Can we stop paying sports stars so much money a give it to the real heros?

Question

I believe that Sports stars aren't Heros and dont deserve all that money, I think that our Military guys deserve it for fighting for us and putting their lives on the line....

I wonder why things as so imbalanced.

AHHH! HOW DARE YOU COMPARE ME TO THAT HORRIBLE WOMAN [haha]

i just mean that the troops so more than sports for our country. its fine that they get paid that money but why does out miilitary get paid so little.

[is more my point]

Answer 1

I agree with you on the one hand, that troops deserve higher pay.

But your "sport star" comparison is out of character for you. They get paid what the market will bear. It's pure capitalism, and I thought you were all for that?

Answer 2

The socio-economic deferrence paid to sports (especially in the form of corporate welfare, like publicly funded ballparks and cash incentives for a team to remain in a certain city) is an obscene, but hardly surprising feature of modern capitalism.

Professional sports plays a very important role in society as a distraction - it gives people something to concern themselves with while neglecting other, more important issues that directly effect their lives. You know, like the lack of adequate health care, the huge budget deficit, the subsidizing of big business, etc.

Take a look at how much time and space is dedicated to sports news. Watch how your local TV stations promote the local team as "OUR Padres" or "OUR Dolphins" or "OUR Lakers." And sports fans dutifully follow the lead, obsessing over the victories of their favorite team, despite the fact that they gain NOTHING from the spectacle, beyond entertainment.

Your question could also be applied to celebrities. Why is so much time dedicated to the stars' pregnancies or scrapes with the law?

The next time you watch your local news, use a stopwatch and time the stories (or segments). How much time is spent talking about the war and how much time is spent talking about Paris Hilton?

If you ask members of the broadcast news media (especially news directors and producers), they will tell you that the public doesn't want a lot of news. The public wants to be entertained. Well, ask yourself - who is served by this approach? Is it you, the consumer of the news ... or is it the advertisers who want you to buy their products and services?

Finally, why ARE military men and women paid so little?

The sad, but simple truth is, they are expendable pawns in the game. They are numbers. They are not human beings whose welfare we have to be concerned. We might get to see their pictures when they're killed, or when someone is waving a flag.

Who is the best known casualty of the war(s)? Pat Tillman, a celebrity football player. And when he was killed by friendly fire, what happened? Did the government apologize to his family? No. They created a story that was a complete myth and the media dutifully reported it.

Answer 3

It is a market driven economy. If everyone stopped watching sports, then they would not get the money. Just like movies. They get more per hour than sports figures. There is not a lot of profit in war - for the government or the soldiers. We could sell tickets or film the war and show it in the theater.

Answer 4

Sports stars and actors are getting paid for creating a product that makes a profit. The people that are obscenely and undeservedly overpaid are the CEOs and majority shareholders in these companies. Maybe the CEOs and majority shareholders of companies like Halliburton that are profiting off the war should give some of that money to the troops.

Answer 5

Sports stars like actors and business leaders are funded by voluntary contributions from all of us:Consumers. Military, Teachers ect..Are funded by Involuntary Contributions:Taxes.
I guess the only way to lower the "Stars" pay, would be to tax us to go watch them play, instead of buying tickets.
The News Media seems to make the most money by televising the war...
Interesting note: The Private Companies who supply "Soldiers" or "Mercenaries" do pay them quite a bit more. And their are many of those in Iraq...

Answer 6

Simple economics.

When the Sixers gave Moses Malone the first million dollar contract - an OUTRAGEOUS amount - they sold a million dollars more in season tickets. So Malone paid for himself.

So maybe the answer is to sell tickets to the war.
Seeing an M1 crush an insurgent would be much more exciting than seeing Kobe cry and moan for 40 minutes.

Answer 7

Isn't it interesting that the US Military [Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard] & [FBI, Secret Service, US Marshals, etc] provide the security for the United States, UK, etc??

Remember those who served in the military placed their lives on the line to protect the freedom of these other "heroes".

I donot consider Mark McGuire a hero due to his winning all those records and honors by making himself someone other than who he really was by using steroids. It's an articificial victory.

Sports should be a job just like any other. CEO's getting $50 million in salary, $140Million in stock options .........and for just one year's compensation. Maybe we should take up a collection for these guys. Obviously they're in desparate financial shape. Must be tough.

I spent 32 years in the US Army. My wife left me because she couldn't handle the stress of my being in Iraq. I am rich by no means whatsoever. Just a regular guy. Working hard just like responsible people do.

The "real" heroes aren't getting compensated appropriately. Yet they supply the security for those sports stars. The "real" heroes donot get to live normal lives after being hit with roadside bombs........minus a leg, minus an arm, brain damage, post traumatic stress and that's for life.

Who're are our REAL heroes?

Answer 8

LOLOLOL

stay_fan1: that was one of the most hilarious things I have ever read! Great answer!

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Hey, I disagree with much of what you blab here...but I totally agree with this one!

So, the proposal should be this: all entertainers (singers, actors, people who throw a ball around, etc) should have their salary lumped off at, what, a million?

Send the extra to the troops for supplies, weapons, etc.

Also, I think our firefighters, policemen, and teachers could use a little financial aid as well. Send some their way!

Those million dollar athletes will still get endorsements, they can still keep their boats, their flotilla of cars, their multiple houses around the world.

Answer 9

Um, it's called capitalism. Something that conservatives love to tout.The market dictates that as long there is a demand for sports and entertainment, these atheletes will get millions. If national defense were privatized, soldiers would, indeed, get paid more for their work. Of course, they won't get any of the perks afforded to them by the federal gov't, such as tuition assistance, free room and board, etc.

Answer 10

Sports teams make millions off of the stars or they would not be paid so much.