Real Life Fantasy: A Solution To Salaries In Sports

I think I have a solution to eliminate holdouts, overpaid rookies, and if we are lucky, Drew Rosenhaus. I cannot take all the credit for this economic solution since it has been right under our noses for years.

Why not pay athletes based on performance? A real life fantasy.

Fantasy sports are tremendously popular. They give an Average Joe a chance to be a G.M. and coach. First by drafting the right players, building a winning team. Choosing who starts and who sits on the bench.

If a player scores a touchdown he earns money, hits a home run, wins an MVP, and so on. Teams can have the ability to set the amount an RBI will be worth each year or two. This will also prevent players from relaxing too much when they receive a big contract.  Usually from a stellar year in a contract year.

Then when a player has a breakout year they will be rewarded - like Josh Hamilton, who is making just over league minimum at $396,830. And players like Barry Zito making $14.5 million, that's about $4.8 million for each win this season. Mike Hampton would probably have to take up two jobs just to pay his bills, if this system was in effect.

The best player on each team would be the highest paid player on each team.

Here are some of the highest paid players on some teams - would you consider them the best on the team? In no particular order:

1. Jim Thome, White Sox, $15.66 million

2. Mike Hampton, Braves, $15.9 million

3. Torri Hunter, Angels, $16.5 milliom

4. Rafeal Furcal, Dodgers, $15.7 million

5. Eric Gagne, Brewers $10 million (second highest on team)

6. Jason Giambi, Yankees, $23.5 million ( second highest on team)

7. Pat Burrell, Phillies, $14.25 million

8. Steve Francis, Rockets, $16.4 million

9. Raef Lafrentz, Trail Blazers, $12.4 million

10. Kwame Brown, Grizzlies, $9 million

The NFL contracts are more complicated, with signing bonuses, and no guaranteed contracts. The NFL salary system needs an overhaul, with over-paid rookies, the rift between the owners and players and players union.  The NFL looks to be heading to a strike if things do not change and the collective bargaining agreement isn't re-worked.

If I was an owner, I would not want to put a large sum of money in a first round pick.  Remember Ryan Leaf, Todd Marinavich, Akili Smith?  Since these busts were drafted the stakes are higher, and the amount a first round pick makes is much, much higher.

It is time for the owners to stop putting their money where the players agents' are, and put their money where it should be, where the athletes arms and legs are.