Paid to Stay Away

There are some people who say that sports reflect the culture’s zeitgeist. It could be argued that the continuing drama of the New York Knicks counters that premise. The New York Knicks have a healthy, professional athlete whom they are paying not to play and to stay away from the team. Stephon Marbury is being paid 20.8 million dollars to stay away.

Let’s use round numbers. Exhibition games and possible post season play will not be counted. There is an eight-two regular season schedule. To perform in those games, Stephon Marbury is paid beyond the imagination of most people. Per game, he earns in excess of $253,000.00 per game, in round numbers. For every game, he would earn more than a quarter million dollars. Of course, in a normal season, there would be practices, meetings, travel, media events and so forth.

For this season, Stephon Marbury is being paid that salary to stay away. He did attend the Lakers / Knicks game, in Los Angeles, as a spectator. The Knicks lost that game. It is the fantasy of many fans to be paid millions and millions of dollars to do absolutely nothing. Is there a comparable situation in real life?

Oh, wait… isn’t that what ‘Corporate America’ does in paying CEOs millions and millions of dollars to please go away?

Catherine Forsythe