There is undoubtedly a lot of revenue generated by team USA. Obviously some of that has to pay for people's salaries who administer and coach the teams. I don't know how much any of the admin or coaches make or how they distribute that pot of money, and in a way it doesn't matter to me.
Paying the athletes themselves is what I have an issue with.
None of the coaches / admin people make anywhere near the amount that the players do playing for the NBA. Typically you have the top tier players from the NBA playing in the Olympics. These players don't need more money, they need to think about someone other than themselves. Comparing the admin / coaches with the players doesn't make sense.
I would think it would be a honor to play for the team. I don't know why players who make millions of dollars a year would need a monetary incentive to play for their country. It comes off as completely greedy and self serving. To me it reduces the value and importance of the olympics to have multi-millionaire basketball players wanting to get paid for everything they do or touch. It seems out of place for D Wade to even bring that up, or have anyone else support it.
I didn't know if I should start new thread for this, but I will add it here for now.
Apparently D Wade feels he should be paid to play for the US Olympic basketball team...and sounds like Ray does too. Kind of makes me sick to my stomach. I can understand not wanting to commit the time required, but to ask to get paid is just greedy.
http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/7801502/nba-olympians-compensated
Before I even read the link I thought "well Team USA does sell alot of jerseys..." Seemed to be the main point of Wade and Ray.
Also I'm sure a lot of those exhibition games bring in some cash in the form of both gate receipts and television rights. I'm sure there's also several products that pay Team USA for licensing rights. I'm sure Nike paid a nice amount for the privilege of outfitting the team.
While Team USA is a non-profit, somebody is getting paid. What's Colangelo's salary as Chairman of the Board? What does Krzyzewski get to coach? What are other Team USA higher-ups getting paid?
If everyone else who works for Team USA is a volunteer, and they take all the money they make and help build basketball courts in poor areas, put on clinics, pay for the U16 boys and girls teams, etc., it's one thing. If Colangelo is getting a 7 figure salary, and if Coach K is getting paid handsomely, it's another thing.
Just keep in mind that
a) many countries DO pay their athletes. Even in the US, some of the 'amateur' athletes in some sports get compensated directly or indirectly. That is generally up to the commission governing that particular sport.
b) The Olympic Games is a giant entertainment business that generates billions in revenues. Many people get filthy rich off the games. NBC forked over $4.4B for the TV rights. Is it okay for every executive and their cousin to make a fortune off the exertions of these athletes, but not the athletes? That sounds like exploitation. Where is the 'honor'?
If your problem is with just already-rich NBA players wanting fair compensation for participating in the Olympic Games, would you then not have a problem if an 'amateur' college player received fair compensation for participating in the Games? Wouldn't that seem like a bit of an arbitrary distinction?
What about a world cup skier, who already makes decent money on the WC circuit, getting paid to hold his ski, 'logo side out' when being interviewed while at the Games?
Amateur athletics is unfortunately rampant with hypocrisy and exploitation. There isn't much left that is 'pure' and 'honorable' about it.
Topic: Rondo has no interest in EVER playing in Olympics (Read 9824 times)