OPINION
BY KAMRYN JENKINS, Freshman
BLYTHEWOOD- Pro Athletes are making the big bucks while U.S soldier are sitting high and dry on the funding.
In the US on average a NBA player can makes about $5.15 million a year, while a four star General, one of the highest ranking position in the Army, makes about $164,221 a year. The people who entertain it the U.S make more than the people who protect this it.
I know both jobs required a good bit of physical energy, commitment, and dedication. But those who are willing to die for their country deserve more from their country.
There’s enough to go around…
Let’s look at it from this point of view. The average cost for pro game tickets; NFL starting at about $113.42, NHL at $84.05, NBA going for $74.67, and MLB with $43.34.
On top of ticket sales there is also fan revenue, advertisements, clothing lines, and bets placed on games, these athletes are an economic powerhouse. The revenue of NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and combined reach a whopping $30 billion according to Statista.com.
With all the money that these organizations bring in, they could build at least three small military installations and run them for more than a year. Crazy right?
Time is money…
We must also consider how long it takes for an enlisted soldier to go from a Private to a General. That’s about 20 to 35 years, but that’s not including the constant moving, and low pay at first.
A basketball player can retire from the NBA in 10 years with enough money in how pocket to build a nice million dollar mansion, pay for their kids’ college, buy their mother a house and still feed themselves for years to come (if they don’t go overboard on spending). And if their smart have a nice athletic clothing line that still brings in the dough, even after their playing days.
Ten years into enlisted soldiers careers and you’d find them still climbing the ranks. They probably moved at least two times (active duty members move every three to four year), and have to uproot everything due to the move.
Shut everything down...
It has been 18 years since American government shutdown, and it stayed shutdown for 15 days. For those faithful 15 days thousands of government workers (soldiers included) were out of a pay check.
Unlike those government workers, pro athletes went on with their everyday lives. They were, for the most part, unaffected by the lack of government services.
They were still getting paid to play and entertain, while soldiers suffered the wrath of democracy.
Let’s lay down the law...
I think that we should decrease the salary of pro athletes, and take those funds and put them toward bigger and better things. Like upgrading the school system's, funding scholarships, and well I don’t know helping out our troops.
It really simple make it equal and share the funds.
