The rise in sports salaries started in the mid 1970’s after courts ruled that baseball players had the right to become free agents. Unfortunately, some who began the battle to market their services just like those in any other profession (e.g. Curt Flood) never realized any gains for their efforts. Some of their successors, however, have taken their expectations to absurd heights.
One of the earliest memorable exaggerations of one’s importance came from outfielder Rickey Henderson. He was the best leadoff hitter of all-time…. also possibly the best self-promoter of all-time, with some competition from Pete Ro$e and several from the NBA and NFL.
Henderson became the highest paid player in MLB with his $3 million per year contract in 1989. After baseball contracts continued their accelerated rise the following year, Rickey lost his perceived birthright as number one in salary and began to sulk publicly. Future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk commented at that time, “How can a guy making $3 million be underpaid? They [players who complain about being underpaid] can go kiss my ass.” 1
A recent paycheck issue involves a veteran NFL wide receiver. His concern is not that of feeling disrespect, but rather wanting sympathy as a millionaire who’s apparently struggling with financial insecurity. A.J. Green, long-time star of the Cincinnati Bengals and currently injured, is at the end of his four-year contract which paid $60 million. As he prepares for a new contract, possibly with Cincinnati, the local newspaper indicated he “he’s yearning for a deal that gives him some stability.”2
Where does that leave the rest of us who are below him and the rest of the top ½ of 1%?
1 – Excerpt from “Baseball’s Even Greater Insults: More Game’s Most Outrageous & Irreverent,” by Kevin Nelson, Simon & Schuster, 2011 (originally published 1993).
2 – “Green makes it clear he wants a long-term deal,” by Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/31/2019.
Sportuoso 