representatives of the law and instructors to the youth do not even make half of what the athletes make. The professional athletes do not have as big as impact on the economy or society as a whole to justify their salaries compared to other occupations.
These athletes will continue to get compensated this enormous amount of money until their contract is up and they sign a new contract with either the same team or a new team. During their season the player could have a “bad day” during their game yet still be “worshiped” for their abilities and will still keep their same remuneration. For example a major league baseball player could be stricken out every time he went up to bat, yet still receive the same pay with no kind of deductions for their poor performance. They also continue to get paid when these players have an injury and they have to stay out for an entire season. The athlete is basically getting paid to watch the rest of their team compete within their league.
The money given to the athletes could be used for more important causes. According to the article, “Rodriguez Finalizes $275M Deal with Yankees,” “Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees signed a contract for 275 million dollars over a span of ten years.” This is enough money to feed the nation’s poor for a year. It could also provide more housing and shelters for the less fortunate. In Kimberly Helfing’s article, “School Budget Cuts,” she states that “difficult…budget cuts have been placed on schools.” The money that is going towards athletes could assist schools that are being placed on these budget cuts. Budget cuts limit the schools on valuable resources that students and teachers need to excel. Instead of the money going towards these athletes it could go toward these schools and help improve the education of all students. Cancer research centers should have more money donated to their labs so the researchers can improve their research equipment and resources. With improved technology researchers could be able to find the cure for cancer more easily and quickly.
Though, in today’s society, the importance of one’s job depends on its significance for the economy. In Douglas Looney’s article, “Overpaid Athletes? It’s Fans That Make Them So” he declares that “[athletes] [are] obscenely and grossly overpaid.” In today’s society, one will be paid more if their occupation is more significant to society’s well-being. However, teaching is one of the most important professions because our future economy relies on the education of its adolescence, yet teachers are paid a fraction of the average professional athlete. The U.S. President makes choices that affect our economy and country yet according to the author of the article, “How Much Does the President Make Each Year,” the U.S. President makes only “400,000” dollars per year. Professional athletes do not play nearly as vital role in the economy as the president, but their salaries reveal otherwise. In Matt Bracken’s article, “Are Pro Athletes Really Overpaid,” he depicts that “the average MLB salary…was recently reported to be 3.34 million dollars.” These sports are theoretically supposed to be played for fun, not for millions of dollars. Athletes say they risk their well-being every game and every training session, but fire fighters, police officers, and military personnel have the same risks yet are not being paid millions of dollars. According to the author of “Police and Detectives” the author claims that police officers make an average of “55,000” dollars per year and firefighters make “47,000” dollars per year. Also according to the author of “Assessing Pay and Benefits for Military Personnel” military personnel make an average of”29,000-89,000” dollars per year. Their jobs are more significant to the economy and society yet are extremely underpaid. Doctors are well paid, but some doctors go through procedures that can change a person’s life. For example a surgeon can perform a transplant and save another human being’s life yet is still being paid less than the average professional athlete. However, many people believe that their salary is being acknowledged for a service; therefore, professional sports are a business and it could be understood on how one can justify these athlete’s salaries.
If it were not for the fans of these teams and specific athletes they may not be paid as much as they are now. Every time a fan purchases a jersey, sweat shirt, hat, a hot dog at a game, a drink, a game ticket, etc., they are basically giving money to the teams since they are supporting their fame and talent. With prices going up each year and the sales are still continuous it proves how much society values these athletes. Many people believe that athletes are paid for little work, but they work harder than many other people. Not only do they work during their season; they also work in their off season to train for their season again. Most professional athletes train by themselves to become more skilled. They also attend seasonal training camps that put them to train with other professionals. These athletes work all year to receive their high income. In Matt Bracken’s article, “Are Professional Athletes Really Overpaid?” he states that “athletes risk their well-being and livelihood on a daily basis [and] the sports they play are extremely dangerous.” These athletes sometimes go through dangerous injuries for their love of the game. Bracken further conveys that those who can make it into professional sports have “rare talent.” Making it into the professional league is not an easy thing to do and it is considered a grand achievement because not everyone can make it into the professional league. These professionals also bring entertainment to society with their games. Every sport gives people the chance to observe their favorite team in person as well as on television and they can also stay updated on the games via radio and internet. With this being said the salaries of these professional athletes can be justified and can be made seem like a reasonable amount of money that these athletes make.
Overall, many athletes are making too much money in today’s society which traditionally bases salaries on the significance of someone’s work to the economy. Many athletes do not know what real work is or how difficult it is to make a dollar. Many of these athletes have been handed money their whole career. Although their jobs are difficult, they do not play a role in our economy as their salaries indicate whereas teachers, police officers, doctors, and military personnel are not paid a fraction of how much these professional athletes are getting paid. Therefore, they should receive less money.
