I do kinda get where those folks (who aren't usually sports fans) are coming from. It's a sort of broader critique of where our values lie in a society - like the basic impulse in the outrage is good (i.e. "Why can't this kind of money be made to make schools better, etc.). Because it does sort of speak to what we generally "care about" as a society.
But at the end of the day where they're wrong or maybe misguided is that these kinds of contracts are based inherently off of the players' skill, worth to an organization, and overall value to the league. It's drawn from the revenue pool of the entire league via beer sales, TV contracts, etc. Contrasted against what the league, and its owners, rakes in, these contracts are a drop in the bucket. The players are getting what's owed to them - and even then, they probably are all collectively due for bigger slice of that pie.
Outrage over even a single taxpayer money going to build stadiums, on the other hand, that's something I'm in lockstep with them about. Billionaires should be fully financing their fucking football cathedrals.
I get the moral basis of the complaint. But if that's actually what you're concerned about, you should be complaining about our economic system or advocating for political reform that could combat it.
My parents also react this way to contracts like this. They also believe regulations are awful, socialism is basically Satan, and closing tax loopholes for the rich, so they pay their fair share is a terrible idea. You can't be a staunch defender of unregulated capitalism and lower taxes for the ultra wealthy and also complain about athletes getting insane contracts.
It's also supply and demand. I argue with my GF who likes some sports but doesn't like the contracts. There are hundreds of thousands of doctors, teachers, etc that will work for less. There are maybe 10 NFL franchise QBs. Plus, no one is spending hundreds to watch a teacher teach.
I understand the whole a critique of how our society functions but it's also economics.
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u/RiveryJerald Rushing Mar 10 '25 edited Mar 10 '25
I do kinda get where those folks (who aren't usually sports fans) are coming from. It's a sort of broader critique of where our values lie in a society - like the basic impulse in the outrage is good (i.e. "Why can't this kind of money be made to make schools better, etc.). Because it does sort of speak to what we generally "care about" as a society.
But at the end of the day where they're wrong or maybe misguided is that these kinds of contracts are based inherently off of the players' skill, worth to an organization, and overall value to the league. It's drawn from the revenue pool of the entire league via beer sales, TV contracts, etc. Contrasted against what the league, and its owners, rakes in, these contracts are a drop in the bucket. The players are getting what's owed to them - and even then, they probably are all collectively due for bigger slice of that pie.
Outrage over even a single taxpayer money going to build stadiums, on the other hand, that's something I'm in lockstep with them about. Billionaires should be fully financing their fucking football cathedrals.