In Which Sport Do Athletes Earn Their Money The Least?

HacheMan · Jun 27, 2009

Millions & Millions are the norm nowadays for athletes when it comes to salaries.

Some may earn their money more than others though.

Which sport do athletes do the least in exchange for the amount they are paid?

MLB - This one be the first sport I have always personally considered, but the arguement is that they play so many games per season.

NFL - This sport probably shouldn't even be considered because of the physical play & the toll it takes on so many players' body. But, just the opposite of baseball, some could argue that they only play a small amount of games per season.

NBA - Similar to baseball in the fact they play many games per season, but they also have to bring it up & down the court every single night.

NHL - Lots of games & Physical play. Probably underpaid if anything.

NASCAR - I think this "sport" could be considered as overpaying those involved. These guys really only work about 3 days out of the week (2days qualifying/practice & 1 day driving), which includes practice, unlike other sports in which they usually play or practice on a daily basis. The big debate that can be made for them is that they put their life on the line out on the track, but with the safety & way those cars are today, it's much more limited than most think.

What about other sports like....

Golf - ?
Tennis - ?
Soccer - ?
Other - ?

TomGshotput · Jun 27, 2009

Cannot be Major League Baseball. Much of what it is involved in earning fair wages is solidarity and negotiation. Their union is so much stronger at those two things than any other sport

WorldNumberOne · Jun 27, 2009

I would say NBA players are the most overpayed for what they do..

It isnt golf .. You dont make the cut , you dont get paid..

TomGshotput · Jun 27, 2009

To expand, in a free market everyone earns exactly what they are worth. The only way this question has any validity is if we do not live in a free market. That would be the way to approach the question; looking at the games played and physical demands is meaningless in answering this question

FairWarning · Jun 27, 2009

World Number One said:
I would say NBA players are the most overpayed for what they do..

It isnt golf .. You dont make the cut , you dont get paid..

The NBA would be correct. It is in a team's best interest to pay someone higher. Trades are made with the salary slot, and expiring contracts in mind.

BillyWaltersJr+ · Jun 27, 2009

Boxing - obviously only for the top guys, but De La Hoya and Mayweather have made $80+ million for a single fight.

Compare top boxing salaries to that of the best MMA fighters, such as Chuck Liddel, GSP, etc. It is not even remotely close (top MMA fighters usually only make a half mil or so for a fight they win, much less, 100-200k if they lose), and they have a much greater chance of being seriously injured. Both MMA and Boxing require just about year-round training.

gtc08 · Jun 27, 2009

MLB. You do nothing for the majority of the game unless your a pitcher or catcher.

Players are out of shape compred to leagues like NBA where you have some of the best physical specimens who put hundreds of hours into that throughout the season. Plus in basketball you are always in constant motion.

par88 · Jun 27, 2009

What about Indy or Nascar drivers?

They shouldn't even be considered athletes.

budlight · Jun 28, 2009

hard to say lots of players make a ridiculous amount of money but it kind of compares to a jewel or diamond, the more rare the skill or talent then the higher the pay check (in most cases)
if it was common there is no reason to pay them so high

nba
lots of skills are involved, skilled players that have a natural talent that cant be easily replaced
nfl
strength size speed and lots of physical toll on your body
mlb
lots of games played, basically all year round
nascar
majority of the money come from sponsers

sports is run like a business the bigger the sport the more fans, merchandise, tv ratings etc = more money & higher paid players

nhl is underpaid imo but the sport does not generate as much money as mlb nba and other sports

most professional players above the league minimum are over paid imo wish i had some talent to be a pro

DrunkenHorseplayer · Jun 28, 2009

If you believe golf is a sport then that's the one. Finish 50th every week, stay completely unknown, make a decent salary and, on top of that, get good money just to wear a brand name on your hat, shirt or golf bag.

HacheMan · Jun 28, 2009

gtc08 said:
MLB. You do nothing for the majority of the game unless your a pitcher or catcher.

Players are out of shape compred to leagues like NBA where you have some of the best physical specimens who put hundreds of hours into that throughout the season. Plus in basketball you are always in constant motion.

I lean to this same opinion gtc......

FairWarning · Jun 28, 2009

gtc08 said:
MLB. You do nothing for the majority of the game unless your a pitcher or catcher.

Players are out of shape compred to leagues like NBA where you have some of the best physical specimens who put hundreds of hours into that throughout the season. Plus in basketball you are always in constant motion.

How about all the NBA first-rounders who are getting three-year contracts, that never see the floor?

I stand by my NBA argument. You are paying a salary slot, not a player.

DTP · Jun 28, 2009

Willie99 · Jun 28, 2009

all of them

way too overpriced

Romanowski · Jun 28, 2009

gtc08 said:
MLB. You do nothing for the majority of the game unless your a pitcher or catcher.

Players are out of shape compred to leagues like NBA where you have some of the best physical specimens who put hundreds of hours into that throughout the season. Plus in basketball you are always in constant motion.

its not about athleticism all the time, if it was 100 meters, and high jumpers would be the highest paid

plus while a player might seem sedentary during an entire game of mlb, the preparation is much different, so being in "motion" during the game is not a reason

skill is just as valuable and hitting a baseball with consistency in the major leagues is the hardest thing to do IMO

back to topic though, it is indeed a free market and they are all paid exactly what they are worth

ideally major sports would find a happy medium between the weak union in the nfl and the ridiculous power of the unions in mlb and the nba

HacheMan · Jun 28, 2009

I respect everyone elses opinions of courde, but I'm with gtc.

What do MLB players really do?

Each game, sit in the dugout watching until its their turn to bat, which is only 3-4 times per game, and pretty much stand in the infield or outfield waiting for a ball to be hit to them once in a while........?:think2:

FairWarning · Jun 28, 2009

Hache Man said:
I respect everyone elses opinions of courde, but I'm with gtc.

What do MLB players really do?

Each game, sit in the dugout watching until its their turn to bat, which is only 3-4 times per game, and pretty much stand in the infield or outfield waiting for a ball to be hit to them once in a while........?:think2:

Anyone of us can make a basket. Heck, 99% of the NBA can dunk. What's the percentage of this board that could touch a 90 MPH fastball? The best fail 70%.

Lets face it, a 7-footer with a slight bit of coordination should make $5Mil pretty easy. For what, being tall?

Wynn · Jun 28, 2009

Here is some dated information:

What are the average salaries for the professional sports played in America?
  
http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2006/09/salaries_of_ave.html

circa 2006

Basketball (NBA) -- $5,000,000
Baseball (MLB) -- $2,800,000
Football (NFL) -- $1,750,000
Hockey (NHL) -- $1,500,000
Men's Golf -- $973,495
Women's Tennis -- $345,000
Men's Tennis -- $260,000
Women's Golf -- $162,043

louisvillekid · Jun 28, 2009

you can make an argument for most of the big ones here in the states, but it is only the top ones that get paid absurd amounts.

After reading about what Real Madrid has been throwing out for some recent players, it makes me want to say soccer.
Hell, Real Madrid is becoming the Yankees of the European socer world.

Fans of Madrid, which has just splashed out a record 80 million pounds ($131 million) for the Portuguese winger, are notoriously tough to please and the club is expecting not only smart but graceful playing from Ronaldo, 24.

They're expecting the same from Kaka, the Brazilian soccer star that Madrid bought from AC Milan for $94.5 million on Tuesday. (See "Madrid Goes Gaga For Kaka.") Nearly $225.5 million for two guys who have a knack for kicking a ball around? It's a gamble that the club is willing to make so it can revive its fortunes under new management. But some fans already fear it won't pay off.

TomGshotput · Jun 28, 2009

Hache Man said:
What do MLB players really do?

Sell $50 tickets to 81 home games and advertising for over 500 hours each of TV and radio

In Which Sport Do Athletes Earn Their Money The Least?

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