Why do professional athletes earn so much money?

I'm taking about those players on the NBA, for example. Some of them earn millions of dollars. And for what? Because they're good at it? I mean, sure, they're good, but their playing sports doesn't do anything important other then to entertain. But look at doctors, or nurses, for example. These people save lives, and make other poeple's lives better. IMO their services are more important. What do you think? Is it unfair for athletes to learn lots of money, vs doctors who may not?

Why are teachers so under-payed?

Not many people can be a doctor. But even less people can be an athletic freak of nature like Lebron James. Soo that might be one reason.

Because they help generate hundreds of millions of dollars to their teams.

entertainment = money

doctors = not entertainment

Also they are meant to be role models and all that.

Generate millions + supply and demand.

Whether or not you believe it, there aren't a lot of people capable of being professional athletes.

Because they do something better than anyone else(well barring their peers), which can be tested.

Supply and demand. As long as people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars to watch a game for 2 hours, athletes will be payed millions. Don't blame the athletes, blame the public.Agent-Zero

this was my thinking too, if people didn't watch it they wouldn't get payed

I'm taking about those players on the NBA, for example. Some of them earn millions of dollars. And for what? Because they're good at it? I mean, sure, they're good, but their playing sports doesn't do anything important other then to entertain. But look at doctors, or nurses, for example. These people save lives, and make other poeple's lives better. IMO their services are more important. What do you think? Is it unfair for athletes to learn lots of money, vs doctors who may not?

hydralisk86

Really? Doctors are a volume business. Take a pain doctor, for example.

If you get a prescription for pain meds, that $100 U.S. just for a 5-minute visit.

One doctor I know is pulling down over $2,400 per hour: that's $19,200 per day.:o

entertainment = money

doctors = not entertainment

Also they are meant to be role models and all that.

Sides

I remember saying the same thing you just said a few months ago in one of my blogs. Yeah the teachers, doctors, etc could use a little bit more money. All they do is entertain, same with music artists and everything else. They get paid by their sponsors like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor and other things. The doctors, teachers, police, etc, are the ones that help. Dwayne Wade pulled off a 360 dunk, that's good and allbut that doesn't help this person get a new kidney. It's business though.

Yeah, some doctors get rather a lot of money, but not all, and their pay isn't as crazy as sports people.

cuz ppl pay money to watch there favourite team to play. no one wants to pay a doctor to watch him take care of ppl unless its there own family

people are willing to pay to watch them.

the NBA and NFL are a private business. they're not getting any government money. they're getting money from the fans.

can you do this? didn't think so. thats why

the NBA and NFL are a private business. they're not getting any government money. they're getting money from the fans.

positivebalance

because their careers are usually over by 40, their bodies start giving out on them very young, people are willing to pay a lot of money to see them perform.

[QUOTE="positivebalance"]

the NBA and NFL are a private business. they're not getting any government money. they're getting money from the fans.

Engrish_Major

That's true but the city get's many times that amount back in revenue generated by the team.

Pirate700

[QUOTE="Pirate700"]

That's true but the city get's many times that amount back in revenue generated by the team.

Engrish_Major

Zona should have known better than to invest in hockey. :P

Pirate700

Because theyearn a % of the revenue that the sport brings in
-NFL and NBA players collectively bargained to get x% of revenue

They 'make so much' because we pay them
-through ticket sales, jerseys, or watching commercials (TV contracts)

What would you like to happen with all that revenue...let the rich owner keep it all :?

This and the low pay of others are totally separate issues

Because their careers are short.

people are willing to pay to watch them.

gameboy343

Simply put, they are better than the rest of us shmucks.

The earn millions of dollars because they bring in millions of dollar to their sport. It has nothing to do with the societal value of what they provide. People like to watch and go to NBA games. That generates their salaries.

because we are a decadent society that values entertainment over education. Ontain

You get paid what the person paying you thinks you're worth.

[QUOTE="Ontain"]because we are a decadent society that values entertainment over education. sonicare

[QUOTE="sonicare"][QUOTE="Ontain"]because we are a decadent society that values entertainment over education. F1_2004

There aren't a lot of professional basketball players out there even though lots are willing to become one. It's the extremes they have to reach.

In an affluent society with prosperous and secure lifestyles, entertainment and arts flourish.

I'm taking about those players on the NBA, for example. Some of them earn millions of dollars. And for what? Because they're good at it? I mean, sure, they're good, but their playing sports doesn't do anything important other then to entertain. But look at doctors, or nurses, for example. These people save lives, and make other poeple's lives better. IMO their services are more important. What do you think? Is it unfair for athletes to learn lots of money, vs doctors who may not?

hydralisk86

[QUOTE="hydralisk86"]

I'm taking about those players on the NBA, for example. Some of them earn millions of dollars. And for what? Because they're good at it? I mean, sure, they're good, but their playing sports doesn't do anything important other then to entertain. But look at doctors, or nurses, for example. These people save lives, and make other poeple's lives better. IMO their services are more important. What do you think? Is it unfair for athletes to learn lots of money, vs doctors who may not?

jeremiah06

In an affluent society with prosperous and secure lifestyles, entertainment and arts flourish.

one_plum