Professional Athletes Deserve What They Are Being Paid

Abstract3

Introduction3

Discussion3

Athletes Endorse Social Cause4

Professional Athletes Face Career Ending Risk and Injuries5

Short-term Career Span6

Conclusion6

References8

Professional Athletes Deserve What They Are Being Paid

Abstract

Sports in the United States are grand and call upon a huge audience, goodwill and revenue at the same time. Debates on players being overpaid have been part of the popular news; studies and classroom discussions for a very long time. The paper addresses the same issue and clears the stance on their justified payrolls. Sports unite the nation on one ground for thrilling entertainment and fun, and fans approve of the salaries of their stars for this reason.

Introduction

Athletes are often out casted as the millionaire among public and entering into sports is seen as a shorter and quicker way to fill in pockets with thick packs of dollars. Sports fans acknowledge the salaries of their players as deserving; provided their performance is up to the mark and is in accordance with their fans' expectations. Entering into sports has a double-edge benefit, on one side athletes get fame and at times, their fame surpasses that of the movie stars whereas on the other side money-making is easier and less tiresome (as it seems so). Whether the team is playing some season or not, the salaries and comforts are there throughout the year; and if the team wins a match or tournament the revenues are equally shared; be the player plays or stays on standby.

Discussion

In the following sections, one basic question will be answered i.e. why professional athletes deserve what they are being paid? The answers are drawn after taking into account various resources and justifications given by previous researcher in their studies conducted over the period of time.

Athletes Endorse Social Cause

It is observed across the seas that the money professional athletes make is utilized in providing benefits to the society in one way or another. According to an article published by Progress Avenue the money earned by famous Jay Cutler is sent to his Jay Cutler Foundation which helps in supporting children diagnosed with diabetes, a couple of years back in 2009, he together with Eli Lilly sent the children to ADA's camp for scholarship fund under the program “Touchdowns for Diabetes”, for each touchdown pass he contributed $1,000 (Glase, 2009). Similarly three years earlier to the event, the retired basketball player Dikembe Mutombo invested his riches to serve in the health sector of his homeland. His Dikembe Mutombo Foundation aims at improving the health, education and quality of life of the nationals of Democratic Republic of the Congo. As recorded in news published in Houston Chronicle, he has donated $15 million — more than half the funds needed — to his dream hospital named after his mother for the noble cause (Feigen, 2006).

Athletes are trained to value their well-being and to groom for they are representatives of their respective states and cultures. This training in the long run develops among them sensitivity for others' interests and security as ...