new collective bargaining agreement (before and after the approval), by observing the current salaries of top athletes in their respective sports, and by concocting possible solutions.

Shaquille O’Neal, formerly of the Orlando Magic, signed almost two years ago with the Los Angeles Lakers for an enormous $120 million over seven seasons.... Alonzo Mourning signed with the Miami Heat for a seven year deal worth about $112 million.... These fat contracts have brought out the question: Are pro athletes worth the millions they are paid? Basketball Hall of Famer David Thompson states, "Players have such a short time to make their money. If you look at others in the entertainment

Michael Jordan, for example, got paid about $35 million a year not counting endorsements. Let’s put that in easier terms:

That is a ton of money when one looks at it this way. If one includes the endorsements he gets, which are from Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, Ballpark hot dogs, Jordan shoes and clothing, Rayovac Batteries, and Michael Jordan cologne, he makes about one million dollars per game. Now this is a little too much, even if it is, in fact, Michael Jordan, probably the best basketball player to play the game.

business, you’d think so. Look at Mike Tyson. He made $30 million for the six minutes and 50 seconds it took for him to knockout Frank Bruno" (Rhodes and Reibstein 44). Zachary M. Jones, an

Jordan said that he would not play for any other team except the Bulls. It’s not only he wouldn’t, but he could not, unless he was willing to take a pay cut. This was because the NBA salary cap was about $27 million. He was already getting $36 million with the Bulls a few years ago. The Bulls could have paid him as much as they want because the cap doesn’t apply to teams re-signing their own players.

Before doing an in-depth analysis of pro sports salaries, one ignorant person would conclude that these salaries are way too high. However, sports salaries are "okay" to be enormous. This is because high salaries show that the economy and basketball revenue are up, because that is where the owners get the money to pay the athletes. After Glen Taylor signed upcoming superstar Kevin Garnett, season ticket sales went soaring. Finally, if a player is allowed to make the money, why is it such a bad thing? More power to them. Yet athletes should be satisfied with their current salar

Some topics in this essay:
Taylor Garnett, Athlete Salaries, Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan, Bulls It’s, Mark Rosen, Rosen Sports, Bulls Garnett, Taylor Timberwolves, Miami Heat, kevin garnett, michael jordan, sports salaries, deal worth, athlete salaries, six deal worth, pro athletes, glen taylor, six deal, figure salaries, athletes worth,