Destinee Hooker and the Pro Volleyball Contract

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  • wejo
    cofounder
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 9:10am CST
    Forum Index
    Destinee Hooker signed to play pro volleyball in S. Korea.


    Does anyone know what a pro volleyball contract in S. Korea pays?

    Does this mean she's giving up on track?

    The texassports article makes it sound like it gives her a better chance of making the US Olympic team in volleyball in 2012 but 2012 is a long way off so this seems to be a financial decision.

    I guess volleyball pays a lot better than high jumping but I'm curious.
  • mcgato
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 9:36am CST
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    From thread on TFN board:
    http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=38479&start=0

    The number being knocked about at VolleyTalk is in the $150,000 range, which, if true, is indeed probably more than she could get in pro track - a tragic loss for USA HJing.
  • Citizen Runner
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 9:44am CST
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    The article linked below deals more with European teams and male players, but it's something. Destinee is probably a marquee player on a Korean team and would make more than average, but I doubt she's getting a lot more than a living wage. On the other hand she's getting invaluable experience playing against consistently higher level competition than she would see in NCAA which will help with the US Olympic team which in turn helps her endorsement value.

    My guess is that if she were to become one of the top T&F competitors she could make at least as much money there as she can playing club volleyball, but there are more opportunities near the top in volleyball.

    http://www.volleyballmag.com/archive/2009/AdventureCapitalists.php
  • dw
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 9:52am CST
    re: Citizen Runner
    Forum Index
    I have a friend who played for 8 seasons on the European circuit and he was on the Czech national team. He was earning somewhere between 75 and 120,000 euro a year.
  • C/M Runner
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 10:04am CST
    re: dw
    Forum Index
    dw wrote:

    I have a friend who played for 8 seasons on the European circuit and he was on the Czech national team. He was earning somewhere between 75 and 120,000 euro a year.

    So ranging from $109,000 to $174,000 a year. That's not bad. But doesn't a National team have different salaries than just pro-level teams? National teams have to deal with more travel, so to me, the higher salaries make sense.
  • ca_runner2
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 10:09am CST
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    Pay is one thing.

    Volleyball is more fun that high jumping.

    wejo wrote:

    Destinee Hooker signed to play pro volleyball in S. Korea.


    Does anyone know what a pro volleyball contract in S. Korea pays?

    Does this mean she's giving up on track?

    The texassports article makes it sound like it gives her a better chance of making the US Olympic team in volleyball in 2012 but 2012 is a long way off so this seems to be a financial decision.

    I guess volleyball pays a lot better than high jumping but I'm curious.
  • C/M Runner
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 10:17am CST
    re: ca_runner2
    Forum Index
    I just talked to one of Destinee's closest friends (who is going to be a bridesmaid for Destinee's wedding). According to this friend, Destinee will figure out if she will go back to T&F after her volleyball contract is done.
  • flumoxed
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 10:52am CST
    re: C/M Runner
    Forum Index
    Destinee is making a ridiculous sum ($150K+) for a very short term contract(2 months). Yes...I know.
  • 5er
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 3:57pm CST
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    crazy world when a volleball player makes that kind of money and I'm guessing the 5th ranked miler in the US makes what? $45,000?
  • shaggy
    registered
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 4:00pm CST
    re: 5er
    Forum Index
    5er wrote:

    crazy world when a volleball player makes that kind of money and I'm guessing the 5th ranked miler in the US makes what? $45,000?

    not that crazy. there is a huge difference in fan appeal. many people would rather watch women playing volleyball for an hour than see some scrappy 120lb guy run around a track for four minutes.
  • sparco
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 7:22pm CST
    re: Shaggy
    Forum Index
    A high school teammate played in Korea for a little while. Apparently the Korean teams can hire up to one American player per team. Interesting little twist
  • MScott
    10 years ago 01/13/2010 7:22pm CST
    re: Shaggy
    Forum Index
    Did anyone watch the NCAA volleyball finals. Ridiculously good match. Hooker played an insane match in a losing effort.

    Marshavette Hooker is her sister, right? Maybe she had some input which guided Destinee towards pro volleyball.
  • truth hurts.....
    10 years ago 01/14/2010 1:25am CST
    re: 5er
    Forum Index
    5er wrote:

    crazy world when a volleball player makes that kind of money and I'm guessing the 5th ranked miler in the US makes what? $45,000?


    thats because watching people jog in circles is boring. I don't want to watch people exercise.

    This is why sprinting is more fun!
  • Skinny aint she
    10 years ago 01/14/2010 2:16am CST
    re: wejo
    Forum Index
    http://volleyballphotomag.com/DisplayJpg.php?091112_0050_0970_RLM&next=1
  • whoanelly..
    10 years ago 01/14/2010 6:56am CST
    re: Skinny aint she
    Forum Index
    Volleyball must be real fun to watch. Look at the fans in the upper right corner of that picture.