The Celebrity of Athletes

I have played lacrosse since I was 6 years old. Growing up i was never one of those kids that dreamed to be a doctor or a vet, I always wanted to be a star lacrosse player, but I realized there is absolutely no money in being a star lacrosse player. There are certain sports that are the "money making" sports; football, basketball, and baseball, but even baseball isn't the highest income in the world of sports. In 2010 the average major league baseball player made an average of $3,297,828 a year. This of course excludes players like Derrick Jeter or Alex Rodriguez. The average NFL player makes an average of 2-3 million a year, but the most known players make over 20 million a year. 

  You may ask yourself why they need to make more money if they are already making a crap ton of money anyway. The answer, for most athletes is sponsorships. The more sponsorship the athletes gets the more money he/she makes. For example, Michael Phelps, Apolo Ohno, and Misty May from the olympics are all sponsored by Subway. They are featured in their commercials and marketing products like signs, cups, bill boards, etc. This not only brings money to the athlete, but also for the company. Another example is Ray Rice with M&T Bank. I am sure all of you have herd or seen the corny commercials that say "Raise the green flag with M&T and Ray Rice". Don't get me wrong, I love Ray and his smiling face, but it's everywhere.

 Athletes also make money by becoming a brand or becoming the main rep for a brand. Back in the day, Carmelo Anthony teamed up with Michael Jordan and released a shoe called the Carmelo Jordan. I remember the day those shoes came out I got the last pair from foot locker in Towson mall. They were sold out in less then 24 hours. Carmelo made himself a brand by releasing those shoes. Michael Jordan also made himself a brand through his own line of shoes and athletic clothing and gear along with being one of the biggest reps for Hanes underwear. Sponsorships and brands are ways that athletes expand their fame.
  There are athletes that are not stuck in their own world full of money. Many athletes in the less sponsored sports like soccer, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, and many others, have athletes that reach out to their communities and across the globe to practice pure goodness. The entire mens soccer team from Spain traveled to the Dominican Republic to help restore and rebuild homes and played soccer with many of the children. I think with all the media it is easier for kids to see athletes as role models, but it may be for the wrong reason. Children know that these "mainstream" athletes make tons of money, therefore they want to be just like them! When scandal is involved it can either boost or ruin an athletes career along with their reputation.
  Today more and more athletes are becoming more celebrity like instead of athletes. They are blown up in their reputation and sponsorships that they lose focus on why they are famous in the first place. The world of sports is so much different now then what it used to be. I don't think i could say what athlete I look up to because none of them are known for what they do in the sport, but what commercial they were on or what shoe they are sponsoring. It's just not the same anymore.