Sports is arguably the only industry in this country where workers are rewarded in ways commensurate with management. And, um, the players have unions. If only real work was valued by employers, rather than just entertainment……
You will also note that the owners and players have something called a “contract”, which is a legally binding agreement to provide a certain amount of pay for a certain amount of work. In the case of sports, usually it’s a base salary for showing up to work and trying to do a good job, and additional incentives/ bonuses for achieving specified goals. And the owners honor the contracts…..this sets a better precedent than municipalities and businesses which promise (with a contract) benefits and/or pensions, and then decide they just won’t pay.
The “free market” people would be wise to pay attention to how this works. You will notice that sports teams make a pile of money, and so do their employees. The former is common to many private industries; the latter is often woefully lacking.
And as far as the tax whiners go: I am pretty sure that most people would be willing to have their taxes increase a few percentage points if they were paid a better wage. We recognize that there are bills to pay, and a debt to pay down.
The argument is that a player may only have one to five years in their sport before injury or skills cause them to ‘retire’. for this reason, the better players get seven and eight digit salaries. Some of that money should go into a life long healthcare plan for athletes.Politicians may only be in office one or two terms, and then they too might find themselves retired, however, they have "benefits’ that follow them for many years after they leave.Currency traders are making fortunes hypertrading on the value of the dollar vs the euro vs the yen vs etc etc etc, but the only thing that is made is money.These are three examples of people who produce "nothing’,. They don’t grow food, or make clothes, or build homes and furniture. They contribute to the sale of these things through their purchases and sponsorship and in the case of politicians, their rare votes to make something good happen… but the people who do build things that last are set aside and even devalued by too many in these high paying fields.I love football (Go Saints!), and I love my country. I don’t like the “bread and circuses” path our politics and wealthy citizens are taking. Respectfully,C.
Rogers will have to not only pay taxes in Green Bay, but in most other cities where he plays, as that is “income” “earned” in that city. Wonder if our politicians, who fly around the country giving speeches for foundations and PACs pay taxes on THAT “earned income” in THOSE cities?
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
Well, with the owners making billions more each year, this seems about right.Everything is relative.
Michael Peterson Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Why shouldn’t he get a piece of the action? He’s not only selling the tickets, he’s also taking the hits.
I Play One On TV almost 11 years ago
Sports is arguably the only industry in this country where workers are rewarded in ways commensurate with management. And, um, the players have unions. If only real work was valued by employers, rather than just entertainment……
You will also note that the owners and players have something called a “contract”, which is a legally binding agreement to provide a certain amount of pay for a certain amount of work. In the case of sports, usually it’s a base salary for showing up to work and trying to do a good job, and additional incentives/ bonuses for achieving specified goals. And the owners honor the contracts…..this sets a better precedent than municipalities and businesses which promise (with a contract) benefits and/or pensions, and then decide they just won’t pay.
The “free market” people would be wise to pay attention to how this works. You will notice that sports teams make a pile of money, and so do their employees. The former is common to many private industries; the latter is often woefully lacking.
I Play One On TV almost 11 years ago
And as far as the tax whiners go: I am pretty sure that most people would be willing to have their taxes increase a few percentage points if they were paid a better wage. We recognize that there are bills to pay, and a debt to pay down.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
The argument is that a player may only have one to five years in their sport before injury or skills cause them to ‘retire’. for this reason, the better players get seven and eight digit salaries. Some of that money should go into a life long healthcare plan for athletes.Politicians may only be in office one or two terms, and then they too might find themselves retired, however, they have "benefits’ that follow them for many years after they leave.Currency traders are making fortunes hypertrading on the value of the dollar vs the euro vs the yen vs etc etc etc, but the only thing that is made is money.These are three examples of people who produce "nothing’,. They don’t grow food, or make clothes, or build homes and furniture. They contribute to the sale of these things through their purchases and sponsorship and in the case of politicians, their rare votes to make something good happen… but the people who do build things that last are set aside and even devalued by too many in these high paying fields.I love football (Go Saints!), and I love my country. I don’t like the “bread and circuses” path our politics and wealthy citizens are taking. Respectfully,C.
edward thomas Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Rogers will have to not only pay taxes in Green Bay, but in most other cities where he plays, as that is “income” “earned” in that city. Wonder if our politicians, who fly around the country giving speeches for foundations and PACs pay taxes on THAT “earned income” in THOSE cities?