Shaq makes $275,000 PER GAME

[POed_Ex_Repub]

That's $275,000.00 for 48 minutes of basketball. Now, do you consider this...

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Two things:

I said well-earned pay, since he's earning without screwing anyone out of money.

But on the other hand, I think it's offensive.

But on the other hand, as long as assholes are willing to pay what they pay for ticket prices, and not give that money to education or arts or something actually important, you know what? Shaq deserves it.

I can't fault him for it at all, and I don't blame him.

I blame the stupidity of sports fans, who think making baskets or touchdowns is more important than Monet or Mahler.

[opiate69]

3. NIce..

"I blame the stupidity of sports fans, who think making baskets or touchdowns is more important than Monet or Mahler."

What makes you think Monet or Mahler are more important than sports? Rather elitist of you. I, for one, enjoy both.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. It's totally a personal bias

and I don't ask forgiveness for it. But yes, I do think the arts, which speak to basic human desires and needs and wants and our condition as human beings, is far, far, far more important than sport.

But as I said, as long as people are willing to pay the prices that allow Shaq to make what he does, all the power to Shaq.

I just wish that americ would turn off the sports worship crap, and begin to embrace thinking, the arts, and intellectual development.

Not that sports are bad ipso facto - obviously, we should all also take care of our bodies - but I am digruntled at the huge percentage of americans who place far more importance on some baseball players ERA than they do on what jasper johns, warhol, or michelangelo were saying about the human condition.

I can totally appreciate a football game played well - in fact, when I do watch football, I don't really watch it with the eye that one team is God's chosen and the other isn't. I just want to see true professionals playing each other to the best of their ability. And Shaq is, though he is basketball which I plain don't like, for all intents and purposes, an **amazingly** gifted basketball player and plays with absolute artistry. Like Jordan - simply amazing to watch.

But ultimtely, their skill as artists, such as it is, will not last long; whereas teh art of the real artists who work in painting, music, dance, sculpture, etc., their art will last for a long, long time.

Obviously, this is me being subjective, but I think I'm right. I find it very sad that the art that actually speaks to humanity, and has real releveance beyond a liminal present-based enpspeakiture (like sports, N'Stink, Janet Jackson's boob, and Thomas Kinkade, etc.), gets ignoresd while sports figures get ticker tape parades in NYC. That disgusts me. Not to belie the artistry of sports people, but to give them equal weight of importance with John Glenn, Lindberg, etc., is truly a travesty that speaks highly of why the US is often despised in the world.

[opiate69]

6. Fair enough..

Sorry if I was a little curt...

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. No, I don't think you were curt

I think it was a legitimate question on your part, and I applaud you for asking it.

:-)

[opiate69]

9. Cool...

Drinks on me, then..:toast:

[Dookus]

2. It's a free market -

somebody wants to pay him that much to play. Evidently it's worth it to them to do so.

I never understood people getting mad at sports stars' salaries - would you rather the owners get all the money?

[democracyindanger]

4. How much does Jerry Buss earn per game?

Yeah, it's crazy, but the reason he gets paid so much is that a lot of people are willing to open their wallets for a game--me included :p

[Dookus]

8. also remember

that the vast majority of athletes come from humble beginnings and have earned their way.

That's not true of the vast majority of team-owners.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

10. Does no one want to make a case for "sick and wrong"?

Odd, considering it got the majority of the votes...

[LosinIt]

11. Gee, they just pay me to sit here and cruise DU every night.

In between work of course.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

12. Okay.. what do you do?

I want that kind of job. :)

(actually, just about any kind of job would be nice right now)

[LosinIt]

13. Software support for an international company

So somebody has to be here overnight. There are only 4 of us as of now.