When I wrote my post yesterday saying that I believe Owners are entitled to everything they earn I meant it.  I have always been a person that believes in the free market system and nothing anyone writes will make me change my mind; however because my post generated so many comments I find that I need to expound upon a few points.  I would also suggest that you read the stories of some of these owners as it is quite interesting.

All owners are not born rich.  Art Rooney, the first owner of the Steelers lived in the second floor apartment of his father’s saloon.  He won between 2500-250,000 dollars gambling and then invested in a football team.  I have included two different links which give varying amounts for his race winnings.

 Alex Spanos, the son of Greek immigrants, had two children and no money in 1951.  He borrowed $800 and started his catering business selling sandwiches to construction workers.   Using all of his business savvy he built this business into his real estate and construction conglomerate of today and he purchased the Chargers. 

Edward DeBartolo Sr. was also an immigrant who is credited with building one of the first strip malls in Ohio and later made a fortune in the development of malls.  His son went into the business with his father and also bought the San Francisco 49er’s.  The point is that the DeBartolo family were also immigrants who worked hard to earn the money their family has.  They were not handed a the things they have, they did it the old fashioned way, "THEY EARNED IT!"

Red McCombs or Billy Joe McCombs was born in 1927 in Spur, Texas as the son of an auto mechanic.  Hardly a rich family, he served in the military, played college football, and then went to business school.  He started his own auto dealership at the young age of 25 and never looked back.  He was one of the only successful dealerships for the Edsel automobile.  He is also cofounder of Clear Communications Network and was the owner of the Vikings, Spurs, and Nuggets. 

Al Davis was a coach for a college team that went on to be the lineman coach for the Raiders.  Later on he became the head coach for 3 seasons before becoming the AFL commissioner.  He worked his way up through the organization all the way to the top.  Can you imagine being a football player in college then the owner of the team you coach one day?

These are just a few of the owners I chose to mention but the point is that not all owners are bad people that come from rich and wealthy families.  These were men who invested in things they believed in, the American Dream.  They went from rags to riches and quite honestly by sheer hard work and determination. 

 As to the players, most of them went to school on a free ride.  They have never worked a day in their life except to work out in a weight room.  They are given huge signing bonuses which unless they learn to be savvy businessmen like the John Elways, they will lose it all when they retire.  I do not begrudge any player his salary nor do I necessarily believe in a salary cap, but the fact is I do not feel sorry for any player.  The argument is always made that the poor lineman does not make as much as the QB.  Do you think in this new CBA the disparity between the pay of linemen and QB’s will change.  It will only get larger.  That argument has no merit in my book.  People go into a career knowing what they want to do and accept what comes with it. 

Let’s look at my business, education, for a prime example.  A school is made up of secretaries who are the lifeblood of any school, janitors, teachers, and coaches.  Which one do you think makes the most?  In most high schools and colleges it is the coach after stipends are applied, then teachers, secretaries, and lastly janitors.  Are they all important?  Most definitely!  Should the janitors rise up and demand more of the pie or the secretaries?  It would not matter.

Let’s look at professional fields.  Doctors and lawyers are two good examples.  If you are a general practitioner vs. a neurosurgeon, who do you think makes more?  Which one works harder?  Well I would say on a day to day basis they both put in the same hours but if my life was on the line that surgeon is going to get more of my money.  They both went to 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, and probably a residency in general medicine and surgery, but each knew what he wanted to do or more importantly what his gifts were.  A lineman does not have the same gifts as a running back or a QB.  He is paid differently and the two will never be paid the same. 

Lawyers all go to school for the same amount of time, but the ones willing to be public defenders and district attorneys will never make what an experience personal injury attorney will make.

Again, I hope the players play and sign a new deal but when will the percentage be enough.  Every time the CBA needs to be renewed the players want more of the pie.  It has been said they deserve raises.  Absolutely, but no one is saying they should not get a raise, but does that means owners should take a loss?  Do owners ever deserve a raise?

Lastly, if it is truly a revenue sharing then all revenues should be shared.  I said this in my last post on this topic, but every player should throw in their individual endorsement deals with shoe companies, tv ads, and any other revenue into the pot and divvy it up.  NFL players want the revenue from their jersey sales for themselves and do not want to share it nor does Peyton Manning want to give up his ability to earn money on the side.  What about the fame that comes with playing in the NFL?  Should players chip in all their appearance fees into the pot?  Just a thought, but playing in the NFL has many perks that the owners do not try and stop the players from enjoying.  By the way, the NFL owners have taken losses in NFL Europe every year just to help develop the game.  Any and all thoughts welcome.

SoCalSportsFan