Pro Athletes Are Overpaid - Assignment Example

Pro athletes are overpaid In the sponsorship spending in the sport industry was more than $ 50 billion (IEG). This figure clearly indicates the scale at which the athletes are being paid. No one can deny the quality of game that one witness today, but does it justify the sum spent on it. The sole purpose of sports is entertainment, spending such huge amounts in organizing and advertising them, does not make any sense. Especially, when one considers the global scenario, there are countries suffering from drought and illness, there are millions who are devoid of access to clean drinking water, and then there are many orphans and homeless all around the globe. Although it is true that the amount spent in sports is not enough to deal with the matters concerning the humanity; it will still be enough to eliminate illiteracy from the globe, and provide foods for the millions. Therefore, there is no doubt that professional athletes are paid a lot more than what they deserve. Entertainment was used by the Roman emperors as way of distracting masses from involving into the matters of the state (Coates and Humphreys; Frey and Eitzen.). This will be too harsh to say, however, the way money is poured into the accounts of few individuals is not at all pleasing. The changing trends of the sport industry have been a source of discontent among the professionals belonging to other fields of life (Schaffer). They question the need of such an extravagant industry that offers nothing but entertainment; and they compare their services, with the services that are offered by athletes. To understand the modifications that took place in changing the attitudes of the people towards professional level sports, one will have to consider several things. Such as socio-economic order, historical proofs, pros and cons of expanding sport industry, and the factors that contributed in commercializing sports (Baker; Loy; Messner). Economy is an important determinant of a society. The economic activities prevalent within a community define the nature of relationship among the individuals. The variation in the modes of generating income increases the complexity of relationships within a society. People sharing similar economic activities tend to socialize more among themselves, as compared to tying up with people from upper or lower economic stature. Such adherences among people belonging to same scale of earning tend to formulate a class. Society is thus a consortium of such classes; however, it may be distinctively organized or it may have some overlaps. The main function of this socio-economic arrangement is to define the roles or duties that are assigned to the individuals belonging to a particular class. Society has definitely transformed throughout the ages. Similarly it has modified the roles of the people that they play in establishing a social order. For instance, the profession of medicine is an old one; every community had its own way of treating illnesses. However, the status of a physician until the nineteenth century was no more than an artisan. Today, medicine is among the top earning and most respectable professions. Such transformations have been observed in several other fields of life, for example the entertainment industry (Baade; Houlston; Torre). The contributions of both the industries mentioned above are entirely different. Medicine offers remedies for survival, while entertainment is just for the sake enjoyment. Medicine is among the basic needs, whereas entertainment is among accessories. The sports industry of the present day is among the leading profit generating industries. People associated with it; earn more than many other industries. The reason being the strict competition among the athletes; not everyone can survive the battle for the best. The place of athletes within the social stature has definitely improved, however, their role is still the same; they are entertainers. If we go back a hundred years, who could have thought that athletes will be earning millions of dollars annually. The question is not about the millions that these athletes make in the present times of severe unemployment, but the major concern of the people is that is it justified or not. Definitely, sports are healthy, yet demanding. Youth idealize athletes, and men spend their free time in watching games. To be a good athlete is a matter of pride, because everyone cannot reach the level of excellence that a professional athlete attains in his or her carrier (Henderson, Olbrecht and Polachek.). However, do these qualities in professional athletes justify their right of earning millions? Some of the arguments that people bring to justify high salaries for athletes are discussed below. The proponent of high income for athletes use competition as their basic argument, they say that athletes are to face very tough competition within the industry. They suggest that these athletes are under enormous pressure, and they are bound give their best within the arena. The next argument is that these athletes have their career at high risk. Adding to the risk factor involved in the career of sportsmen, they also present the matter relating to the short span of earning. Further, they mention the physiological and sociological stressors that are to be faced by these athletes in order to maintain their form, and to entertain the masses. The first argument in favor of athletes’ high wages was competition, definitely, it is true that athlete need to compete in exhausting environment, but to counter this argument, one can suggest the competition that general all around globe are involved in. They are neither competing for excellence nor they demand millions of dollars, all they desire is for basic physiological needs like access to clean drinking water, and food for their families. Therefore, spending millions for the wellbeing of an individual is in no way justifiable over suffering of millions of people. Moreover, the amount spent on professional athletes can be allocated for betterment of these masses, because entertainment is among the accessories, while survival is necessary. Soldiers at war; policemen at the crime scenes; and other blue collar professionals working in hazardous environment are at a greater than those who drive sports cars and play in the fields. The argument of exposure to greater risk to health and career becomes null and void, considering the duties performed blue collar forces, policemen and soldiers; so there are more people who deserve to earn good, as compared to those who just know how to play. The next related argument from the well-wishers of professional athletes is that the career of an athlete is short lived; therefore, there is no harm in pouring millions of dollars into their account. The average earning of professional athletes in the west ranges between seven to eight digit annual salaries. This is equal to the amount that would be earned by a highly qualified doctor after a service of 30 years. Again the question of contribution towards the masses becomes a hurdle in justifying the notion of paying professional athletes more than their services. Last, but not the least comes the question with respect to the sacrifices that the professional athletes had to make during their careers. Definitely, athletes need to follow a strict nutritional plan, complemented with strenuous training. Moreover, they have to travel a lot from one venue to another venue. Therefore, some people think that these professionals must be paid handsomely. As a matter of fact, the soldiers serving in Afghanistan or other conflicted regions must be paid three to four times more than these entertainers. In criticizing the monopoly of the sport industry, one must not overlook its positive side. It is a regular source of income for millions all around the globe excluding the professional athletes. For instance, people involved in media or the sport journalists, people who manufacture sport goods, and people involved in looking after arena and sports centers. If we consider the status of athletes in the Greek society in contrast to our own society, or compare the present day athletes with the gladiators of the Roman Empire, one would observe several differences, along with certain similarities. As suggested earlier the role of athletes as entertainers has been preserved throughout the history. Their contribution towards masses has not changed; their actions are nothing more than a treat of spectacle. Athletes were praised as gods in the ancient times, and even today the phenomenon of hero worship still persists. Gambling on sports is also among some of the features related to this niche of entertainment, which has survived, though the scale may have changed (Baker; Musselman). Things related to sports that have changed or being modified over the course of history includes the increase in professionalism; expansion; nature and variety of sports; competition; and the involvement of corporate system. Athletes of today observe a strict professional attitude; they follow a well-planned time table and a strict routine. They do it because they know that there is no margin for error, and they are aware of the competition that they have to face in a globalized setup. Athletes of the past were praised for their agility and ability of play different sports, however, in the today’s world athletes have become more specific and goal oriented (Kahn). Rather than using their physicals strength in all the different forms of sports, they tend to master only one or very few. All these changes in the attitudes of the professional athletes are due to the money that is being poured into the sports industry. Companies offer sponsorships to the clubs or teams, which in return promise to hire the best available athletes. The stakes are pretty high in the sports arena of today. Billions of dollars are spent by multinational companies for gaining partnership in organizing sports events. Further, there are hundreds of TV and radio channels that are specifically designed for broadcasting sporting activities. Money won on chance has also contributed towards the promotion of the sports industry. While summing up all the factors that have contributed towards making the sports industry as one of the most exuberant industries of the world, one comes to ask a question that what the major reasons behind these transformations were? One of the most important reasons is the love of sports among the masses, people worship their superstars, and they follow them, buy their collectables, watch their games and attach emotions to them (Coakley; Noblet and Gifford). These emotions or feelings were always present, but they were never exploited by the investors of the past, the way they have been used in later half of the twentieth century. Media has been a helping tool for these investors, it not only provided maximum exposure to the sport lovers, but it also played a keen role in transforming the attitudes of the masses towards sports. People started spending more and more in entertaining themselves, and the corporate sector continued collecting it. Thus the demi gods of the ancient world have turned into billionaires of today. Some thinkers suggest that the element of entertainment has been endorsed into the minds of masses, so that they do not pay attention to grievous matters, and indulge in activities that entertain them. This may be true, but the main reason behind this boost in the sport industry lies with the interest of the investors, who want to exploit the masses, and multiply their own pockets. The contribution of professional athletes towards society has not changed; however, their status has improved. This is due to the involvement of corporate sector into the world of sports. The income generated by professional athletes is several times greater than the average income of a common man. Their job is to play, and they have nothing else to deliver; therefore, paying them in millions does not make any sense. People who justify the right of athletes to higher grades of income, are actually those who have their interests associated with them, otherwise, one can find no reason in justifying the pay scale enjoyed by professional athletes. References Baade, Robert Allen. " Stadiums, professional sports, and economic development: Assessing the reality." Heartland Institute (1994). Baker, William H. "Tax Significance of Place of Residence for Professional Athletes, The." Marq. Sports. LJ (1990). Coakley, Jay J. "Leaving competitive sport: Retirement or rebirth?." Quest (1983): 1-11. Coates, Dennis and Brad R. Humphreys. "The effect of professional sports on earnings and employment in the services and retail sectors in US cities." Regional Science and Urban Economics (2003): 175-198. Frey, James H. and D. Stanley Eitzen. " "Sport and society." Annual Review of Sociology (1991): 503-522. Henderson, Daniel J., Alexandre Olbrecht and and Solomon W. Polachek. 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