“The salaries of professional athletes have always been a subject of debate. Athletes’ salaries were only peanuts 20 years ago compared with the money even rookie athletes make today” (Clemons 48). Being a collegiate athlete, who one day hopes to play professionally, I truly and honestly believe that professional athletes do deserve the amount of money they’re getting paid. “Some people say that they don’t deserve the huge contracts. Then again, others feel that if a person has a talent and they are able to earn the money, why shouldn't they?” (Brane). My stance on the issue is probably different from one who is not a sports fan or doesn’t have the desire to one day play professionally.
“Today more people are attending sporting events than ever. Sports have a truly unique ability, they bring people of all races, genders, and social classes together forming one common bond, the well-being of the home team. Sports also give people a sense of hope, when fans see their favorite player score a touchdown or hit a homerun it gives them the faith that they can do well in their own endeavors (“Athlete Salaries”). If sports do this much for the people of our nation, then shouldn’t the players be paid accordingly

…Fans… should not blame the athlete, they are just getting

Why is it that athletes are always the ones who catch all the criticism for the amount of money they make? A well-trained athlete is no different from a doctor or a lawyer. “While athletes put in an enormous amount of time to participate in college athletics and pursue a college degree, pre-medical students work just as hard to become doctors...yet athletes get all the criticism” (Brane). Rarely are doctors or lawyers criticized because of the type of salary they pull in. These professions require a certain skill that these individuals were born with and they’re using that talent to the best of their ability to make the most amount of money they can. Why should athletes be any different? “While doctors and lawyers can have successful careers for a lifetime, making boundless money, the chance for an athlete to play professional sports is nearly impossible and the ability to stay is even harder” (Brane). “It’s interesting that big-money jealousies focus on athletes much more than movie stars and entertainers” (Eskin). According to Jeffrey Durand, president and CEO of Durand Enterprises, “No one complains, or even raises an eyebrow, when Sylvester Stallone or Jim Carey makes $20 million per film. Athletes are doing the same thing, entertaining the populous. So why should anyone complain or even care” (Clemons 49). All the blame seems to be pitted on the athletes for no apparent reason. They’re doing nothing but earning the maximum amount that someone is willing to pay them. If you or I were offered $100,000 to perform a particular job at Company A, would you take an offer for the same job at Company B for $50,000. Of course not, we want to make the most money we can in the shortest amount of time possible. Same is true with professional athletes. “Put yourself in their situation and I guarantee that each and every one of you would do the same thing” (“Athletes Salaries”).

their piece of the pie. What the athlete makes is just a small

Now onto the business side of sports, or should I say the big-business side of sports. “...professional sports teams are corporations, ‘big-business’ corporations” (Clemons 49). The salaries of professional athletes are based on the amount of money they make for their franchise. If the owners weren’t making the amount of money they presently are, the players wouldn’t be getting paid nearly as much as they are now. “One aspect people tend to ignore is the ability of the owners to pay the athletes all the money. No one in their right mind would pay an athlete $100 million if they didn‘t have or believe they could make more that that amount of money” (Brane).