Over Paid Athletes

There are people starving in Africa, thousands of people living in homeless shelters across Canada, devastating environmental disasters across the world all of which could be solved, at least in part, with money.

While all of this is happening in front of our eyes, we are simultaneously watching professional athletes get paid millions of dollars to play sports and entertain us. Is it just me, or is something seriously wrong with this picture? According to the sports illustrated list of the 50 top-earning American athletes the average earning of this year’s 50 is $24.3 million. I am aware that professional athletes are talented and are the best at their respective sports, but how can they justify getting paid millions of dollars? When I hear of athletes like LeBron James of the Miami Heat getting paid $14.5 million or Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees making $32 million I am appalled. It’s even worse when I hear stories of athletes holding out on signing contracts because they think they’re worth even more. How can any sane person throw a temper tantrum over getting paid millions? Drew Doughty, for example, has yet to sign a $6.8 million contract for the Los Angeles Kings. There is no way you can justify throwing a hissy fit over $6.8 million. Some may argue that getting paid millions of dollars to play is justified because of all the money they have invested into their careers. I am not saying that professional athletes should not be getting paid, but maybe a more modest amount. I would like to think athletes became professional athletes for the love of the game, not the love of money. So when did it become about the love of the money and not the game?Athletes can put a dollar amount to their talent, but not even a thought to all those suffering without a thing to eat or a place to sleep.  How can someone feel so entitled to a particular amount of money, yet not feel the need to help others? One day I might have more respect for these athletes when they are donating even a tenth of their salary to people in need. But realistically that would never happen.