did ray allen really say this?

[Trifecta]

Let me get this straight, it's wrong for an athlete to ask to be compensated for doing something that could cost them their livelihood? If one of the bigger named players were to have a career ending injury, not only will they lose out on the money they WORK for but will also be an end to something that they have been doing all their lives! If I'm going to risk my livelihood, PAY ME! This isn't the same as bankers stealing people's money, these athletes work for their pay on and off the court (what you think they come out the womb in basketball shape?)! If your boss came to you and said, "hey, we are going to work for hours to be better than 'insert any opposition', you do all the work and take ALL THE RISK but guess what... you gotta to do it for free while we make MILLIONS of dollars... hey, don't fret, you will get a medal for it! Whose in?!" What would you say, "sure Massa"? Maybe some of you just want to "do it for your country" (as if it's war, haha, you people make me laugh), but maybe some people don't... why are they the villains again?

TP! Pretty much exactly what i was thinking. While coaches for the most part do a great job of limiting minutes for a lot of players during the Olympics, players still log a ton of minutes over time throughout the games and run the risk of getting seriously injured.

[KevinConnor]

i don't know if celtic fans are just eluding this topic, but it has been around that dwayne wade is asking for compensation in lieu of their appearance to represent usa at the london olympics..included in the mix was ray allen's apparent comments which wade only seconded..i don't know what to say, much less think about his persona, as an individual far more as a proud citizen of the united states, but if this holds true,this is definitely a step back on the real "smooth" guy we all know he is..just a thought, if indeed he said that, there goes ray allen to the highest bidder next season..

Yeah right and while we're at it "sell" Rondo as wel to the highest bidder for flat out refusing to represent his country!

Big deal he feels athletes should be compensated for competing in the olympics. It's just an opinion!

[MBz]

My issue with this is that these players dont pay for ANYTHING.  They get free hotel, free meals, and free apparel.  Isn't that enough?

[Celtics18]

Let me get this straight, it's wrong for an athlete to ask to be compensated for doing something that could cost them their livelihood? If one of the bigger named players were to have a career ending injury, not only will they lose out on the money they WORK for but will also be an end to something that they have been doing all their lives! If I'm going to risk my livelihood, PAY ME! This isn't the same as bankers stealing people's money, these athletes work for their pay on and off the court (what you think they come out the womb in basketball shape?)! If your boss came to you and said, "hey, we are going to work for hours to be better than 'insert any opposition', you do all the work and take ALL THE RISK but guess what... you gotta to do it for free while we make MILLIONS of dollars... hey, don't fret, you will get a medal for it! Whose in?!" What would you say, "sure Massa"? Maybe some of you just want to "do it for your country" (as if it's war, haha, you people make me laugh), but maybe some people don't... why are they the villains again?

You've convinced me.  Pay them.  But, pay them all--the curlers, the cross country skiers, the pole vaulters, the synchronized swimmers--and pay them all the same.  Don't make it tiered based on how much money they make for NBC and NIKE. 

[Eja117]

Speaking of capitalism maybe it makes some sense for Olympic basketball to not pay them because they don't have to. They could always respond "If you don't want the experience of representing your country, playing for the best coaches, playing against the best teams, and doing it on the world's biggest stage just stay home and feed your cat or something."

[guava_wrench]

This is actually a funny cycle. Players want to play ... players get tired of commitment ... we lose in olympics ... players want to play ... players get tired of commitment ... and so on ...

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Let me get this straight, it's wrong for an athlete to ask to be compensated for doing something that could cost them their livelihood? If one of the bigger named players were to have a career ending injury, not only will they lose out on the money they WORK for but will also be an end to something that they have been doing all their lives! If I'm going to risk my livelihood, PAY ME! This isn't the same as bankers stealing people's money, these athletes work for their pay on and off the court (what you think they come out the womb in basketball shape?)! If your boss came to you and said, "hey, we are going to work for hours to be better than 'insert any opposition', you do all the work and take ALL THE RISK but guess what... you gotta to do it for free while we make MILLIONS of dollars... hey, don't fret, you will get a medal for it! Whose in?!" What would you say, "sure Massa"? Maybe some of you just want to "do it for your country" (as if it's war, haha, you people make me laugh), but maybe some people don't... why are they the villains again?

You've convinced me.  Pay them.  But, pay them all--the curlers, the cross country skiers, the pole vaulters, the synchronized swimmers--and pay them all the same.  Don't make it tiered based on how much money they make for NBC and NIKE. 

I'm not really talking about pay them anything except for things like jersey sales, merchandise with their likeness, etc. If they just put USA on the jersey and don't sell stuff based off of individuals then I would say... okay, no one is getting USED! So, no, not everyone should get paid the same, unless what their "name" earns is the same! It's easy to say "do it for your country" when it's not YOUR risk, work/effort, or time (you don't see the work outside of the games they have to put in)!

[Moranis]

The US team gets something like 105 bucks a day, free travel, free room, and they get paid if they medal.  And it isn't like these guys are flying in coach and staying in roach motels.  That said, they should get a cut of any jersey (or other merchandise) that has their name or the US Men's basketball team name on it. 

[pearljammer10]

It was very interesting to hear Ray say this. Playing for the Olympics is a privledge and an honor. If you dont like that you dont get paid to play there...Its simple, dont play there.

[Chelm]

If the USA were to pay them, we're paying them out of federal taxes.  USA Basketball does not make a profit.  They are barely able to break even with the revenue that comes in.

Also, if we pay them, we must pay all Olympic athletes evenly, which would then ALL come out of federal taxes as well.  How much does each earn?  I would fiercely oppose this.  If they doesn't want to play, they are completely within their rights to sit out and whine about it.  No one is forcing them to join.  That being said, my opinion lowers of each and every one of them that does.

[Bankshot]

I remember Ray saying this years ago when he was still playing for Seattle.

[European NBA fan]

Jerry Colangelo, who is the chairman of USA Basketball, gave imo a very good answer to this:

First of all, there are no "extra money":

'All of the money that is generated from our participation and the competitions the senior teams participate in in effect subsidizes and pays for the entire U.S. Olympic (basketball) programs and that includes all of the junior programs where most of these players came from.'

Secondly, the players benifit from going to these tournaments:

‘The opportunity to represent your country is a privilege without anything further said, that’s No. 1.'

‘No. 2, the experience broadens individuals in every regard and every respect because you experience things you would not have under any other circumstance — the travel, the people you meet. Thirdly, the brand. We will live in a global economy. All of our players have shoe contracts and apparel contracts and they’re little mini-business onto themselves and in some cases, they’re not mini-businesses, they’re quite substantial. Participation is a privilege that gives their brands a great impetus and most of them really, truly understand that.'

It is their own choice to participate, it is not part of their job (unlike swimmers and track and field athletes who have to participate to make their money elsewhere). The NBA players can all do as Rondo, and choose their vacation over the Olympic basketball tournament.

[Marcus13]

yes, and he is completely right.

Why the hell would a professional go do his job for free?  Carpenters don't build houses for free, Lawyers don't represent people for free, and Dentists don't do root canals for free.

[missyP]

Easy for us fans to watch the best sport from home and type on blogs that the best atheletes should jump up willingly and compete with 100% effort on the biggest stages(putting in hours of practice and risk career ending injuries) with no form of compensation regardless of who benefits out of all their talents. Corportations walk away with millions, including media corporations and the olympic organization itself.

Should the best talent that put the best sport to entertain us benefit from some of the money being made? YES PLEASE. And if asked by journalists if they think they should be compensated and they say yes, are they less patriotic of their countries? blah!

[greenlion]

it is very interesting how people correlate things and have taken the context out of the real issue here..the issue here is greed, i love ray allen, but his comments, no matter how you look at it is so uncalled for, wade backtracked a bit with his "jersey/merchandise" alibi but in the eyes of many, he's one talented athlete who still doesn't get it, like most people here, it's either you do or you don't..if you pay one athlete for bringing honor and bringing home the gold, the same holds true for each and every sport..it is so true when the american team got booted out by other national teams,clamor by the professional players themselves to play for their flag was raised, for them then, it was honor an honor and privelege, how is it any different now? you can always decline if you feel that no insurance exist when you play for the national team and it might cost you your livelihood, i'll be able to swallow that, but for you to publicly say it out loud that you ought to be compensated just to don your colors is no different from them flesh traders plying their stuff on the streets..you are darn right its about patriotism!