Would you like to collect 18 million for just sitting home, doing nothing?

[Mitchell]

How would any of you like to be paid 18 million dollars in six months time just for sitting at home and doing nothing? That could conceivably happen to Barry Bonds this year. As many of us baseball fans know, Bonds has the scandal over steroids hanging over his head, as well as a knee injury, and may not play in 2005, or he may retire completely. In any case, an article I read on AOL claims that Bonds will be paid his full 18 million dollar salary for this year, even if he doesnt play an inning of baseball. Sports salaries are outrageous, but this is truly one for the books.
I really dont know what will happen to Barry Bonds. Part of me thinks he may retire. Another part of me thinks he may be just tired, and return this season or next. From a financial standpoint, although Bonds most likely is financially secure from his baseball earnings throughout his long career, even if he is intending to retire, he probably shouldnt announce it until after the season so he can collect his full salary. I shake my head at 18 million dollars, which is more money than most of us will earn in our lifetimes, multifold.
So, Barry, I guess you are going to sit home and enjoy collecting your 18 million. I read a poll posted on AOL which said that many fans expect Bonds to return at some point to go after Aaron's record. At this point, I honestly dont know. This is a sad turn of events, but I also think that even if Bonds does return at some point to break Aaron's record, his record will be tainted due to the steriods scandal surrounding him.

Mitch

 

[milagros317]

Given the testimony of Kimberly Bell (his girlfriend of 9 years during two marriages) before a federal grand jury, Bonds may find himself spending more time in court than at home.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/20/sports/s154322S60.DTL

My hope is that the hated jint winds up in prison for perjury and tax evasion.

 

[Wicker Man]

I know its unfair but theres a reason for it. The Giants know that Bonds jerseys, posters, autographs, baseball cards, etc. are still the number 1 selling product in the sport. In short hes money. Hes also most likely the greatest baseball player to have ever played...I know, you dont like him but Bonds never had Lou Gehrig to bat behind him to assure him good pitches like Babe Ruth. Bonds had (groan!) Edgardo Alfonso! I think this is strictly a finacial descison and the San Francisco Giants will be financially making more money than cutting Bonds or telling him to retire now. It sucks I know but its buisness.

 

[Mitchell]

Milagros, thank you for the article.

Wickerman, you make excellent points. It makes perfect sense about it being a financial decision by the Giants, as every time a person buys a Bonds memoribilia item, it is money for the team. Additionally, Bonds is worth much more to them as an active player, even if injured for a year. Steroids or not, you have to believe that if he does return, even in 06, and if he goes after Aaron's record, there will still be much hoopla, abit maybe not as much as when Aaron did it, if Bonds is chasing 756.
If Barry doesnt play this year, and comes back in 2006, unless he has a monster season in 06, and hits 53 homers, which he is capable of, but which may not happen, he may not get 756 until sometime in 2007.
I dont know what to think. Part of me says records are made to be broken, but the other part says that with this whole Steriods thing, Bonds should leave now. In any case, he wont be playing for a while, and Milagros makes an excellent point that he will probably be spending more time in court than on the baseball field in 2005.

Mitch

 

[Soda83pop]

Me and my pops got into this discussion one time about sports in general...the salaries and how they have escalated. So I asked my Dad "What do you do for a living?" He said, "Keith, you know what I do, I work for an air seperation plant." I asked him if he worked hard. "Damn right" (total lie...it's all computerized, but I let it slide). "Are you any good, Dad?" He started laughing and said "Im one of the best there." I then shifted the scope a little bit. "Dad," I said, "Do you think you are one of the best in the world at what you do?" He could see where I was going with this, and he quickly shouted "Even if you are the best ball player in the world you shouldnt make all of that money!" I agreed with him. then I asked him what the going rate was for tickets to watch him seperate oxygen and nitrogen. he looked at me with a puzzled face. So I repeated it. "Dad, how much would I have to pay to watch you seperate air? I have to pay about 100 bucks to watch a Redskins game with my friends. My Panther season tickets arent cheap. Hell, Super Bowl tickets bring in 4 digit prices. WrestleMania, a wrestling show where 90% percent of the smart fans know who is going to win the match before they show up, still commands tickets in the hundreds. What do I have to pay to watch you fill trucks with liquid Nitrogen?"

Pops looks at me and says "Point made."

It is supply and demand. As long as we as sports fans are willing to pay the ridiculous prices to see the athletes play, I feel they have te right to request some of that money in their contracts. The fact of the matter is,the owners of the sports teams make way more money than the athletes do (outside of endorsements)...that is why they work for the owner and not the other way around. In return, if Barry Bonds puts extra asses in the seats and brings more revenue to the team, he should be allowed to ask for a pretty large salary to cvompensate for the money he is bringing in to the stadium.

Do I think firemen and teachers should be paid more than they are. Sure I do...maybe as much as an athlete for the services they provide. However, I dont see anyone in here or in the public buying tickets to watch people put out fires, or buying Ms. Campbell's jersey at Foot Locker (because no one explains the quadratic equation quite like Ms. Campbell).

 

[General Zod]

One of the reasons I will not watch professional sports is because of those high salaries I do not think any of them are worth it I wonder how many of them will actually save or invest any of that money for years down the road when their 15 minutes of fame are up

I have a lot of other opinions about those overpai people but that may go off topic so I'll keep quiet on that

 

[Wicker Man]

I should make a separate thread for this but its never been scientifically proven that steriods will make you hit home runs. I mean Will Clark, Bonds former teammate and possible hall or famer had arms like spaghetti yet he consistently hit homers. Ive also seen baseball players that look like Hulk Hogan and hit 11 homers for the season. Maybe its possible that steriods by adding all that bulk makes you less flexible and slows your bat speed down. I mean you cant just take a shot in the ass and become Mark McGwire or else everyone (includind me!) would be out there playing ball. Different sport but former Dolphins wide reciever David Boston has arms like a bodybuilder but hes slow awkward and frail. Perhaps the same goes for baseball as well. Im not a doctor but I heard this argument from someone and it made me think. What do you boys think...Alfonso Soriano is another skinny who belts em out and A-Rod is average for his height. 😕