Athletes as Moneymakers

Paper Summary:

The paper asserts that athletes' salaries are not driven by talent as much as they are driven by advertising. The paper disregards the bodily sacrifice that an athlete makes and instead highlights athletes' alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. The paper talks about the unrealistic dreams of youngsters who have become less focused on the competition of sport, and more on the amenities associated with high incomes. The paper fiercely contends that with the sports industry's and athletes' focus on revenue, the competition of natural human endurance has taken a back seat to financial greed.

From the Paper:

"The early Greeks and Romans gave us the image of the heroic gladiator, a tall, muscular and physically fit man who towers in height above the average man; a man who, in as few as three moves, can break the neck of man and ferocious beast alike. They are the heroes of Virgil and Homer, and they are they are the men endowed with superhuman powers that mesmerized and entertained thousands during the Olympic Games of old (Garland, Robert, 2005, p. 24). They were the ancient day celebrity (Garland, Robert, 2005, p. 24). They evolved into the modern day athlete; boxers, football players, baseball players, and other athletes who stand as overpaid, overrated, modern day gladiators. Today's "gladiators" are overrated, overpaid athletes who lack the heroic heart of the heroes Achilles or Odysseus, and men who won't acknowledge their fan base without a financial incentive. Today's athletes are takers, giving very little in return for their celebrity, and the industry salaries are not driven by talent as much as they are driven by advertising."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crowe, Cameron (dir), Jerry Maguire (Motion Picture) (2006), Sony Pictures Entertainment/Tristar Picture, USA.
• Gohl, Sarah E. "A Lesson in English and Gender: Title IX and the Male Student-Athlete." Duke Law Journal 50.4 (2001): 1123. Questia. 28 Jan. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000989849>.
• Payton, Walter, Football Hall of Fame, found online at profootballhallof.com/hof/member.jsp?playher_id=174, retrieved 28 January 2008.
• "THE OLYMPICS 2004: DRUGS ACROPOLIS NOW! 2004 Is Year of the Dope Cheats." Sunday Mirror (London, England) : 83. Questia. 28 Jan. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5006675195>.

More papers on Athletes as Moneymakers:

• Essay # 50279 : "Athletes as Role Models"
• Analytical Essay # 2449 : "Athletes as Role Models"
• Research Paper # 94063 : "Athletes as Role Models"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: