They are INCREDIBLY overpaid, as are most entertainers

If we paid our top scientists, researchers, etc anywhere close to what these athletes or professional teams make, how much further advanced would we be?

If we devoted those types of salaries to helping the poor, the homeless, those affected by natural disaster or in need of health care, how much further ahead as a society would we be?

Instead we pay OUTRAGEOUS amounts of money to a few individuals gifted with the ability to entertain and then we pay even more to the television networks for subscriptions and PPV events. Not too mention what tickets to the event cost and of course merchandise. All so we can be entertained for a few hours at a time and forget our own lives.

Lets not forget these people started out playing a game they loved, they wanted to play and just happen to be good at. How many people can say that about their job? Maybe that you are good at it, but is it something you love? something you want to do/play?

So a few lucky individuals get to do what they want, play a game and make OUTRAGEOUS sums of money while contributing absolutely nothing to society in general other than what the ancient gladiators in the Roman Coliseum did? A few hours of entertainment for the screaming masses of the populace

If the demand placed on an individual by their job is used to measure what that individual or profession earns, then again they should not be earning what they do. Their are far more stressful, physically demanding jobs than putting on some pads and helmet once a week and banging into other people (yes I'm talking about American football).