Skyje reports that the average sports fan can spend between $1,000-$3,000 a year on sports tickets, but how often do you hear of someone donating that kind of money and time to our military?
It’s obvious sports and freedom are a big part of what makes America so great. In every football stadium, basketball court, hockey rink, baseball field and soccer field in America, a proud flag hangs and the National Anthem is sung in honor of all those who fight for the freedoms and liberties of this special nation.
The problem is, although many acknowledge this fact, the majority of the population supports sports over our military. Sports fanatics splurge on game day tickets, jerseys, signed paraphernalia, premier seating, pay per view fights, video games, sponsored material and shoes throughout the whole year.
These are all things that almost every everyone can admit to buying, and it supports American athletes’ eight-figure income. What saddens me, and should sadden every American, is the difference in income between American athletes and American soldiers.
In 2015 The Big Lead reported that the average annual income for NBA players is $4.58 million, with the MLB and NFL falling close behing at $4.2 million and $2.11 million. Their salary is so high because the public feeds them a remarkable amout of attention, which leads to million dollar sponsorship deals from popular brands. According to Go Army, the average annual income of an American active duty soldier is between $18,000 and $36,000.
There is something wrong with this immense attention and pay difference. Without the sacrifices military members and their families make to protect the freedoms of this country, these athletes wouldn’t even have the chance to play the sports that they love.
Since when did catching a ball or scoring points become more patriotic than dodging bullets and protecting our nation’s freedoms?
Although I understand that reaching a professional level in sports takes a unique skill set and incredible amounts of time, I am not convinced it is worth more than our soldiers. It is understood that those brave men and women who desire to protect our nation and fight for our rights are not doing it for the money. That being said, they should not be receiving such a low income.
No matter how unfair it is, there is no single entity that can balance the pay difference between our military and athletes, but there are things everyone can do to help.
When it comes to American values, actions speak louder than words. We are dumping money into the sports industry, as if they need it. Athletes receive money simply for being the face of a brand. What does it say about our values as proud Americans that athletes are receiving so much more support, attention and money? This isn’t to say that every sports enthusiast should stop buying jerseys, attending games and paying for tickets, but we should aim to prioritize the welfare of our nation’s heroes.
I’ve been a sports fan my whole life and have probably spent more money than I would like to admit on glass seating at hockey games and the closest seats to home plate, but I also always put our nation’s military first. I have spent hours collecting needed items for our troops and organizing events in benefit of military. I donate money almost every month to Support Our Troops and attend events that honor our local veterans. Many of my own family members have sacrificed their lives for this country without having any hesitations.
I’ve seen the up close effects that war and deployment can have on not only a person, but a family. Almost everyone knows someone that has served or is currently serving, but few people personally know the famous athletes they are blindly supporting every season. The degrees of separation are much closer when it comes to our nation’s heroes. It is our duty as American citizens that utilize the benefits of having a strong military to show our love to them. The honorable actions of our nation’s men and women that serve are far more important that any Stanley Cup or World Series win. If you’re one of the millions that throw money into the hands of athletes without first asking yourself, “What can I do for my troops?” you should be ashamed of your actions. There is no excuse to not do good for the people who do good for us.
There are over 400,000 organizations that are dedicated to bettering the lives of our military that accept donations. Soldiers’ Angels, Operation Gratitude, Support Our Troops, Wounded Warrior Project, Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Air Force Assistance Fund, just to name a few. These organiztions provide those who serve and their families with educational, financial and other need-based assistance. These are all amazing organizations that play a vital role in the well-being and support of many members in the military community.
A common reason why many Americans claim to be hesitant of donating to our military is because they do not know for sure where their money is going. Charity Navigator is a website that a donor could use to research financial health, accountability and transparency. With the information this website provides, donors will know what exactly they are supporting, honestly and efficiently.
There is also the option of sending care packages; they are delivered all over the world to men and women who desperately need and appreciate it.
If sports lovers can spend thousands of dollars on their favorite team in one season, they can donate money to charities, organizations or spend time contributing to the aid of our military. If Americans matched their loud and proud attitude in the stands to how they show their appreciation for our military, this country would thrive in a patriotic melody it’s never seen before. It’s time to start fulfilling our national duty and put our men and women that serve first.
Casey Pimentel is an 18-year-old mass communication freshman from The Woodlands, Texas.
