The Economics of America Do Not Seem To Affect Our Sports

Ok, ok, and another ok.

It is really old news by now since we are so far into the NFL free agency and since my long-term layoff from writing on here has now come to an end, thank goodness, I have to throw out my two cents worth about the Washington Redskins (formerly known as the New York Yankees).

Throwing three figure millions at any athlete makes about the same amount of sense as a stimulus package that only refuels the government. But since both things have become common place in this country, now I guess we will just have to deal with it.

Don't get me wrong. Albert Haynesworth is an incredible athlete with the potential to be a Hall of Fame style defensive tackle. He can sew up the middle of a defensive line with or without help. But giving this guy $100 million is nuts for seven years is, I'll just say it, nuts.

Injuries happen. Bad play happens. Some people finally get the big contract they were after and forget how they got in the first place (see DeAngelo Hall the first go round).

This gentleman is being paid to play a game, a sport. Which obviously all of the United States enjoys based on the attendance stuck to their televisions over the past two Super Bowl games.

We, as fans, gripe about the cost to attend a game but we let the organization that is paying this man get away with things such as this. The nosebleed seats that were barely under $100 bucks last season on StubHub.com will now probably run $150.

Football has now become America's past time, easily replacing baseball amidst all the steroid mess. There is something nostalgic and gladiatorial about the game which makes people of both gender want to tune in.

But average middle class Americans, even before these tough economic times were having difficulty affording the ticket prices to see their warriors battle on the field. Even during these economic times, we can still afford and be ok with a football player, one single individual football player, being able to sign a contract that will pay him the same as 2265 Highway Patrol officers, 2000 elementary school teachers or 6570 E1 ranked Army Recruits (based off average salary per salary.com).

Here is my idea of an economic stimulus that will never happen in a million years:

1. Alex Rodriguez makes the bare minimum salary required by baseball's players union for only one season and donates the rest of what he would have made to needy families here in AMERICA. Price: $27,150,000.
2. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson takes everything that they made off of endorsements only in 2008 and donates back to the AMERICAN people in ways of helping afford housing, keep their homes or donating it all to Habitat for Humanity so that affordable housing can be attained. Price: $158,000,000 (per Forbes.com)
3. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan (all members of the Top 20 list of richest athletes 2008 per Forbes.com) show the NBA really does care by giving up all their endorsement money from last year only to underprivileged individuals. Price: $127,650,000.
4. Peyton Manning and Big Ben Roethlisberger provide their salaries and bonuses from last year to the fans that helped pay for it. Price: $40,200,000.

If you add all that up to what is being paid to just a handful of people who happened to be skilled at throwing, shooting or hitting a ball in some way (the same thing we all did in preschool) the number is staggering.

Total: $353,000,000.

With this total, 23,190 E1 Army recruits could be paid instead of 15 sports players who have no idea what is it like to need to carry a gun around for their own survival and possibly die at any given moment for their country.

With this total, 8,800 fire fighters could still be walking into burning buildings saving the lives of hundreds more. With this total 11,270 automotive technicians could still be feeding their families and changing your oil.

With this total, 9,023 Licensed Practical Nurses could still be providing health care.

There are only two problems with everything I just mentioned. It will never happen because greed runs to high in the human brain being first and second we'll just sit here and let this move right on by because our athletes are our heroes, not the people who lay their lives out for us everyday.

The Yankees spent over $420,000,000 so far this off season. The Redskins spent $154,000,000 in about four hours and President Obama spent $819,000,000,000 of our money in the stroke of a pen.

Ever think why the Euro is worth more than the American dollar? Because it is disposable. You can spend it without having it. See VISA, MasterCard and all the things listed above for explanations.