League Commissioners' Salaries

[davemonsterband]

After listening to the Rajon / David Stern chatter I did some thinking and realized that I have no clue how much David Stern makes per season; I did some research.

Bud Selig - almost 19 million
Roger Goodell - 11 million
David Stern - 10 million
Gary Bettman - 7.2 million

Is anyone else surprised? And as far the NBA is concerned, is David Stern worthy of such a salary? Gary Bettman, I'm blown away by that one. I figured he's be in the Scal ballpark.

[Cman]

After listening to the Rajon / David Stern chatter I did some thinking and realized that I have no clue how much David Stern makes per season; I did some research.

Bud Selig - almost 19 million
Roger Goodell - 11 million
David Stern - 10 million
Gary Bettman - 7.2 million

Is anyone else surprised? And as far the NBA is concerned, is David Stern worthy of such a salary? Gary Bettman, I'm blown away by that one. I figured he's be in the Scal ballpark.

Wow, TP.  Those are all at least double what I thought they'd be, almost quadruple in the case of Selig.

[barefacedmonk]

No wonder that tyrant hasn't retired yet.

[GreenEnvy]

After listening to the Rajon / David Stern chatter I did some thinking and realized that I have no clue how much David Stern makes per season; I did some research.

Bud Selig - almost 19 million
Roger Goodell - 11 million
David Stern - 10 million
Gary Bettman - 7.2 million

Is anyone else surprised? And as far the NBA is concerned, is David Stern worthy of such a salary? Gary Bettman, I'm blown away by that one. I figured he's be in the Scal ballpark.

I remember hearing a few years ago that Selig made $15+ million, so that number doesn't surprise me.

I figured Stern made somewhere around that, and Goodell more than he does (I figured a little closer to Selig).

Bettman I thought was in the $5M range.



Selig and Stern both need to go.

[mgent]

10 million?  And he can't do his job any better?

[Witch-King]

The NBA players are payed what the team owners and GM's agreed to pay them in when they signed their contract. They are payed those ridiculous salaries because of the marketability of the league in the same way in which colleges recruit talented high school athletes from around the country in order to have a product on either the football field, basketball court, etc. that in turn maximizes the school's chances of winning (and also making as much money off of ticket-sales as possible). Any other cash that a college or university is making comes from either state taxes, or other forms of funding including student tuition, etc.

Just look at Dwyane Wade; he attended Marquette University and has already won a championship in his young career with the Miami Heat. If you don't think that the Miami Heat are a marketable franchise this season then you are probably crazy, and if you don't support the fact that NBA GM's are willing to pay top dollar for the best possible athletes to represent their franchise on the court then just don't watch the games.

As far as what the commissioner gets payed, I could care less as long as he isn't trying to dictate to the GM's how much they ought to pay their players.

[EJPLAYA]

Sorry guys. While I agree that there are things that I think Stern should do differently, if you are judging the guy as a CEO he is earning his money. He has helped turn the league into what it is today. The growth of the league compared to other sports like Baseball and Hockey has been solid. Only football is really a bigger, more solid league. If you want to complain, complain about Selig. What a joke of a commissioner!

[Jon]

Selig's salary is ridiculous.  He isn't nearly the commissioner that Goodell and Stern are.  If anything, the guy has been a joke over the years. 

[thirstyboots18]

Very interesting.  Like government officials deciding to cut salaries of CEOs, but not their own, I wonder if Stern will go along with cutting his own salary in half, as well as the players...and I wonder what the refs make, and if thier salaries will be cut, too.  (Just wondering...I think they all make to much money.  Cut the salaries of all, and cut the ticket prices and the League Pass prices!    )

[GreenEnvy]

Very interesting.  Like government officials deciding to cut salaries of CEOs, but not their own, I wonder if Stern will go along with cutting his own salary in half, as well as the players...and I wonder what the refs make, and if thier salaries will be cut, too.  (Just wondering...I think they all make to much money.  Cut the salaries of all, and cut the ticket prices and the League Pass prices!    )

I will give Stern mild credit for globalizing the NBA, but the influx of great international players has had more to do with it than he has IMO. Would the NBA be as popular in Germany and China if not for Dirk and Yao? I highly doubt it.

I believe he cares so much more about the international appeal that he is losing focus of the national crowd. Maybe nobody can compare to the allure that Magic, Bird, and then ultimately Jordan brought, but there are still all-time greats playing now that aren't saving the NBA. And that has to do with the marketing. Sorry Stern, Kobe and LeBron are not the saviors you (and Nike) think they are.

Everyone was worried when Tagliabue was replaced, but Goodell has been good.

I don't believe a sport should have the same commissioner for 20+ years. Their agendas become misguided after so many years in that position of power.

[guava_wrench]

Sorry guys. While I agree that there are things that I think Stern should do differently, if you are judging the guy as a CEO he is earning his money. He has helped turn the league into what it is today. The growth of the league compared to other sports like Baseball and Hockey has been solid. Only football is really a bigger, more solid league. If you want to complain, complain about Selig. What a joke of a commissioner!

I agree. Stern has been very good.

CEOs may be overpaid in general, but Stern has been an excellent commissioner.

[guava_wrench]

Very interesting.  Like government officials deciding to cut salaries of CEOs, but not their own, I wonder if Stern will go along with cutting his own salary in half, as well as the players...and I wonder what the refs make, and if thier salaries will be cut, too.  (Just wondering...I think they all make to much money.  Cut the salaries of all, and cut the ticket prices and the League Pass prices!    )

I will give Stern mild credit for globalizing the NBA, but the influx of great international players has had more to do with it than he has IMO. Would the NBA be as popular in Germany and China if not for Dirk and Yao? I highly doubt it.

I believe he cares so much more about the international appeal that he is losing focus of the national crowd. Maybe nobody can compare to the allure that Magic, Bird, and then ultimately Jordan brought, but there are still all-time greats playing now that aren't saving the NBA. And that has to do with the marketing. Sorry Stern, Kobe and LeBron are not the saviors you (and Nike) think they are.

Everyone was worried when Tagliabue was replaced, but Goodell has been good.

I don't believe a sport should have the same commissioner for 20+ years. Their agendas become misguided after so many years in that position of power.

There definitely can be an exaggerated importance placed on CEOs, though there are a some actual difference makers like Steve Jobs.

We will probably never actually know if Stern was such a difference maker since we won't get to see alternatives like we did when Apple stunk it up when Jobs left. It is difficult though to see an argument that Stern has not done an excellent job.

If the league is really losing that much money and if there is a lockout, then I think when can make strong arguments against Stern.

[cornbreadsmart]

     The whole world is doing the same exact thing they did with baseball- turning a blind eye to performance enhancing drugs. I bet 75 percent of the league is on the stuff. I find it baffling. I would say the commisioner bares some responsibility but I think everyone including the fans are responsible for it.Everyone is just ignoring it AGAIN. It's even worse than baseball.

[cornbreadsmart]

My bad. I was referring to the NFL.