Feature Article
Striking Out Epilepsy While Robbing the Fans
BeaverRam
Staff Writer
On Tuesday June 3rd, the Rams participated in the 12th annual Bowl-A-Rama to benefit the St. Louis region of the Epilepsy Foundation. Players and Cheerleaders along with a plethora of participants made more than $30,000, bringing the total raised so far to $160,000.
While this is all fine and dandy, here's my problem with it: The entry fee for "participants" was $1000 per lane (which also bought you one-on-one time with the players), while to play was a mere $100 and a measly $50 in pocket change just to watch. To this I say: BULLSHIT! This is something that has gotten under my skin for years and only gets more maddening as player salaries get bigger as my budget gets smaller.
I sure hope that the sports figures who take part in these activities don't pat themselves on the back for their token goodwill gestures. In over 12 years, this particular event has ONLY raised $160,000. Can you imagine what it would raise if the players actually gave out of THEIR pockets? They could give $30,000 each per year, not make the hard working, underpaid common folk of this great country fork over what little they have just to make $30,000 total per year. If each high paid player gave $30,000 per year, it might actually mean something then.
Don't come on TV and show me pictures of sick kids in Africa and beg me for money. Get it from the multi-million dollar athletes who use their money to buy ten frickin cars or a 17 bedroom mansion in Cape Cod. Don't come to me when I can't even afford to pay attention and try to make me feel guilty if don't pay. Don't come to me and ask me to give money that my family needs to survive so that someone else can stay alive. I pick a charity every year and give what I can, so how about you athletes do the same. Give what you can, not what you're required to so you can get recognition. Give one of your houses to the charity so they can sell it or use it to house sick kids. Sell one of your Bentleys and give the money, ALL OF IT, to them. Then pat yourself on the back.
And quit robbing the fans.
Go Rams!
