I must be honest. The older I get the more Sanders' commentary gets on my last <expletive> nerve.
Sanders, like most people, has a good to excellent understanding about money matters or solid financial quotient (FQ). Most people associate greater compensation solely on performance (e.g. greater talent equals more cha-ching).
Unfortunately, matters involving professional athletes' contracts have far less to with merit compensation and much more to do with perceived value compensation. This explains why most people, like Sanders, share a fair or low economics quotient (EQ).
Simply put, owners PAY for what they see grants the greatest value to them and their franchise. It is an
old perception. In 1965, eventual Hall of Famer Jim Brown was pulling $60K per year in Cleveland. Snot nosed rookie Joe Namath got $100K from the Jets at jump. At that point, Namath had zero performance value compared to Brown. However, the Jets conceived Namath as an irreplaceable cog that would help New York win championships.
Not sure why economics intelligence has not expanded the past half-season but whatever. Moving on to Sanders diatribe (
graphs courtesy of spotrac.com/click graphics for website link):
Sanders says outfielders, left fielders, shortstops and catchers make equivalent money--presumably because of merit pay based on talent. Okay. MLB average salaries do not really match what he says but where is Sanders outrage for disparities in first basemen salaries? Or closers' salaries? Why is he not trippin' over designated hitter salaries? Whatever. Moving on.
NBA has fewer positions. Naturally, average salaries are not as skewed but do all of the positions
really make the same amount of money? Nope. In a league where modern play is dominated by talented point guards, shooting guards plus small and power forwards, why are centers (the bench minority) commanding a larger share of compensation on average? And with a notable differential? Next:
Made this one from scratch since spotrac did not post one
. Sanders is on a rampage against quarterbacks he does not find worthy of contracts
they will get anyway but... pray tell? Where is the anguish over left tackles for instance? Their compensation is pretty darn high despite how a few sometimes look like subway turnstiles. Tyron Smith's longevity is showing. Yet, he is still pulling in almost $4 1/2 mil more than Julio Jones. Why is THAT, Mr. Sanders?
Oops. My bad.