50 Highest Paid Athletes

Sports Illustrated published their list of the 50 Highest Paid Athletes this week.  While all of the numbers are staggering, some jump out more than others.  Random thoughts on who makes what and why....

Number 1: Tiger Woods.  $90.5 million.  Never mind that this number is $22 million lower than the previous years; shouldn’t this top spot be shared by soon-to-be ex-wife Elin?  At least half of that is hers.

Number 3: Floyd Mayweather Jr.  $60.2 million.  Of the $60.2 million, only the ‘.2’ of it came via endorsements.  Translated:  No one likes this guy.  No one.  Then again, why would they? Arrogant, obnoxious and loud.

Number 11: Matthew Stafford.  $26.9 million.  Say what?  The quarterback of the team that embodies hopelessness and suckitude, just barely missed the top 10?  How did JaMarcus Russell not make the top 15?  Oh, that’s right, he used it all on codeine syrup.

Number 20: Albert Haynesworth.  $24.6 million.  Haynesworth is unhappy in Washington and would like to leave.  He is number 20 and he is unhappy.  Think about that.

Number 22: Jermaine O’Neal.  $23 million.  Jermaine O’Neal would have to get a lot better to be considered a ‘role player’, yet he is one of the Top 25.  Makes sense.  And people wonder why fans are so hostile towards athletes.

Number 24: Tracy McGrady.  $22 Million.  I have nothing to say here.  Look at the name and then the number; that says it all. 

Number 26: John Lackey.  $21.7 million.  I like Lackey; a lot in fact.  The guy competes every single time he takes the ball.  I saw him pitch dozens of times here in California and admired his ability and competitiveness.  The following phrase has never been uttered, “Hey, John Lackey is pitching tonight, let’s go out to the yard and watch!”  John Lackey makes $21.7 million.

Number 28: Darrius Heyward-Bey.  $21.5 million.  Look at that again and try not to laugh.  Pretty hard to figure out why the Raiders are the worst run team in football, huh?

Number 42: Tyson Jackson.  $18.2 million.  First question, who is Tyson Jackson?  Answer, the KC Chiefs' defensive end who had Z-E-R-O sacks last year and ranked 10th in tackles on an eleven- man defense.

Number 44: Jimmie Johnson.  $17.3 million.  The 48 (NASCAR talk!) is the bizzaro Tyson Jackson.  He is the four-time defending series champion, the heavy favorite to make it five in a row (three in a row was the previous series record), and is a marketer's dream.  How is he not in the Top 10?  He is the only one on the list who I feel is getting screwed.

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