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[Closed] In the grand scheme of things.

 ton
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a load of overpaid blokes kicking a football around,
a load of shaved druggies riding bikes,
a load of overpaid athletes playing tennis.

people getting megabucks playing school playground games.
would the world be worse off without it all?


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:38 am
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ton - Member

a load of overpaid blokes kicking a football around,
a load of shaved druggies riding bikes,
a load of overpaid athletes playing tennis.

people getting megabucks playing school playground games

millions and millions of people getting a kick out of watching, so

would the world be worse off without it all?

No


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:46 am
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people getting megabucks playing school playground games

Can you tell my boss? Half my job is the latter, unfortunately I don't get the former...


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:51 am
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Well, they all get paid what the market will bear - if no-one thought they were worth it, they wouldn't get paid what they do.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:51 am
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people getting megabucks playing school playground games.

Is the tig world championship being televised this year then?


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:52 am
 ton
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millions of people living in debt all over the world. brazil moreso than most. does it seem wise to spend huge amounts of money on entertaining people?


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:52 am
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No, but it seems like that is what most of the world want...................


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:54 am
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moanmoanmoan
moanmoanmoanbahhumbug
moan....


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:55 am
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millions of people living in debt all over the world. brazil moreso than most. does it seem wise to spend huge amounts of money on entertaining people?

Now that's a different question... They only get paid their millions because someone thinks they can make money out of it. Not much money in charitable donations...


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:55 am
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does it seem wise to spend huge amounts of money on entertaining people?

To improve peoples lot income and jobs have to be generated from somewhere - and sport is an industry just like any other. They make a produce and sell it to us consumers.

And for every well paid footballer there are hundreds of 'normal' jobs created by football clubs - from groundsmen, physios, admin staff, litter pickers etc...

There are also many people who I consider to be overpaid for what they do - civil servants who earn more than the PM for instance.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 10:59 am
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So it's official, Ton is the new cressers?


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:00 am
 ton
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And for every well paid footballer there are hundreds of 'normal' jobs created by football clubs - from groundsmen, physios, admin staff, litter pickers etc...

so all those folk living in the huts in the shadow of the new maracana are gonna be ok then..... 😀


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:01 am
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Really Ton? There's corporations with billions of £/$ in tax avoidance, money laundering schemes and organised crime operating on a worldwide scale yet today's rant is to blame professional sport for all the 3rd world problems. Nice.
4/10
Fwiw I don't think there's any money in the majority of pro cycling


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:05 am
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so all those folk living in the huts in the shadow of the new maracana are gonna be ok then.....

...aye - they'll be fine!

I don't think Brazil's troubles can be solved by not playing football/cycling/tennis though.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:06 am
 ton
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not to blame, just to ask everyones opinion.
sport is expensive no?


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:06 am
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a load of overpaid blokes kicking a football around,
a load of shaved druggies riding bikes,
a load of overpaid athletes playing tennis.

You forgot:
a load of overpaid guys driving cars really fast.

But I'll be watching all of the above on TV this weekend - what a great weekend for sports enthusiasts, if not for grumpy internet trolls.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:09 am
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sport is expensive no?

Yes - but if we didn't pay for it, it wouldn't exist in its current form.

You don't see many millionaire water polo players - as no one pays to watch it.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:11 am
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I remember when I was in my teens (20+ years ago) that Sheffield Wednesday players (we were in the top flight back then!) lived on the same streets as some of my friends, they got paid well, but not like they do today.

All I can think of is that TV has had a lot to do with it - more exposure, more companies want to be associated with it, more advertising revenue, TV companies will pay more for the rights, more money goes to clubs and players etc. I guess it's the same with most sports, they've become much more than just sports, they have become huge commercial opportunities.

I do often wonder if in the future, when poverty, hunger and illness is sorted for all that humanity will look back at these times and laugh or wince that someone was paid 100 times more for kicking a bag of air around than someone who saves numerous lives. I guess that a bit of optimism there, I'm sure capitalism isn't going anywhere!


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:16 am
 ton
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look back at these times and laugh or wince that someone was paid 100 times more for kicking a bag of air around than someone who saves numerous lives.

and that is what is so wrong with these sports.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:19 am
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people getting megabucks playing school playground games

Can you tell my boss? Half my job is the latter, unfortunately I don't get the former.

But Matt ,your outdoor playground is priceless 😉


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:20 am
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Its not just sport though is it? We as a society now place far more value on certain occupations that have little or nothing to do with helping those in unfortunate circumstances.

It was probably Thatcher's fault. And Blair's too.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:27 am
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There are also many people who I consider to be overpaid for what they do - civil servants who earn more than the PM for instance.

The assumption there is that someone who is very good at winning a popularity contest knows more about running a country than the people the Queen pays to actually do it.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:30 am
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I blame the Industrial Revolution - if people hadn't been given so much leisure time we'd have none of these issues!


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:31 am
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I wouldn't mind if tbe Queen paid those of us who actually run the country [i]at front line level[/i] a decent salary.

But let's save that for next weeks strike threads


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 11:36 am
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Its not just sport though is it? We as a society now place far more value on certain occupations that have little or nothing to do with helping those in unfortunate circumstances.

TBH I'm waaay more annoyed by "Media personalities" than professional Athletes. At least Athletes do something OK so they don't perform any "Critical Function" for society like a Fireman, Nurse or Pub Landlord, but there is at least physical exertion and skill involved which requires dedicated training, it is a Job...

I think those that appreciate the physical side or sport and aspire to be in some way part of it, by taking up the amateur/enthusiast version.
Or those who simply find supporting teams or individuals a bit of a rallying point, so they can feel part of a social group, their home town or city maybe feel pride (or dismay) in their nation, those people get some benefit, beyond the financial...

Sport/competition serves a function for society and the wider economy, the pay for some professionals may be disproportionate in some areas but I would say there is a net benefit for us all from professional sport existing... Pay levels are adjusted by the market as public interest and expenditure ebbs and flows, sports like football, Rugby, Cricket are mostly on the up it seems, simply a reflection of our society, Tennis, cycling, Distance running these seem to follow the seasons, big events (the Olympics for instance) and any big national successes which might emerge... Its always been this way, most of us are OK with it TBH...

But the slew of professional air-heads who are now famous for being famous, who'd daily bread and butter appears to be posting vapid tweets and being photographed shopping/drinking/sat on the shitter, who don't actually DO anything... That lot just boggles me I can't work out the economics of it, where's the product, service or derived benefit to society?
who exactly is paying them for simply continuing to breath?
And can they be outbid?

I thought after the first few of this lot appeared in the late 90s/early 00's the whole phenomenon would just fade away, but if anything its getting worse by the day...
If anything should boil your piss its pointless celebrity culture...

IMO.


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 12:27 pm
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in a far more eloquent way, my point exactly, thanks cookeaa 😀


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 12:35 pm
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cookeaa makes an excellent point, but slackalice is talking out of his arse further up


 
Posted : 04/07/2014 1:30 pm