Sports Players: Keep Your Balls in Order

I think in light of our current economical times, I should make my first post light. So let's pick on the athletes! Don't breathe a sigh of relief just yet, an economical rant is inevitably on the horizon.

Let's focus here on sports players vs. pay scale.

First off, let me start by stating that this IS a generalization. Of all of the athletic men I have met, most of them are overtly cocky with the rare exception [such as Steve, Danny, and a few others]. Now don't get me wrong, women love the thrill of a chase as much as any man but when a man is too full of himself and turns everything into a game it is a huge turnoff. No matter how handsome of a man, too much self assurance will always turn you foul. I assume the fascination towards ball players is not just their talents, but from a woman's point of view, their athletic physique. Yes, they have a certain amount of sex appeal.

What never ceases to amaze me though, is the kind of crap that sports players [as any type of celebrity] can get by with. From not abiding laws and rules, to being unfaithful, to being completely idolized regardless of some of the actions they, as human beings have taken. Many of these athletes have a God complex, like they are above the norm, and therefore above the standards set for the general population. But we as fans, fuel this fire by not voicing how we feel about it. For instance, Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins; His job is to abide by the rules set forth by the NFL, in order to be compensated by doing something that he loves. He chooses however, to bend and break those rules with his many marijuana woes, yet still is awarded a position that allows him to be paid far more money than the average working class American. Another prime example, is Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees baseball team; Here is a man who has had plenty of affairs and publicly humiliated his family. And yet to some naive people, he is viewed as a hero of sorts. This just feeds the common practice of "playing the game" in today's dating World. It is one's own prerogative, though as a man....well, it really makes you kind of a douchebag. And let's be realistic here, why do women swoon over this man? He very much reminds me personally of those treasure trolls we all had as 80's kids...just with shorter hair and longer limbs.

Enough about the generalizations of sports players...let's talk pay scale. I am not deluded enough to say that sports players do not have 'real jobs.' Realistically, they are at a much higher risk of physical work-related injury than most of us are, for our entertainment purposes. But should that really put them on such a high pay scale? Really, contracts are going for millions of dollars for these men and women to play a game....a pastime. An actor/actress is more acceptable to me...they have to read and memorize an entire script, become their character and suffer the sometimes emotional stress that is involved in creating said character. They also must be on location and working on any given project for months, sometimes years...simply for our entertainment. Now given, sports players do take part in extensive training, and physically exert themselves much more than I ever would be willing...and they should be monetarily compensated. But should they really be paid millions, to play a game?

I'm curious, what are all of your opinions on this? [and for the record, I think some actors and actresses are much overpaid as well.]