The problem is not so much overpaid athletes, but overpaid athletes who don't think they're overpaid enough, which results in the making of games like Shaq-fu and movies like Steel and Space Jam.

I couldn't care less how much an athlete or an entertainer makes. If they've managed to squeeze some more cash out of an owner or studio executive, more power to them. When is the last time any of you turned down a raise?

As far as I'm concerned, if they entertain me, its great, and if they don't, life goes on.

The obsession some folks have with the antics of multi-millionaires and whether they deserve their salaries leaves me cold.

If you don't like them, vote with your Visa card and don't pay their ridiculous salaries at the box office, the sporting goods store, or wherever fine over-priced merchandising driven products are sold.  Once you get used to watching sports where the players care about the game, the team, the fans and winning more than their contracts and endorsements and commit yourself to wearing clothes and shoes where the labels are on the inside not the out side, it's quite liberating.

don't hate them, just pay them less. give them enough to make a living, but not enough for 5 sports cars and a mansion. they play a game for crying out loud.

I'm doing a research paper on overpaid athletes, personnally I don't think thy are overpaid, but they are a little too popular, shaq was in a commercial for Verizon Wireless with V-Cast, also he was in another commercial for NBA 2K6, so both of those commercials gave him a good chunk of money. Athletes are paid what the people give them, without the crowd, how good is any entertainer, Pro Athletes entertain millions so lets give them $0.25 per person they entertain on a daily or weekly basis. Then it adds up, they entertain 50 million ppl they get around $12 million. No fans, no money.

I don't hate anyone. I get angered with people who hurt others (as in racists, gay bashers, pedophiles, rapists etc). The only overpaid athletes I dislike are egotistical idiots, with ostentatious homes and possessions.

When you consider what the guys who sign these outrageous checks are making it all makes sense.

Only when they don't give back to their sport and their fans...something I don't especially hate but definitely dislike.

Who says they are overpaid? What is the standard? If it's because of their ability that more money comes to the teams owner, then I would say they deserve their fair share.

I don't hate overpaid athletes because the owners are the one's pocketing them with tons of cash. Besides, the players earned that money and they're on TV most of the time.

this is a deal with the devil for me. though i hate what's going on w/Major League baseball from 3rd players like Carl Pavano and Carlos Beltran getting millions of dollars and all the steroid business, i still go to the games. every year i say i wont. can't help it. i'm too steeped in baseball. my father began taking me to games at 3 years old and it's been an addiction for almost 28 years. the season never ends for me. therefore i'm a part of the problem where this is concerned. i put it in the hands of the owners/players to either come to a final conclusion or have a strike a lockout, whatever will stop the madness. ragardless, in April i'll be coming in to Pittsburgh to see my Buccos lose.

Athletes in general are starting to tick me off, particularly basketball players. Today's athletes think they have it soooo hard. Look at what Roger Maris or Jackie Robinson went through for about 1/100th of the money. That was hard.

Anything about entertainment period seems to involve salaries that are over the top to most of us. But, who's firing THAT furnace? If we all weren't so obsessed with staying constantly entertained many of these people would be doing the 9-5 commute the same as everyone else. It boils down to this; if the sports execs rake in the bucks, they have to pay the talent. They sure can't do much without them and so, I think yes, they do earn it and they deserve it. If it galls you then try out for the team, quit watching or get a big cup of shut the $%#! up.

Athletes aren't overpaid. People pay to see them, buy their jerseys, etc. They're paid what they're worth. How much do you think the owners, the ones you don't see on TV, are making off of them? For every overpaid athlete, there are ENORMOUSLY rich owners who give them that chump change for their service.

overpaid athletes.. i can't really see anything absurd about it... except they like to run around in circles.. each to their own i guess!.. let us go promote this! ha fools