anEconomist wrote:
you keep talking about what should happen, what is fair
since when are sports not run like a business? since when are salaries fair? or life for that matter?
sure, maybe it doesn't seem right that bekele should get so much money $$$ ethically BUT i guarantee he puts people in the seats and sponsors at the table more than the unknown 12:55 kenyan guy
now what is fair?
This is part of the business issue. But the main issue to me is that the increased prize purse may result in a sizeable decrease in what the athletes get (once you factor in the appearance fees). They did NOT say that the appearance fees are totally going away, so I take some of this as a negotiating point with the agents, and if the athletes that Zurich needs (Asafa, Wariner, etc.) refuse to sign without appearance fees, the fees will have to return. But if the appearance fees are eliminated or reduced by more than the prize money is increased then the new schedule is a cut in pay for the athletes. People on letsrun frequently complain about how much less track athletes make than NBA and NFL athletes, and a cut in race income is not the way to rectify the matter.
I think part of the change is a reflection of the perception of people running the sport that drug testing is now more effective, thus world records will become less likely, thus they need a new way to build fan interest There would be less incentive to cheat if prize money was more equitably distributed in positions 1-8 (and perhaps they're doing that), but the simple fact is that people watch track meets to see stars perform, and those people will (and should) expect to be paid more.
I have a feeling that folks like HSI and Skeets are NOT going to take this lying down.