Let’s talk about professional sports — specifically football (U.S.), (though it could be Baseball, Basketball, Hockey or Soccer) and even more specifically, the wages of players.
There is a group of around 80-85 young men, average age 22, who received a starting salary of $610,000 last year. This year they will get a bump to $675,000, and next year, 2023, they’ll hold their hands out and pick up checks for a whopping total of $850,000 — guaranteed! For what, you ask? Very probably watching football games from the sidelines. And get this: for only 18 weeks out of 52 in the year . . . and for only 1 day per week for 17 of those 18 weeks! (Plus, watching some movies, attending lectures, exercising and sitting in a steam room a few hours per week).
- These are the rookies who make one of 32 National Football teams. Just the rookies!
- It all starts with about seven or eight newbies arriving at each training camp sometime in July. They work out for perhaps, four hours per day, 6 days per week for 2 weeks. They are paid minimally a per diem “wage”, totally $850 per week.
- Then, if the coaches deem them as “possibles”, they continue on to preseason (this year that date will be August 4th) — the entire team–starting at 90 strong, then reducing the roster until season start ( September 8th in 2022).
- During preseason games the roster is cut from 90 to 80 after the 2nd game, then down to 53 by August 31st. During preseason a newbie is given a minimum of $9,200 per month.
- So, let’s see . . . that’s :
2 weeks training camp: $1,700.00 (22 days) +
2 months preseason games: $18,400.00 (48 days) +
18 weeks (17 days) regular season: $675,000.00 (17 days) ±
So all totaled, these young men of around 22 “earn” . . . from Mid-July — Jan 1, 2023 a whopping total of $695,100.00 (AND chances are he won’t play a minute)
Of course, veteran players are paid much more. Usually from $4 million to $50 million per year with multi year contracts …
eg:
1) Aaron Rodgers (QB), Green Bay Packers – $50.2 million/yr for 3 years
2) Deshaun Watson (QB), Cleveland Browns – $46 million./yr for 4 years …
3) Patrick Mahomes (QB), Kansas City Chiefs – $45 million./yr for 10 years
4) Josh Allen (QB), Buffalo Bills – $43 million/yr for 7 years. …
Remember there are 32 teams, each with a 53-man roster. That’s 1696 players ± . . . We’re talking big bucks!
Are these young men responsible? NO! They, like every 22 year, old look for grandeur, the kids in the old neighborhood worship them, want to follow in their footsteps, owners want to win at all costs… so, while agents scramble to procure record contracts, management appeals for higher ticket prices and push the ceiling higher and higher – – so the fans ( you and I ) ultimately pay.
The average family-of-four costs to attend an NFL game was $568.18 — 88% higher than the 2019 prices.
The Raiders home game was highest at $778.56, which included four tickets, two draft beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, two ball caps and parking.Then comes the New England Patriots, where the family-of-four cost was $669.28.
1% of your annual income gone in 3 hours just to bow down to your heroes / gods.
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Now, here are a few stats to consider:
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
The average individual income in 2021 in the United States was $63,214 ±
In 2021 The national median family income (U.S.) was $79,900 ±
Now here are a few more stats to consider:
Again, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median wage nationally for a police officer in 2021 was $66,020.
Median wage nationally for a firefighter in 2021 was $50,700.
Median wage nationally for a paramedic in 2021 was $36,900.
Folks, these are the REAL heroes — they run into burning buildings to save grandmothers and infants, pull drivers out of crushed vehicles, race injured people to hospitals, stop dangerous drug/alcohol-impaired drivers, track down and bring to justice kidnappers, murderers, hit and run drivers, gun-wielding thugs, on and on. And they work 24/7 as required, year round.
Think of it! — Sally “Jane Doe” Jones — maybe 35 years of age, been with the department around 8 years — making $66,000.00 /year — 24/7 as needed — putting her life on the line for you!
Now, compare that with Joe “draft pick” Rookie — 22 years of age, been with the team 7 months, warming a seat 3 hours/week on the 50 yard line — for most or all of 17 weeks, and picks up a check for $675-$700,000.00 /year — almost 3/4 of a million dollars!
Any thoughts come to mind? Like Odious? Outrageous? Indecent? Disgusting?
My opinion: put a freeze on this nonsense! Put A Cap on signing bonuses, on agent negotiations, on parking, on everything having to do with pro sports!
To you parents and fans: boycott live attendance! Sit home, pop some popcorn, watch the game on TV — or better yet, take your family to a park and play a game of flag football with them!
That’s one man’s opinion
I know it will continue to escalate — greed is too strong — ahhh, well, scripture tells us it’s all vanity and striving after wind.