Paycheque envy

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2010 (5869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a dumb game to play, admittedly. Different sports, different leagues, different countries… heck, completely different realities.

But when Sports Illustrated.com came out this week with its annual Fortunate 50 — a list of the highest-paid athletes on the planet — it just so happened to be posted a few minutes before yours truly trotted out to a Winnipeg Blue Bomber practice. And it got me wondering about what goes through a Bomber’s head when he sees that Tiger Woods makes $70 million in endorsements alone — even after losing Gatorade, AT&T and Accenture as major sponsors — while some of his teammates are cycling to Maroons Road or living in a family’s basement to save coin.

Would that be paycheque envy?

Does a Bomber who makes the league average, just under $60,000, absolutely lose it when he sees one athlete — Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers — earns almost as much, $33,034,375, as the entire payroll of the whole Canadian Football League at $34 million?

And what separates a Bomber who trains year round, takes a monk-like approach to nutrition and is exceptionally skilled at his craft from a tool like Albert Haynesworth of the Washington Redskins, who will get a $23 million BONUS this season, but has the gall to bitch about Mike Shanahan’s switch to a 3-4 defence?

"What separates me from him? About 80 pounds," said Bomber defensive tackle Doug Brown with a chuckle. "Look, I had my opportunity. He’s obviously more talented and he’s taken advantage of his opportunity and been well rewarded. I’m just not sure there’s always a discernible difference between an Albert Haynesworth and a guy making the NFL minimum.

"But I don’t do that kind of comparison. I don’t wake up, look in the mirror and say, ‘Why am I not Albert Haynesworth?’ I wish, knowing what I know now, that I could go back and be 21 years old and in the NFL again. But even then there’s no guarantee. It is what it is."

That’s simply the swallowing hard part for those footballers who venture north to Canada after having a taste of the NFL. And it’s what sends so many of them back — risking what they’ve established here — to chase the dream and the huge dollars. To those that remain, the party line about life in the CFL is about less stress, less politics and an environment which is more relaxed and family oriented.

It’s also part of the overall appeal of the three-down game and ‘This is our league’ marketing campaign. There is an easy identification for the diehard fans to a working-class hero who has a mortgage, is sharing an apartment with a teammate or whose ride has more rust spots on it than a Winnipeg winter beater.

"The way I look at it now is I’m happy for those guys who are on that (SI.com) list," said Shawn Gallant, an 11-year CFL veteran. "Those guys work hard for their money and they’re the best of the best. We’re just in a different situation. We’re still getting paid well to work for five months. I can’t complain. It’d be nice to make that kind of money, but it is what it is.

"Still, just think: if you worked at a plant and another guy was working at a plant across town doing essentially the same thing and he’s a millionaire and you’re not… that hurts a little bit. It doesn’t do me any good to be the bitter guy. I want to be at the prom, too. I don’t want to be at home all bitter about it. I’m playing football, too. I’m not making millions, but I’m happy.

"You can’t dwell on it because, well, that would just suck."

Consider this: Bomber cornerback Jovon Johnson — arguably as gifted an athlete as there is in the CFL — starred at Iowa alongside Robert Gallery (Oakland Raiders, $5.99 million) and grew up and played with Bob Sanders (Indianapolis Colts, $3.95 million). He had his shot with the Steelers in 2006 before coming north. But to see college teammates making that kind of dough…

"Ahh, I’m happy with my situation," said Johnson. "You can’t think about that. If you did it would drive you crazy because you always run into players who aren’t necessarily better than you or don’t prepare like you do but are making way more money. But what can you do? I have my career. I’ve been blessed for this opportunity, whether it’s here or in the NFL. I’m having fun and I love the guys I’m around. What more could you ask for?"

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

today’s bomber report C3

THE RICHEST

ATHLETES

ON THE GLOBE

SI.com’s Fortunate 50’s Top 10 earners:

1. Tiger Woods, golf

Salary/winnings: $20,508,163

Endorsements: $70,000,000

Total: $90,508,163

2. Roger Federer, tennis

Total: $61,768,110

3. Phil Mickelson, golf

Salary/winnings: $9,660,757

Endorsements: $52,000,000

Total: $61,660,757

4. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., boxing

Salary/winnings: $60,000,000

Endorsements: $250,000

Total: $60,250,000

5. LeBron James, basketball

Salary/winnings: $15,779,912

Endorsements: $30,000,000

Total: $45,779,912

6. Lionel Messi, soccer

Total: $44,000,000

7. David Beckham, soccer

Total: $40,500,000

8. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer

Total: $40,000,000

9. Manny Pacquiao, boxing

Total: $38,000,000

10. Ichiro Suzuki,

baseball

Total: $37,000,000

10. Alex Rodriguez,

baseball

Salary/winnings: $33,000,000

Endorsements: $4,000,000

Total: $37,000,000

Other notables:

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts QB, was the highest-paid football player at $30,800,000 ($15.8 million salary; $15 million in endorsements).

Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays OF was highest-paid athlete on a Canadian team at $21,250,000.

Maria Sharapova, tennis, was the highest-earning female at $19,923,619

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Worth noting: No NHL players made the SI.com list

Average CFL salary: $60,000

— Source: SI.com; CFLPA