One reason athletes are paid so much is because of the mere fact that they are entertainment. If americans didn't give a rip about sports than the amount of money being paid out would be substantially less. The money these sports fans are willing to shell out for ticket prices, team merchandise, food, and anything else all goes to the team. When the team is making money, so is everyone else that is envolved with the team or franchise.
However, to make a team win, which brings in more fans, thus bringing in more revenue, you must invest in players. Notice I say invest, a franchise isn't paying the player for his sole athletic ability, they are also paying for the players name. For example the Indianapolis Colts have a contract with Payton Manning for roughly 100 million dollars for 7 years. Is Manning worth that much? Well if you have ever been to a Colts game, or even watched one on tv, you have probably seen many number "18" jerseys. Each time some one buys a jersey ($98 at Lucas Oil Stadium), part of that money goes to the manufacturer, a sum goes to the NFL, the stadium, the Colts franchise, and about 8% of each jersey sell goes to Manning. Therefore, the Colts, who are making money off of anything with Mannings name on it (jerseys are just an example), are making a good profit. So paying an athlete an absurd amount of money is simple economics.
Sports are one of the few things left holding this economy together. Besides being a form of relaxation to some of the millions who are having finacial trouble, they are a sort of "economic stimulas package". Each home game serves as a stimulas to the economy. People come to the stadium, when going to the stadium they stop at the nearest McDonalds on the interstate just outside the city to save time. Lets say the spend $12 total, in doing that they are supporting the countless teens who are working their. After fast food, these fans arrive to the stadium. But first, they must park their car, so they pay $15 to park. Now they must buy their tickets. Yes, ticket prices can be some what outrages, but think of it this way, everyone knows that if a product is selling than raise the price of that product. Well tickets are a product of the said franchise, so high ticket prices are just a form of supply and demand. Alright, so after dishing out $70 for two tickets you walk in the stadium. The stadium is employing hundreds of lower to middle class workers to serve all of your needs while at the stadium, which puts money back in to the economy. After watching the team win, the fans decide to go celebrate. So, they go down town to the nearest bar. After buying dinner and a few rounds for other fans, they pay their tab at $80. It's late now and they are pretty wasted so they decide to get a hotel for the night, thats $100.
I could keep going on, but I'll stop at that. The two fans spent about $270 in and around the city. Thats only two fans, and there are tens of thousands that attend games. Franchises also support the community and give back.
SPARK NOTES: Athletes getting paid are a good thing, it stimulates the economy.
I typed that whole thing up just for NS so I hope you read it. Icould go on and on and on about why athletes deserve the amount of money they recieve.
