I made a bad career choice

Actually, I mostly like my job and, don't get me wrong, I am really not obsessed with money. But let's look at Major League Baseball (MLB to us sports fans) salaries.

In the news today, Manny Ramirez turned down two contract offers from the LA Dodgers. One for $45 million over two years, the other $25 million for one year. Figures like that would make him the SECOND highest paid baseball player. A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) has a 10-year, $275 million dollar contract with incentives for another 30 million.

So, I like watching baseball and I know the baseball owners and some other folks are making big bucks on baseball. The players must feel justified asking for "their share"...after all Manny and A-Rod are great, right?

Let's look at Manny's salary a little closer:
$25,000,000 per year
$156,250 per game (based upon 160 games)
$17,361 per inning (based upon 9 innings)
Hmmmm, I'm not feeling very sympathetic yet.

Let's look at how his salary compares to "normal" folks salaries and expenses:
$20,000 = Median Individual Income (high-school grad)
$71,000 = Median Individual Income (doctorate degree)
$25.40 = average MLB single-game ticket price (up 10.9% in 2008 season)
$320 = 2 adult tickets, 2 child tickets (at the average if available), 2 beers, 4 soft drinks, 4 hot dogs, parking, 2 programs and 2 adult caps for one game at Fenway Park.

What I'd like to know, Mr. Ramirez, is WHO in this economic climate will be able to afford baseball? Sure, you're not affected by the recession YET but nearly 10% of America is unemployed and the rest of us are cutting back. $320 for a SINGLE game would almost buy a brand-new Playstation or WII, so who needs arrogant assholes like you!

PHEW, that felt kinda' good. Luckily, there isn't a MLB team in Portland, just a Minor League team with Major League beer and food prices.