debate help

[Michael9 57]

Hi everyone, Tomorrow I have to give a speech/debate on why I believe athletes deserve the high salaries they receive. If anyone has any arguments or things that they think I could use to help defend my position, it would be very helpful.

[LkptTiger 1]

Extensive job training. Most athletes have been "training" (to some degree) for their "jobs" since they were 4-5 years old.

[lotus 2]

edit: this is going to be a hot thread, I can tell already.

They abuse their bodies and need the money to support an early retirement which would eventually happen unless you are Chris Chelios, who will never, ever retire. Or die.

Much like an artist, they perform and create and get paid in respect to how well they do that. Except people like sports far more than people like art. :P

Just off the top of my head, but both of those can easily be turned into something good with a little work I think.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Go with the usual crap, shorter career than most regular professions, entertainment value today generally costs more, movies are $15, I remember when you could get a movie, a malt and a hooker for a nickel etc etc.

If you have the debate tomorrow and you are only looking to start research now, and you are coming to a board full of smart arses for advice, I dare say you are not a master debater

[troy 12]

I think it might've been Adam Smith who said something to the effect of: whatever the price someone is willing to pay for a item, is the price of that item. In this case athletes are the items and as economics dictate will be paid their high salaries until no one is willing to pay them that much.

[starskie 0]

I'd say for the skill/talent. Anyone can pickup a stick and play hockey, but at that level the numbers are far less.

Also for the amount of time that they spend doing their job. They play about 6 months out of the year, plus a few extra months with training. Considering all the travel time (being away from home), practice time, and game preparations, etc, the number of hours add up.

[thejackal 46]

because whatever current structure they're under can support their salaries. a bit like what led to the CBA, if it couldn't the league would either fold or have to rethink its overall salary policies.

[mrusse01 0]

Because that's what the owners of the team want to pay them. People look at athletes as getting paid too much and get mad at the players...but they aren't paying themselves. If you look at if from the other perspective; why should anybody be able to tell you what you can or can not spend your money on? If you are Tom Hicks of the Texas Rangers and you want to give A-Rod $252 million to play baseball for your team, why shouldn't you be able to do that?

All the arguments like 'they spend a long time perfecting their craft', 'they have short careers', or 'they represent the top whatever percetile of their sport' are irrelevent. I could train my whole life, risk chronic wrist injury, spend countless dollars and hours to become the greatest person in the world at throwing cards into a hat, but if nobody wants to pay me to do that then it doesn't matter.

[chippa13 1844]

Not for nothing but I thought kids were supposed to complete their own homework assignments.

[Michael9 57]

Thanks for the help, keep the ideas coming. Just to clarify, this more of a speech than a debate, I just have to give a 5 minute speech on the subject in front of the class, then someone else will go in front of the class and say why they think sports players don't deserve big salaries. Thats it. As for not doing my own homework, I had my speech basically all done when I posted the topic. I just wanted to see if some other people had some ideas that I could include with the ones I already had.

[headonaswivel 1]

Another key issue to touch on is that there are 40 home games, with 18000 people paying on average $60 bucks a ticket, plus revenue at the rink on food/beverage it is clear the pay is on par with what it should be. The people are there to see the athletes, so money clearly goes to the appropriate place.

[JR97 2]

Economics 101: Optimal price is what the market will bear.

Like someone else said, all of the training, career span, etc. is all irrelevent. You can train your whole life and nobody should pay you a dime unless you can get signed somehow.

Also, the market of sports has shifted from revenue generated by ticket sales to merchandise, advertising, luxury boxes, and tv deals.

[oggy_3 0]

I remember watching a movie about how in the NHL the owners use to pay the players close to nothing but told the players its all they could afford. Use the fact that the owners make so much money from ticket price, concession stands and fan memorabilia.