Sports Stars Salaries
So it looks as if Sammy Sosa is going to remain a Chicago Cub, but it now seems that he wants to re-negotiate his contract for next year. Now, it doesn't seem to matter to Mr. Sosa that he already has a perfectly legal contract to play with the Cubs next year. He wants a new contract; the multi-millions he is scheduled to make next year are suddenly not enough.
Sosa unfortunately is not alone. The rampant greed of today's stars stretch across all of the major sports and are beginning to make a family outing to a ball game a thing of the past for all but the wealthiest fans. Add the price of tickets to the cost of a hotdog and soda, parking, programs, etc. and you are looking at upwards of a few hundred dollars easy for a family of four.
We, as fans, are going to have to start re-evaluating our support of these overpriced athletes. Does anyone really think that Sammy Sosa should earn 1,000 times more than a public school teacher?
Obviously the greed of ownership is no better. Owners get city taxpayers to build them stadiums and then sell "their team" for enormous profits because the package of the team and the stadium are worth more than the team is by itself (just ask George W. Bush and the residents of Arlington Texas). And if the local taxpayers won't pony up they move the team to a more "friendly" city.
Now, I like sporting events as much as the next guy but I am beginning to re-evaluate my support of overpaid athletes and Napoleononic owners. I have begun watching the U.S. women's soccer team instead of the NBA, skipped the first half of the MLB season, and can't wait for the Olympics to start. We'll see if my convictions can survive the opening of the NFL season.
