By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
No one doubts that athletes are overpaid.
It was less than a decade ago when Barry Bonds turned heads with a seven-year, $49 million contract, which at that time was the largest contract in baseball.
People were astonished that an athlete could pull in that much dough just for playing baseball.
I'd like to see those people today.
There are contracts today in baseball that make Bonds' contract look like chump change.
Alex Rodriguez, also known as A-Rod, is perhaps the most talked about free agent in the history of baseball. And can be yours, for the right price.
A-Rod is expected to sign a 10-year contract worth more than $200 million. The gifted shortstop, who was selected by the Mariners as the first overall pick in 1994, has not issued any statement as to whether he wants to remain in Seattle or leave a franchise which was two victories away from a World Series.
It is known that these athletes are overpaid, but unfortunately that is the way the system works. You can't expect to win a championship in this era without dishing out the flow to the talent.
The World Champion New York Yankees had the highest payroll in baseball last season, doling out an incredible $91.9 million to start the season.
Then there are the Florida Marlins, who only spent $14.6 million last season - on their whole team!
A-Rod will be making the entire Marlins salary, plus $5 million more on top of it.
Not only were Yankee fans satisfied with a world championship, they see that their team is doing the fans justice by going out and purchasing players.
Everyone knows that owners make a ridiculous amount of money, but it is the smaller-market owners that really need to step up their game and do a duty to their fans.
Why be a fan of a team if it doesn't give a damn about you. These owners are rich off their asses, and all they do is sit back and label the season a "rebuilding year." How many rebuilding years do the Expos and Tigers need?
In 1986, the Yankees had the highest payroll in the majors - $17.6 million. As you can see, the Yankees have continued to move with the economic flow of the game, unlike many small market clubs.
What is a small market, anyway?
These owners choose to make their teams small-market while they maintain a large-market lifestyle. While their teams bungle through another so-so season, small-market owners are cruising on their yachts, sipping cognac.
They can pay the big money, but they choose not to. These cheap, yet rich, owners should go and get A-Rod for their team.
They could convince him and the fans that this year will be the year. Enough of this "rebuilding" crap.
I feel horrible for a fan of a small-market club, and I suggest you begin looking for another team. I understand loyalty to a team, but why be loyal to a team that isn't loyal to you?
