Why is it that hardly anyone gets upset about limited-talent actors and actresses signing $50 million multi-film deals or NO talent "musicians" (like Britney Spears) raking in tons of cash but get completely up in arms about extremely talented athletes doing the same? I'd rather watch Barry Bonds launch a baseball into The Bay or Randy Johnson mow down 17 great hitters in 9 innings or Roberto Alomar turn a beautiful double play or Ichiro gun down a guy tagging from 3rd base from the warning track rather than the latest bad Sly Stallone flick any day of the week. If A-Rod signs a $250 million contract, good for him. ...(although I must say that the Rangers' money would be better spent on a decent pitching staff).
But I understand that part of the appeal of following a team is indentifying with the individuals on the team, and that's a very difficult thing to do when A) the benchwarmers make more in one game than the average American wage earner earns in a year, and B) the majority of players have absolutely no loyalty to either the team or the city they play for. Fans hardly get to know the players these days before they're either traded or picked up in free agency by another club. As a result, the game isn't as personal as it once was. The fans' loyalty is to a team logo rather than to the individual players, and I find that a shame. ....although I don't pretend to have a solution.