Have we reached the apex for paying for athletic skills? If what just happened in the MLB draft doesn’t highlight that situation, maybe nothing in modern history can.
A college undergrad pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, from San Diego State, may end up with a $50 million contract. 50 freaking million dollars!
What has he accomplished? What value over the next two years will he produce? How many players make the big leagues in the first two years? Winning 20 games in the AAA leagues in front of around 5,000 fans per game is worth this much?
Maybe this is just a microcosm of what is wrong with our entire financial world right now.
CEOs who run a companies into the ground get $50 million bonuses. “Financial Analysts”, who advise us to invest in worthless stocks or create pyramid scams out of hedge funds earn $100 million a year.
Now, a 21 year old will make $50 million and may never pitch in the “Bigs” and this is “business as usual”? Somehow, I have an issue with that.
Where is the concept of “earn it as you go?” Why not set up a program where there are actual performance incentives in place before the contract is signed (Are you listening Banking, Auto, and Insurance companies)?
Ok, maybe I am too “Old Skool” to get this, but maybe I also have reached the point of total exasperation. When good folks are losing their jobs and are real contributors to the society, and people who have done nothing to really prove they can contribute, make this kind of money.
Call me stupid, or call me jealous, but something is rotten in Denmark under these conditions.