Dwyane Wade Also Thinks NBA Olympians Should Be Paid

Greedy lil bastards

Congrats Dwayne… you’ve now become the most hated member of your team!!!

I really don’t understand this backlash against Ray and Wade. Corporations and olympic committees are pocketing millions from the presence of these athletes via broadcasting, merchandising and endorsement deals. Anyone who thinks the Olympics are only about pride and honor are kidding themselves. And to compare Olympic service to military service is an insult to those who put their lives on the line every single day. Like I said yesterday in the article about Ray’s comments, if you find it so easy to criticize a guy who’s expressing his opinions, then why don’t you go spend a month and a half working for free at GM or Ford this summer and let us all know how proud you are to have helped save a dying American industry with nothing to show but your own blood and sweat?

You guys are all under the assumption that USA basketball makes tons of money off these guys playing for them, I’m not so sure about that. USA Basketball is a non-profit organization which means it’s partially funded by government, donations, jersey sales whichever. Non-for-profit means that they have to have audited financial statements submitted to the government each year showing that they are basically utilizing all of their funds. Board members are paid a salary to run it. The organization stretches far beyond just the olympics and includes junior teams, training camps etc to promote the overall development of US basketball players.
I’ve always said all along I support players getting fair market value for their services. But donating a month’s worth of time every two or four years shouldn’t take up half the budget. It should be an honour to represent your country and support the development of basketball in the USA. If doing promotion tours or making money other ways is more important to you than those two goals that’s fine. Like others have said, if D-Wade doesn’t want to play there’s tons of other NBA players willing to take his spot.
Also playing in the olympics does increase exposure interntionally which gets factored into sponsorship, I doubt D-Wade and Ray Allen are that short sighted not to realize this though..

I can’t wait until these kinds of players retire and more international players and not so common US players come in. Sick of these pre Madonna’s, immature, immoral, crybabys!

He is a pioneer, blazing a trail for others to follow, think about it if you go play the games and win what does it really mean, its also a political game in a lot of ways why shouldn’t a Olympian get paid for being a ambassador of the United States built on entrepreneurial-ship and capitalizing on your name, and your efforts. Olympians worked so hard over many years and even parents, coaches, and family give it all, there time and money for the American dream. They represent us who live here, they give hope like in the huger games, and they should be taken care of for life in my belief, set up with a nice retirement better them, than to give to politicians stuffing their pockets with over funding. It is also my believe, for volunteering for the military yes I served 6 years, did you dork, I paid for my citizenship by service to my country, they gave me options when I was in to get the GI bill I took it, and other benefits that go a long way from my PERSONLAL sacrifice (my time, my personal development put on hold till I got out and away from family) what do Olympians get? They should get more, they are a minority, the military is a majority in this example FYI I do not know any Olympian personally, I’m just an athlete myself.
They should be treated like movie stars and paid just.