Are athletes paid too much?
November 19, 2018
By JUSTICE CHUKWUEMEKA
The Mirror reporter
Many athletes receive millions of dollars for a profession that is probably the least important in a cluster of careers.
Lots of problems arise because of athletes’ salaries. Some of these problems include financial instability after retirement, abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, and false worship of athletes.
It has been reported that 78 percent of National Football League (NFL) players and 60 percent of National Basketball Association (NBA) players end in bankruptcy after five years in retirement. These statistics give us an insight into the disrespectful way many athletes treat the money they receive.
This is due to the fact that many of these athletes came from a background where money was not limitless. Inexperienced in dealing with this kind of money, many of them end up making misguided financial management decisions which lead to bankruptcy.
Even athletes feel they receive more money than worth their effort. After signing his five year $100 million contract NFL quarterback Drew Brees noted, “Unless you are finding a cure for cancer or creating world peace, I don’t know if anybody deserves to get that much money.”
This much money is also creating an excuse for bad behavior. You might ask why someone receiving this huge amount of money would behave inappropriately.
Some of these athletes use steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to get an edge on their competition for more money and fame. This is a problem because they abuse the drugs and become more aggressive.
The huge money that these athletes receive has created a false worship of athletes. Fans immerse themselves into athletes’ daily lives like they are gods. Athletes are just people like us and not different. Just because a person can run a little faster or play a little better doesn’t make them almighty.
Firefighters and doctors save people’s lives on a daily basis and yet they don’t receive a fraction of what most athletes do. Compensation should be based on the importance of the job and not entertainment. Pay people that make a difference in the world.
Hlee • Nov 27, 2018 at 10:55 AM
I, too also feel that athletes are paid too much of what they’re actually worth. I understand that talent is hard to find and that they should get pay at a higher amount for their rare talents, but to be paid at the number of millions is just far too much. Their occupations unlike teachers, doctors, firefighter, researchers who are actually doing something important in this, bring us nothing, but entertainment. It’s a sad world we’re living in when we’d pay athletes more than people who makes a differences in others’ life.
Willow • Nov 26, 2018 at 11:13 AM
Nice article. So many people don’t realize how much pro athletes are paid for hitting people vs other jobs.
Lauren Huebner • Nov 26, 2018 at 8:15 AM
Nice job! I do like watching football but agree that they are grossly being overpaid. Doctors, police, firefighters, even the President of the US doesn’t make nearly as much as professional athletes. That shows just how much the US cares about its sports and how little it seems to care about people who can save our lives.
Soren Luther • Nov 25, 2018 at 8:39 PM
Good job on your article! There are many problems with sports these days that should be looked at and fixed. I agree with you that people who make a difference in the world should be treated with more respect than they are. Keep up the great work!
Rachel Placeway • Nov 25, 2018 at 12:43 PM
I really enjoyed reading this article. I totally agree with your point that the amount a person is paid should depend on the importance of the job.
Madison Rindahl • Nov 20, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Great job! It’s true that athletes do get paid a lot. But some sports like football are becoming more and more dangerous. I really enjoyed the article and found it very interesting.
Maryann Silva • Nov 20, 2018 at 10:42 AM
Great job Justice, as always! Fabulous article. I agree with most of the statements made in your article. Keep up the great work!!
Bryant VanRossem • Nov 20, 2018 at 10:41 AM
This is a well written article. I think that athletes should not be paid as much they do but a good amount still and that doctors and firefights and many more should be paid more.