are professional athletes paid too much?
611584
Aah let me guess; "SMART"people answered these questions, well let me set the record straight  I think some athletes are worth the money that they receive because they had to work hard to become PROFESSIONAL athletes, and a major fact is that most of them put their own bodies on the line just for the entertainment of fans. So they deserve every penny.
511943
For playing or watching? You can't just pay to play with the pros if your asking that.  If you mean how much to watch if depends where, major or not, whose playing.  If you have all of those things it will be alot more than if it is a none major and no big names are playing.
625923
I am a firm believer, that should a footballer agree to a contract worth, let's say £40.000 a week, he should be entitled to half of what they earn, which would be £20.000, then the other £20.000 would be payed to the player, based on his performance, goals scored, then dedute payments on bookings and sendings offs.\n\nBy doing this, both club and supporters are getting there money's worth, with players putting in 100%every game and they can justify paying that amount to a single player.\n\nFor the footballer, this would be a good payment system, as they would have to play to there maxium level, if they wanted their full amount at the end of each wee. It would also improve disclinpary problems, which sadly today so many players lack.
543127
NO! Not in any way! Remember, for contracts, BOTH sides have to agree. That means the player AND the owner agree to the terms and the finances. So if an owner agrees to pay a player a ridiculous amount, that is their choice.\n\nBesides, money is money. The game itself has remained relatively the same. Just some people are getting paid more than they did years back.
749251
First off, He has 130 million dollar contract for ten years which makes him 13 million a year. ( this is not including endorsements , bonus, and other things like that) 10 thousand is .07% of 13 million a year.   Lets say you make 50 thousand a year then .07% is $35.00.   So no I do not thinks it is enough. People spend thirty five dollars like its nothing. He is probably laughing about the fine and he is probability pissed that they are the number one team in rushing but around number 20 for points in the red zone. I guess he not as good running  when there is 8 people in the box. Plus he doesn't rush that what a running back does, he scrambles.
1017546
All athletes face temptation in their quest to get ahead.  They are protected by their organization which is why laws need to be changed and actually enforced.  Owners are reluctant to kick them off the team because then they're not getting their money's worth, but this has to change.
220837
It's what the market bears.  There is only so many people that can play professional sports at a time.  Since people keep buying tickets to games and merchandice, the players can demand what they want for pay and the owners are willing to pay it
594435
For the most part, the player realizes that they're not going to get the money in that last year or two of a long-term contract. It's more or less just a BS way of stroking a players ego and giving his agent the claim that he got so-and-so a hundred and forty million dollar contract, even thought it's a normal, going rate contract for five years and then a sixth year roster bonus of 97 million that the player will never collect. I'm glad that the NFL hasn't gone to guaranteed contracts, because I think it would hurt the game. I would, however, like to see some changes made. Maybe making contracts limited to a maximum of three or four years?
1040978
Yes they are. People can say all they want about physical starin and whatever, well sorry but they chose to do that. It is physically and mentally strenuous to do a lot of real jobs but people don't get paid thousands of pounds a week. All "celebrities" are overpaid. These footballers do nothing but play a game. Something a small child can do.What do they really do for their money? No more than anyone else wanting a good fitness regime. So they only "work" twice a week, do they. Even if they have to retire in their 30s, they will retire with more money than anyone wit ha proper job who retires at age 65.  There are people who have to go through physical, emotional, academical training to get where they are and still get paid less in a year than footballers get in a week. As for the publicity, if they don't want it they can either not play the game in the first place or they can just avoid it. Rugby players managed that when England won that. Also, saying about the publicity and everything, that's like saying you want to be a childminder but you don't want to work with children. You know the job before you go into it so there is no excuse. Nothing can possibly justify the amount these people get paid. They may entertain a few but I would be more entertained at my son's school sports day.
1163510
i don't think it is that they get paid too much it is that we don't get paid enough when you think about it peoplle are willing to pay that 20-100 bucks( sorry idk the euro amount) to watch a game and it takes alot to become a player they work thier own a-holes off too plus they are prone to injury they ar eout there giving up thier body and fighting for the game every day  if they get injured what do you think happens... they probally lose about 3 months - 3 years in pay and  maybe never able to play again... it is too much of a risk for them to play and not be paid well
897280
They maybe greedy but not overpaid. If you view it as a business like the owner, if you pay player x this amount, player y sez why can't i be payed the same? Domino effect. The owners then pass it on to the fans who pay to see their teams. Capatilism, supply and demand. If no fans show, then no money etc. How much does the best tiddle wink player make? If you heard that your friend was making more money than you doing the same job would you want the same pay? Its what the market can bare. Granted the pro make money most of us would like to make so it seems alot but i'd rather be the guy who pays them, would'nt you? Does anyone complain that Gates and Buffet make the money they do? They have more, they just don't flaunt it like the pros do.\n\nThe pro athelete only looks ridiculous when they ask for pension plans etc when us dolts obtain our own pension or 401. Dumbest request by pros is when they ask for part of the gate receipts....where do they think the owners are getting their money in the first place to pay them? If they want the gate receipts then let them have it but they must also pay for maintenance and the employees who work there and pay the loan to the local government.
26530
Dear , When the player sells him self to whom pays more ! what do you expect !?\nI guss this's life ; and we don't rule it !
487668
u guys all got it wrong! its Major League Baseball\n65 million for a contract?
1105704
they are paid for how the game turns out like if they won they get paid more if lose than they get paid reguler.  and plus how the players play like kobe when he made those 81 points he scored alot of money because his outcome and dwyane in the play offs he help the team win 4 wins all the way to the championships and he got like raise for his accomplishment and thats it
544446
I think all professional athletes should get paid a lot LESS money! Don't get me wrong, I understand their career's are much shorter, so they need to earn enough to live off for the rest of their lives sometimes (barring a career in management or commentary) but come on, Ballack is now earning £120,000 PER WEEK! That's 6 times my annual salary every week....\nThe girls should be more on a par with men, but that ammount is obscene, nobody, athlete, politician, business man or otherwise should be making so much money.
455506
Sure they are. But the fans keep going to the games and watching them on TV, generating huge advertising revenues.  The owners, don't forget, are are also bringing in bigger bucks; they keep paying the players more to build better teams to attract more fans to attract more dollars.  Vicious circle isn't it.
537954
NBA players make a lot more than NFL players.  Plus the money is guaranteed while no one in the NFL has guaranteed contracts.