[Maddison Dwyer]

‘You played sport for fun and not for money’​

I was scrolling on social media the other day and saw a post that asked ‘How has life in Australia changed since the 1970s?’ and I saw one person comment ‘You played sport for fun and not for money’. I was fascinated by this statement and I wanted to get all of your thoughts and opinions on this, , especially with the AFL and NRL grand finals this weekend. Do you think Australian sport has lost its spirit because everyone seems to be chasing money? Or do you think athletes deserve to be paid because sport is a full-time job?

Sydney Cricket Ground 1979. Image source: https://dictionaryofsydney.org/media/2570 / National Archives of Australia.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Sports people have been paid for ages I didn't know there was a time when they didn't

Most professional sporting people of today are paid well but they do what they love and most have been playing that sport since they were young.

Maybe being on the money they are on makes them try harder.

You have to be very good at that sport to even start to be paid.

Cricket for example, there is park cricket which basically anyone can play. Then there is reps cricket which you need to try out for and usually they pick around 18 out of maybe 100 or more.

Then you have grade cricket which again you get asked to play from your club cricket or reps. My son did all this and plays for St George , he has also been in the NSW SQUAD .

Being paid is a bonus but most play for the live if it. Many of my sons friends have gone on to play and still are playing for Australia

 

[Penny4]

People can try all they like, but it won't make them get selected, unless they are talented/spotted in their chosen sport, and enjoy playing.
Also, the parents have to pay for their kids playing a sport. Not cheap, as the membership covers insurance if they get injured.
In the USA, it's different. Players only get the mega $ if they make it big.
It's a ruthless business too.

 

[Southmelbswans]

The biggest curse of professional sport is BETTING!!!!

 

[Bill MacL]

It's all about greed, sport is a business now, the players want more, the people who run it want more and the TV channels want exclusive viewing rights. The amount of money some players get is obscene, even the Olympics has fallen victim to greed.

 

[Jest]

‘You played sport for fun and not for money’​

I was scrolling on social media the other day and saw a post that asked ‘How has life in Australia changed since the 1970s?’ and I saw one person comment ‘You played sport for fun and not for money’. I was fascinated by this statement and I wanted to get all of your thoughts and opinions on this, , especially with the AFL and NRL grand finals this weekend. Do you think Australian sport has lost its spirit because everyone seems to be chasing money? Or do you think athletes deserve to be paid because sport is a full-time job?

View attachment 30738

Sydney Cricket Ground 1979. Image source: https://dictionaryofsydney.org/media/2570 / National Archives of Australia.

It hasn't made sportsmans. Now they hug and act like idiots and if something happens it is OH! I have a mental problem. NO I do not like the sport as it is now. BUT I still watch it and I do like it apart from the carry-ons.

 

[Barbara V]

I feel when a professional sportsperson gets more money than a surgeon ,doctor ect who have to study for years something's wrong

 

[MHM]

I feel when a professional sportsperson gets more money than a surgeon ,doctor ect who have to study for years something's wrong

Millicent, most commercial grade sportspeople have been practicing their sport virtually all of their childhood, youth, formative years and early adulthood to be commercially graded. That commitment is very often for more of their lives than it is for professional people. Sportspeople give great entertainment to their fans. I will agree with anyone who say that fans are charged too much for that entertainment, although I suggest that this is due to the overhead management costs of the franchises now controlling sports.

 

[Gsr]

I agree people at the top of their sport should get paid, but I think the amounts some of them get paid is way over the top. No matter how good they play they are not worth in the millions and prize money for some of the competitions like tennis is totally unreasonable.

 

[stev3281]

‘You played sport for fun and not for money’​

I was scrolling on social media the other day and saw a post that asked ‘How has life in Australia changed since the 1970s?’ and I saw one person comment ‘You played sport for fun and not for money’. I was fascinated by this statement and I wanted to get all of your thoughts and opinions on this, , especially with the AFL and NRL grand finals this weekend. Do you think Australian sport has lost its spirit because everyone seems to be chasing money? Or do you think athletes deserve to be paid because sport is a full-time job?

View attachment 30738

Sydney Cricket Ground 1979. Image source: https://dictionaryofsydney.org/media/2570 / National Archives of Australia.

i think its absolutely stupid yhe amounts players get paid, lost touch with reality.
coulnt the sports clubs do better with the money instead of paying out millions to players?

 

[Geoff58]

I don't begrudge sports people getting paid. It happened during the '80's at the grassroots levels in rugby league. We used to get paid $25 a win in first grade. But that usually went straight over the bar that night anyway. Now-days, at grassroots level rugby league clubs are struggling. Volunteers have to spend countless hours raising money to keep their clubs afloat, while their NRL clubs are paying players anywhere up to, & for some, over $1m a season. Getting paid is part of the sport, but how much some of them get paid is what irks me. Then they cry for more as "We have to set ourselves up for life because we only have a short time playing & it can end at any time". Well gee wizz, so can anyones working life.

 

[MHM]

I don't begrudge sports people getting paid. It happened during the '80's at the grassroots levels in rugby league. We used to get paid $25 a win in first grade. But that usually went straight over the bar that night anyway. Now-days, at grassroots level rugby league clubs are struggling. Volunteers have to spend countless hours raising money to keep their clubs afloat, while their NRL clubs are paying players anywhere up to, & for some, over $1m a season. Getting paid is part of the sport, but how much some of them get paid is what irks me. Then they cry for more as "We have to set ourselves up for life because we only have a short time playing & it can end at any time". Well gee wizz, so can anyones working life.

I happen to hold the perspective that no-one ever gets paid too much. In any profession, business, commerce or job there is income against which is charged the expenses of obtaining that income. No one has yet discovered the miracle of extracting income without paying out expense. The significant issue is how efficiently expenses are managed so as to retain the required level of income. "Pay peanuts and you get monkeys". There are only so many elite sports athletes, whereas there is a strong demand for exhibition of their elite skills. Those skills are a finite resource, so it is little wonder that the skills attract large compensation.