Tom Ault
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
How expensive are sports?
According to 2018 surveys:
1. The average cost for a family of four to attend an NFL game is more than $500.
2. $56 billion was spent on attending sporting events, including tickets, transportation, food and beverages.
3. Between league fees, camps, equipment, training and travel, families are spending as much as 10 percent of their income on sports, according to survey research from Utah State University.
4. Lacrosse: Average, $7,956; maximum, $17,500
5. Hockey: Average, $7,013; maximum, $19,000
6. Baseball/softball: Average, $4,044; maximum: $9,900
7. Football: Average, $2,739; maximum, $9,500
8. Soccer: Average, $1,472; maximum, $5,500
9. Basketball: Average, $1,143; maximum, $5,150
Well, it had to happen sooner or later California is deciding to make it legal for teenage kids to be paid, and to hire agents to represent them, and certain schools will pay these "sport adapted" kids.
If that is the direction parents think their children should be moving, then why not start a new college that just teaches sports. Students with good grades can then do their own homework, rather than waste time getting paid by a "jock" so he/she can pass and continue their sport life rather than actually learn something for their future.
Don't misunderstand me, I have nothing against sports, but I do not believe for a minute that kids that are being brought up to believe that everything they hope to achieve is because of sports. Many colleges, with a large athletic agenda, insist that sports brings in money to the school. How many tell you the cost to the school of those sports? Let's see the profit!
How about a strictly sports college where each student could just study the sport they want to be involved in, and forego the time wasted on things like math, electronics, business, medicine and other foolish endeavors.
We could reintroduce the Roman coliseums with a lion or two, or some other beast, starved and ready to kill. No doubt there are many sports worshipers, who would also pay to attend those events without consideration for needed things like food and shelter for their loved ones, or their own future.