The Super Bowl is now just a couple of weeks away. Tom Brady and Eli Manning, two of the most well-paid athletes in the game, will go at for all the glory of football. And then when that’s over much of the sporting world will focus on professional basketball. Baseball too is only a couple of months away now. These athletes make so much money it’s hard to remember that they are in fact just like many Americans. They’re just blue-collar guys doing what they do.
Don’t think so? Consider the following:
- The labor is physically demanding. Injuries are common, they’re just a hazard of the job. You just don’t want to be out of commission for too long.
- Of course, you don’t want to get hurt on the job, so safety gear is a must.
- There’s a huge benefit to unionizing. We’ve seen both the NBA and NFL engage in lockout battles with their unionized employees. While a lockout can be initiated by the leagues, make no mistake, it’s the equivalent of a strike. And the labor union and company management/owners have to come together and reach an agreement. They even get pensions.
- You might make good money, but the guys in suits make more. This just seems like a fact of life. Even in the NBA, a properly run organization is going to pay the guys in the suits better than the guys working on the front lines.
- Experience is everything. Sure the up-and-comer doesn’t respect the veterans, but all the hourly guys know the experienced guys are worth more than they’re paid.
- The blue collar skillset is likely not enough to move up in the organization. Sure you might be a star in the production line, but that isn’t enough to move up. You either need to buy your way to the top (Michael Jordan now owns a team) or convince someone to take a chance on putting you in management.
- You can go pro as a teen: it’s less common today than it was years ago. Now it’s usually smart to go to school for a couple of years first and hone your craft.
- Your life revolves around a clock. You’re expected to produce a certain amount in each shift. If you come up short towards the end of your day, you might need to work hard and fast or the competition will crush you.
- Professional athletes and blue collar workers alike dress like their peers. It’s easy to order uniforms in bulk and it’s much easier to manage a team if they all look the same. It can also create camaraderie.
- And most often everyone is wearing uniforms with their names on them.
Image: Keith Allison
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
