You’ve all probably heard about LeBron James’ $90 million deal with Nike. Well as an encore, they signed 13 year old soccer player Freddy Adu to a million dollar deal. Well, no sooner than this article was written – Perhaps next, Nike will sponsor a newborn – Reebok is rumored to have signed 3 year old Mark Walker Jr., aka Lil’ Mark. (I just heard that on Pardon the Interruption) I guess Reebok didn’t want to risk losing another kid to Nike. Lil’ Mark once made 18 consecutive shots on an 8-foot basket. I can understand the logic behind Nike’s signings, especially for getting Adu for just $1 million. But a 3 year old? Me thinks there may be a bubble in the kid signing business.
The other day the guys on PTI said that Yao Ming has a 6′ 5″ b-ball playing girlfriend in China. They joked that Nike was gonna pay them a million to have a kid.
Something is tragically corrupt about any society that pays $90 million to an 18-year old kid for dribbling and shooting a ball (albeit execeedingly well), but pays teachers, police officers and firefighters salaries beginning in the 20K per year range. Ahhhh, do I smell the sweet aroma of “moral bankruptcy” and “decayed social values”?
And the pundits keep harping about LeBron James’s potential. My cousin Kelly sums it up nicely when she says, “Potential means you ain’t done shit yet.”
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Kenny,
You’re right to be concerned about kids forsaking education for dreams of being the next athletic superstar. Unfortunately that’s been going on for a very long time, especially in the Black community. I know so many people that were told since Jr. High that they were “the man”, and would surely go pro, and they believed the hype. That led them to neglect their studies, and the schools (especially the high schools) let them get away with that… And gave them passing grades. So once these guys got to college (assuming they actually has the test scores to get admitted), most found out they weren’t stars anymore, and had nothing to fall back on. Several of these guys are in jail or drug addicts now. Sadly, I fear that the LeBron episode can only increase the madness.
Jef,
While I agree that teachers, and civil servants are underpaid, I can’t go as far to agree that our society is corrupt b/c athletes make millions. This is a capitalist society. If a person is generating millions, or billions, of dollars in revenue shouldn’t they be entitled to a cut? You don’t hear people complaining about all the money team owners make. But when the athletes make the money something is terribly wrong with the world. If LeBron can fill the Cavalier’s stadium, increase TV ratings (ad revenue to the NBA) and sell millions of pairs of shoes he should be paid accordingly. The same argument can be applied to actors and musicians, or any other business person.
Didn’t we just have this discussion last week??
For that matter, teachers should get a cut! Aren’t they agents, per se, to many of these superstars? What about Ruben or Clay’s music teachers, who have been integral forces in refining their talents respectivley?? Yes, we have a Capitalist society, but one with extremely skewed values. I may be going off on a tangent (you started it), but too often teachers are the ones raising, molding, and sculpting kids who are dropped off by parents who lack interest in their children’s (educational) strides. Simply put, teachers are short-changed for the role they play in producing beautiful minds/talents – athletes, actors, singers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses – the list goes on. Don’t you watch ‘Boston Public’??
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That brings me to another great debate that I heard on the radio this morning. Should parents be entitled to getting something (monetary) when a child makes it big?? Are children obligated to break-off parents for sacrifices they made during formative years?? It was interesting to hear that there were strong convictions either way – i.e. obligation vs. desire to compensate parents. Any thoughts?
You and Jef are sounding like communists! So are you paying part of your salary to your former teachers? I didn’t think so. I don’t think kids are obligated to break their parents off either. That’s an individual decision.
You’re missing the point. The people who are “being paid” big money are GENERATING big-time revenue. They are making their own money. I’ll repeat, this is a capitalist system, it’s supposed to be lopsided.
Let me say it slowly this time… they… are… generating… large… revenue… streams. Teachers, firefighters, and police are not. Do I think those people should be paid more? Yes, I do. But I understand the reasons for the disparity.
I’m not ignorant to those facts. . .still doesn’t make it right. Perhaps if emphasis were placed on value-add rather than, or in addition to, cash generation, then there would be less disparity. Teachers, in particular, are fundamental factors for equipping these elite professionals with the tools they need to generate that money.
Well said, Sir Jefrey…
An eloquent and poignant declaration. . .couldn’t have said it better myself…
Reebok and Nike have cross the line on paying that much money to athlete that have not prove anything. This might be a good investment but it can also back fire them.
I don’t know about all this crap but i do believe Nike just has to much money to throw away if there spending 240 million for 4 athletes. I don’t think its right…
I have to agree with Chelle. Teachers receive little credit for the impressions they leave on children, and this shows through their paychecks. However, if athletes/actors, team owners, etc. are making the big money, who’s to say they need all of it? If it is society that is making them rich, then it is society who should reap some of the dough. Yes, some of these rich professionals donate to charities, but not all of them. Why it hasn’t been mandatory for these individuals to give back to society where it is really needed is beyond me. I find it hard to believe that most Americans are okay with professional people wasting millions on numerous mansions and automobiles. This just goes to show how much they really don’t need to be paid so much, and that no harm would come to their wage rate being lowered at least slightly. We the people make them rich, yet we are the ones who are suffering because of it. Maybe it is highly unlikely for these rich professionals to have their wages regulated, but it saddens me that still the majority of the population would rather ignore it, and say that it is fair. Is it really? I guess it depends on the perspective.
I have to agree with Chelle. Teachers receive little credit for the impressions they leave on children, and this shows through their paychecks. However, if athletes/actors, team owners, etc. are making the big money, who’s to say they need all of it? If it is society that is making them rich, then it is society who should reap some of the dough. Yes, some of these rich professionals donate to charities, but not all of them. Why it hasn’t been mandatory for these individuals to give back to society where it is really needed is beyond me. I find it hard to believe that most Americans are okay with professional people wasting millions on numerous mansions and automobiles. This just goes to show how much they really don’t need to be paid so much, and that no harm would come to their wage rate being lowered at least slightly. We the people make them rich, yet we are the ones who are suffering because of it. Maybe it is highly unlikely for these rich professionals to have their wages regulated, but it saddens me that still the majority of the population would rather ignore it, and say that it is fair. Is it really? I guess it depends on the perspective.
yes the athletes are overpayed by alot im sick of seeing people die b/c they don’t have enough money to buy food when this young athlete is living like a king
word up kid