Terms and phrases like "overpaid" and "more than they deserve" are all relative. Bottom line: they are the face(s) of billions dollar organizations, and their ability is what makes that organization what it is. They "deserve" a significant portion of that.
No, they earn it. But if hundreds of thousands of people didn't pay a good chunk of their hard- earned money to watch them play, then they would be paid less.
I don't think they're overpaid at all. They're worthy of that much money because they're the best in the world in an extremely skilled profession. For every Ryan Bowen, there are tens of thousands of people who isn't good enough. I would love to be the President and I'll even do it for free, but that doesn't mean the president is overpaid.
Guys think of it this way... these athletes are the best in the world. out of 6 billion people there are what 50k athletes getting paid big money. if you were so good at something such as sports, wouldn't you want to get paid big money as a reward?
star athletes get paid a lot of money b/c they attract a lot of fans. it's that simple. you think them making 20 mil is a lot? for the most part, the owners who are paying them are reaping the benefits. also, you're under-estimating the pressure of performing in front of thousands of people that can boo and heckle and cuss your mom out with just one bad play, with all the cameras focusing on you. so no, they deserve what they get, for the most part.
Thats probably the part that would pump me up the most...in high school sports, the setting is much more intimate, so you hear everything that has been said, not just a bunch of random boo's...if anything, that would make me step up my game...it wouldnt hinder me, make me sad, or make me run away. My ideal situation would be to play in the opponents home field/court, with them booing and heckling the entire time. Thats the fun part of the game.
i don't think a high school gym is anything like professional stadiums. but i get what you're saying. but only stars love those moments (well, except joe johnson). the average athlete wilts under pressure (nick anderson for instance )
You guys ever thought that the reason why they get paid so much is so that they don't fix games? Think about it... if a star quarterback/pointguard/pitcher got paid minimum wage or $50k a year, he could singlehandedly throw an interception, walk batters, commimt turnovers, for one game and throw the game. He could make well over $50k in one days work.
