Professional athletes are way overpaid in my opinion. I am by no means saying that what they can do is not remarkable or that it is not entertaining to watch them occasionally but I believe that they receive to much money for the risk they are subject to and the amount they contribute to society.
The first matter I would like to discuss is the risk that professional athletes are subject to. While I cannot deny that football players and hockey players can be seriously hurt, but at the same time the risk they run is comparatively small compared to policemen, firefighters and military personnel. Why we glorify athletes who break laws and hurt people while underpay police and others who will forever be beyond me. Firefighters who risk their lives every time they are called for should be able to live their lives in comfort when they retire and military personnel should not fear losing their livelihood because they are injured protecting their country.
Another reason I believe that athletes are overpaid is because of their contributions to society. I spent a year doing public service and in all my time working in a school I encountered professional athletes twice; once when reading a book to a second grader and again when a kid compared himself to Lebron James in the schoolyard. I am not saying that athletes are not valuable role models for children. Sports are a good way to stay fit, meet new people and just have fun. I can recall many times while I was in school when other kids named athletes as their hero for their hard work and determination. But why do we not also recognize other figures who have can serve as role models for children. A single good teacher can change a child's outlook in school for a whole year and encourage them to continue their education. But while education is on the minds of America teachers still are paid less then what many deserve and many schools struggle with funding. I would much rather children receive the education they deserve, because teachers are not afraid to enter the profession because of low pay or if they decide to cannot do their best due to lack of resources.
Professional athletes should be drawn to the sport because they love it, not because they are drawn to the money. They should be paid based on the risk they are exposed to, the time they must commit to say at their level and yes for being the best there are at what they do. But in comparison they are truly overpaid to others who are more important to our society.
I'm intrigued by the many uses of teachers as examples to illustrate that athletes are overpaid :). You do make a good distinction that, by comparison, they're overpaid--when we look at them in relation to other workers in our society. Do you believe that professional athletes just do it for the money--that they wouldn't possess the same love of the sport even if they didn't make that amount of money? The first sentence of your last paragraph indicates this, but I'm not sure that's a claim that can be made. Consider, as well, the idea of contributing to society. If we don't encounter it personally, does that necessarily mean they aren't doing it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, be sure to leave time to carefully proofread your entries so that your ideas aren't lost to error.