Sports Money Madness

Although football is on many of our minds this week due to the upcoming "big game," other considerations about sports occur to me. I'm certain that I'm not alone when I muse, "how much money is enough" for an athlete. More importantly, how much is too much?

It's true that few of us will ever be able to achieve the fitness and athletic abilities that many of our highly-paid athletes do. One might want to wonder how many of our multi-million dollar heroes could competently handle the responsibilities of a single mother with three young children who works two jobs and takes classes at night in a community college.

Life is often unfair. For every one of our affluent and nationally celebrated sports figures we find many thousands of indigents and those who have never reached the stage to utilize their strengths and skills. That reality doesn't touch the concept of feasibility. How many chances does one have to excel if you are born into poverty rather than being the son of a Heisman trophy winner? The answer is obvious.

Let's think American Dream. In theory, we all have the same potential to earn the huge salaries and in fact, our history is peppered with the sports notables who began in a slum and ended up in a hall of fame. But if you're not six-foot something and have no time or money to access a health club to develop your abs, your tennis backhand or golf swing, your options will certainly be limited within the sports industry.

Please don't confuse my sense of injustice with envy. The same hierarchies prevail in the public and private sectors where advancements and earnings are sometimes correlated to skills and education, frequently to the contacts whom you have developed. My observations are more concerned with the consequences of extravagant salaries with respect to the people who ultimately contribute to them.

How many $35MM per year athletes per franchise does it take to raise ticket prices beyond affordability? How many juicy contracts result in the prices of hot dogs skyrocketing?

My fantasy is quite simple: Mr. High-Powered, $25MM/year quarterback says to his club owner, "Hey, I appreciate your generosity but let's do this. Take half of it and place it in a fund. Invest it wisely and it will increase in value. I'll sign a three-year contract extension if you use half of my salary as a hedge against operating expenses. You will guarantee that ticket prices won't increase while I'm at quarterback and our fans will benefit. With all of my endorsements and additional income, I've already provided for my parents and kids so that this is all I want to do."

Fantasy? Yes, of course. Naive? Probably. Am I looking at this from the standpoint of one who does not understand sports? By no means. Nonetheless, my dream articulates the highest form of repaying those who enabled these athletes to be where they are. Many famous sports icons have distinguished themselves by charitable acts, foundations and organizations. We are also familiar with those who used money and fame to attempt immunity from the laws that the rest of us observe.

But I'll continue to hope for definitive acts of grace and generosity. If our sports figures are true role models, what better life lessons can be taught?