Show me the money!

By: Brandon Vondera

Sal•a•ry

-noun, plural -lies.

a fixed compensation periodically paid to a person for regular work or services.

In today's woeful economic times, a proper is an important thing to work for. While some complain theirs is not enough, others grind the mill daily to ensure growth to their own net worth. In football (Let's stop pretending, if we are to embrace the sport, let's call it by proper name. I am quite sure if I bring up either Landon Donovan or Donavon McNabb in conversation you'll understand which football I speak of.) the work may or may not be considered regular. But I'll tell you one thing, it is definitely a service, entertaining millions around the globe.

Recently director James Cameron (Titanic, Aliens, True Lies) was at it again with his latest epic, Avatar. The new movie which is set in the future has broken the record (also held by Cameron and Titanic) for the highest grossing box-office movie worldwide. The movie has already seen sales reach over $1.84 Billion and it is estimated that over 200 million people worldwide have seen the feature. Incredible numbers.

What's more impressive are the estimate's for viewership of the upcoming 2010 World Cup. The tournament beginning June 11, is to be played in South Africa. At last report it was estimated that over 1.5 Billion people will tune into the final. Now if this gem of sport we call football is attracting over five times as many viewers as the world's most seen movie, then the stars of the show are definitely entertainers. Providing past time to all of us dreamers and fans.

Our modern Princes-of-the-pitch, are handsomely profiting from their talents. Unless, unworldly, they play in the precincts of the red, white, and blue. Not supposing to bore you with bunk that MLS players do not bank on their own talents. Rather, they are decades behind their mates accross the pond in compensation. Here is a look at the top 20 earning footballers in the USA vs the World.

(click chart for larger image)

Clearly you can see there is a major difference in what players are paid in the U.S. versus the world's top leagues. Perhaps these numbers are fair in perspective to the present skill level of the different leagues, but I'll venture to say the drop-off for players in the MLS is not going to remain this way forever. As the climate for soccer becomes brighter in the coming years, more resources will flood the league. Player salaries will rise and new soccer-specific stadiums will be built. It looks to be a booming time for football in America. With the sport rising faster than any other at both the high school and collegiate level breakout American stars are surely already being developed from sea to shining sea.