Why athletes get paid so much
unions in the nation. The players' association lifted the average salary of its members from $51,501 in 1976 [the last year before free agency] to $2.38 million this season (ESPN). This would have been baseball’s ninth stoppage in 30 years. The first time the baseball players went on strike was in 1972. This was because of the player’s pension plans; it only lasted 13 days.
Sports have changed quite a bit because of the luxury taxes put on. Most of the time when teams are trying to trade players it’s not just for talent, it’s more about can we afford this player? Teams that go over their payroll have to pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the overage (Sheridan). For example, the recent trade with the Seattle Sonics and the Milwaukee Bucks. Seattle was scared that this being Gary Payton’s last season before he becomes a free agent, that Payton would ask too much and Seattle didn’t want to pay so high for a veteran player. They decided to look towards a younger all-star, guard Ray Allen. The trade included Gary Payton and Desmond Mason being sent to Milwaukee, and to Seattle was Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, and Ronald Murray.
Through all of my research I’ve learned quite a bit about the different pro league sports and how they work out player’s salaries. I didn’t know that the leagues have gone through so much with all the lockouts, strikes, and the salary caps put into use since they started. They’ve done so much just to work out player’s salaries, yet as the years go by the salaries still rise with the salary caps. But after all of my research I still ask myself this question, why do athletes get paid so much? If there are actresses and actors that get paid just as much or even more per movie, why is it such a problem? Athletes have to go through so much more because they have to be healthy physically and mentally. So with this issue, I’m stuck in the middle. I feel that some athlete’s deserve to make big money, with the keyword being some there. I don’t think there are many athletes out there that deserve to make such money. So you ask yourself, do you think athletes really get paid too much?