Footballers Wage

Why are footballers worth so much money?

Is the paying such large sums of money to our footballers something that you would see as immoral? What I find strange about us humans is how we can find things immoral until it is actually happening to us. Until we stumble upon fame and fortune. If we had been born with such a skill like that of a footballer, that had been nurtured and then someone offered us over £100,000 per week, would we then find it immoral? No I suspect most of us wouldn't quiver. I know I wouldn't. I would probably love it. This is our life after all. Even more so doing something I enjoyed so much. Why not have a little comfort and the fame and fortune that comes along with that. Money in no way brings us happiness, but it surely helps along the way. Or does it? I don’t think so. Happiness is deeper than money.

Wayne Rooney is only 25 years old and he is already worth $40 million even though he is falling down the rich list with the likes of players like David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand remaining above him.

He is a good footballer and should be credited with that but why is so much money turned around in this game? Is it down to the punter, the man who buys the ticket to go and watch the football match ultimately?

We have seen many examples of well paid celebrities that are not happy. George Best, one of our greatest, if not the greatest footballer we ever had, being one of them. Money you could say killed him. He obviously couldn’t cope with the excess of it all. I think you have to be a particularly strong character to handle the pressure of fame and fortune. I feel it is the same for ones that have a gift, some kind of talent as it is for people who have stumbled along this road of fame and fortune through our modern reality TV that we have adopted in this century. Either way, fame and fortune can be a bit like eating all the cookies in the jar. Just look at Charlie Sheen. I don’t think that is a happy man. He has so much he doesn’t know how to handle it. He would say I was jealous. He would say that I want what he has. But as much as I would like his money, I would not choose his life. Not the way I think presently, but hey, who knows, maybe I would change along with the money. As for Charlie Sheen, maybe he would be an ordinary 9 to 5 kinda guy if he was on the same wages as me.

David Beckham is one of our stronger candidates taking it all in his stride. He’s good at his game, his good looking, and he also comes across as a really nice guy. Im pleased for him, I mean that. Let’s hope his children follow in his footsteps and don’t turn into spoilt little rich kids. They seem to look okay, but I only see them in Mail online.

Whereas Rooney has been in the football game from a young age and yet I don’t feel he handles things very well. Does he realise the camera’s are there for all to be seen and heard when he slates his fans that are ultimately paying him?

We are in a period of financial strife right now. The previous government were borrowing and spending until it came out of their ears and we are all suffering the effects of this. People are losing jobs and there is a sense of insecurity among the British people. But is our society unbalanced? Do we go from one extreme to the other? Yes, our footballers are very talented and probably work hard. But they are doing something that they love. Let’s face it – its just kicking a ball around isn't it? Or is it more than a kick around. Is it all about buying and selling players. It’s a different type of game isn't it?

Well I have come to the conclusion that it is much more than a football match. When ever I put the television on to watch the news its there. It’s up there on the top of the headlines with Libya and Bin Laden. Football is more than a game. It’s a massive business where lots of money and people’s lives are involved and it’s something that seems to be adored world wide. Adored enough to be mentioned every 10 minutes on our top news channels here in London.

What is it?

I can’t see it.

I have tried to like football.

I have tried to sit and watch football.

It frustrates me.

This ball being kicked around a field.

But I am going against the tide of mankind. Most people love it. Grown men will put tiny little uniforms in the back of their cars to promote their team. It cares of no class. All types and class of people love football. Can someone let me know the key that you have all used to unlock this desire? No, maybe I’m better of in my bubble. I probably sound bitter. I’m not - really I’m not. I just feel sad for the unseen workers who do so much for our society and are not recognised in person or salary. For instance, our nurses and carers, nurses that work in hospices, who face death daily and yet remain strong, happy and detached to enable the patient and their relatives to cope.

What would all our footballers be doing right now, I wonder….. if they weren't playing football?

Copyright © 2011 Lesley Sherwood