In the 1996-1997 season, NBA’s Michael Jordan was paid $33,450,000 for the year, or just over $1.06 per second, an outrageous amount of money for a player to play the game he loves to play. He was paid $178,000 a day whether he played or not. There is no doubt that professional athletes are talented, but when Kevin Garnett, who is not even a college graduate, makes over 16 million dollars a year, that becomes a problem. While that may seem outrageous, deliberations over pro athletes salaries are nothing new. When baseball’s Babe Ruth was reportedly asked about earning a larger salary than the United States President Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression in the 1930’s Ruth defended his salary in response, “Why not?
Also since the NFL is becoming more popular, and the teams are developing a sense of style, the demand for more teams was high. During the 1950's the average paid attendance per game ranged anywhere from 25,000 to 43,000. In the 50's the NFL or rather any football league, they had leather helmets without a facemask, and they really didnt do much to help protect your head. It was unlikely for a lot of head injuries to occur. They also didn't have the pad quality like there is today, the NFL in the 50's didn't even have shoulder pads for their players.
There are more players influenced by Jordan's game than anyone else in NBA history. Jordan is the player every elite player today gets compared to. He's such an amazing and influential player that even people who never saw him play know he's top 3. Michael Jordan had a great impact on society. Jordan changed the people's perspective on basketball.
For example, average points per game and free throw percentage. Not only are his numbers better during regular season play, but also he keeps the edge in playoff statistics. For example, Jordan holds the highest scoring average in playoff history and he is at a 83.3% made free throw average while playing 42 minutes. Outside of statistics, MJ was a college standout and therefore had more experience playing at a higher level. Jordan was the team, meaning that he was always way above everyone else on his team in points.
One of the main reasons is that college sports are very popular and the attendance, especially at the football and basketball is growing every year and breaking attendance records. Furthermore, TV ratings for the tournaments series are the highest they have been in years bringing billions of dollars in commerce for schools. Schools use their players’ face and names to promote their schools and gain more money. Of course, college athletes get scholarships and get education, however who benefits the most from their success? The answer is schools.
The NBA’s popularity and wealth increased dramatically by the time Michael Jordan had been drafted by the Bulls. Through new technologies Michael Jordan and NBA games could be seen around the world. The NBA became a global television goldmine because it was able to capitalize off of Jordan’s global recognition and popularity. Before Michael Jordan had been a Chicago bull the franchise’s wealth had been a meager nineteen million, which number quickly grew to over one hundred and ninety million in a matter of years. The NBA was not the only company to capitalize off of the Michael Jordan phenomenon, corporations such as Nike and Coca-Cola made billions worldwide off of Jordan.
Where as the 2012 team, won four MVP awards, seven NBA titles and were included in 43 All Star games. The Dream Team was much more experienced then, than the 2012 team is today. However, Duhaime, in my opinion, contradicts himself in his article too. “I agree that today’s NBA player tends to be physically stronger, quicker, and more explosive” (Duhaime 3). “The 2012 team possesses great young talent and will likely rout their competition in London” (Duhaime 3).
Messi, playing for FC Barcelona, has scored until today, a total of 205 goals in his career since 2003. Chicharito, playing for Manchester United, has lead the league in most goals in more than one occasion scoring an average of two goals per game. Both Messi and Chicarito are in the starting lineup in their league teams and national teams, winnig various awards each like (in Chicharito’s case), “Goalgetter 2011”, and (in Messi’s case), he was the winner of the Golden ball in the 2009 Worldcup. Although they are both great players, their playing style and techniques is what differences them immediately. Lionel Messi is recognized and compared to the Argentinean, Diego Maradona, one the greatest soccer players of all time next to the Brazilian, Pele.
is the amount of scoring titles each player had. Kobe is supposed to be the greatest scorer in the league right? For two players, one of which has been in the league far shorter than Kobe, have more scoring titles than he does. Allen Iverson and Kevin Durant both reigned supreme as the NBA’s leading scorer three times each during Kobe’s career. So there could even be a debate if Kobe is the best scorer of his own generation!
Since the very first issue published in 1953 featuring celebrity Marilyn Monroe on the cover and centre fold, the magazine has been a top seller among male readers in the United States. The magazine has become part of the American culture. “ Playboy gets about two – thirds of its circulation from subscriptions, sexually orientated men’s magazines do almost all of their business in single copy sells” (Passion). This shows that many of the readers of the infamous magazine are long time subscribers, supporting the claim that the magazine is part of the American culture. In fact Playboy is the number one men’s magazine.