Sports prize money/earnings are crazy.

[Andy in Germany]

If the sport is your full time job you can't live unless someone pays you to do it.

How come nobody complains when some drug taking alcoholic rock star who's been banging underage girls manages to salt away multi million pound fortunes?

I think a lot of people complain, but as with these football starts, if the money is legally come by, and paid by fans, then it's their money regardless of what foul behaviour they've got up to.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

If the sport is your full time job you can't live unless someone pays you to do it.

How come nobody complains when some drug taking alcoholic rock star who's been banging underage girls manages to salt away multi million pound fortunes?

A lad I grew up with went on to be a top Rugby Union player

He was pretty much told he would be a shoe-in for the full Ireland team if he applied to be eligible - his Dad was born in Ireland

but he thought that was wrong as he is English
he was only kept out the of the full England team that won the World Cup by people like Martin Johnson - and a bias in the top ranks of selectors towards Southern clubs - he played in the North West which was a no-no (too much League!!!)

so he was a strict amateur
a concept of which ended because some players in the South were employed as Stock Brokers and the like - based on a hour a week in the office drinking tea and the rest of the week training (or so I heard from "people")
He was a copper and bent his training and playing around the shifts
mind you - his colleagues were very happy about an insanely fit 6 foot 6 second row being around when the estate pubs kicked off!!!


Oh and his Dad could have played at Wimbledon - but had a family to support so opened a jewellery business instead and Wimbledon was strictly amateur in those days as well

Things have changed - at least in some sports

 

[Drago]

My SiL had a brief pro union and then league career before an unpleasant moped injury ended that. Even at national level as supposed pros and available for call up tom he national team, they all had jobs. Proper jobs, not a notional 30 minutes sat on reception pretending.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Without getting NACA, I think the whole thing needs a re-think. At the very least, non-pro sports/events should be funded in such a way that they pay a living wage, so the person can train and compete full-time without having to clean toilets or get sponsorship deals to get by. Anyone earning more than that (over let's say 1 year) should then become ineligible. I'm sure there are loads of sports people out there who would train more and ultimately represent team GB if they could only afford to train full time.

For example, my Uncle once started playing for Torquay United, but ripped all his tendons when he stood in a pot hole. He was told he'd have to rest for 4 months else he'd never heal well enough to play football again. But that wasn't an option because he had to work for the family business to put food on the table. So he never played football again

 

[midlife]

Anthony Joshua made between £5 million and £15 million from his fight last week. Ronaldo makes $300 million a year.

Sprint prizes in crits as a schoolboy were sometimes a mars bar

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Patrick Mahomes has just agreed a contract adjustment with the Kansas City Chiefs taking him over the half a $Billion mark. He is now tied to the team until 2033.

 

[matticus]

The Sport of Cycling has nothing to complain about. Total income is huge. Well, admittedly it's much smaller than footy, or Indian cricket - but way higher than 30 years ago.
Trouble is it almost all goes to 7-8 riders and a few managers ...

 

[AndyRM]

Anthony Joshua made between £5 million and £15 million from his fight last week. Ronaldo makes $300 million a year.

Sprint prizes in crits as a schoolboy were sometimes a mars bar

All of which are totally comparable...

 

[Dogtrousers]

In a one day race recently I remember someone (quite a significant rider, Wout maybe) winning an intermediate climb and the commentator pointing out that they'd won a fitted bathroom.

And of course there's the Tro Bro Léon pig.

 

[BrumJim]

A lad I grew up with went on to be a top Rugby Union player

He was pretty much told he would be a shoe-in for the full Ireland team if he applied to be eligible - his Dad was born in Ireland

but he thought that was wrong as he is English
he was only kept out the of the full England team that won the World Cup by people like Martin Johnson - and a bias in the top ranks of selectors towards Southern clubs - he played in the North West which was a no-no (too much League!!!)

so he was a strict amateur
a concept of which ended because some players in the South were employed as Stock Brokers and the like - based on a hour a week in the office drinking tea and the rest of the week training (or so I heard from "people")
He was a copper and bent his training and playing around the shifts
mind you - his colleagues were very happy about an insanely fit 6 foot 6 second row being around when the estate pubs kicked off!!!


Oh and his Dad could have played at Wimbledon - but had a family to support so opened a jewellery business instead and Wimbledon was strictly amateur in those days as well

Things have changed - at least in some sports

Certainly in the latter days of amateur Rugby Union, certain clubs (cough Harlequins cough) had a reputation for giving good players employment that paid well, but didn't require their full participation. Kind of like the All Blacks were alledged to be doing. Lots of "farmers" in the squad.

Going back to Martin Johnson, of course Dean Richards was in the same "policeman" situation, spending Friday throwing drunks around in Hinkley, followed by Saturday throwing forwards and a few backs around on the pitch at Welford Road. Not convinced that the opposition didn't have an easier time than the Hinkley drunks.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Going back to Martin Johnson,

ISTR that, prior to professionalusm Jonno "worked" for an insurance company or a bank

Edit: Midland Bank according to Wikipedia

 

[midlife]

All of which are totally comparable...

It was ironic juxtaposition....