Normally I try and keep my blog posts restricted to real estate and credit related subjects. However today I just cannot do that. I believe we as a society have some of our leisure time priorities wrong. I am talking about sports. Now do not get me wrong I like sports. I have coached soccer, basketball and baseball. Golf and scuba diving are my two favorite sports and leisure time activities. Watching football and baseball are at times enjoying to me. However this year I think I am going to stop watching professional sports and attending some games. Why you ask. Well let me recite some numbers.

400+ million

100 million

200 million

45 million

54 million

And the list goes on and on and on..... What are these numbers?

Well first of all they are all dollars; U.S. dollars. They are not the Thai baht that is worth less than three U.S. cents. These are real U.S. dollars currently being written about in our sports pages. You probably thought I was talking about the recently passed stimulus bill.

The NY Yankees committed over $400,000,000.00 (that is a lot of zeros) to three, yes only three, free agent players this past winter. The Washington Redskins just agreed to pay one man, yes only one, $100,000,000.00 (still more zeros). The National Basketball Association just borrowed $200,000,000.00 to give to teams that needed some extra cash. $45,000,000.00 is what Big Manny wants from the LA Dodgers for two years. $54,000,000.00 is what the Washington Redskins will shell out to one man.

Now I am not a socialist and I do not begrudge anyone all of the money they can earn. Well maybe right now I begrudge even one penny to those Wall Street Warren Buffet wannabes who want to lose hundreds of billions of dollars and still get huge bonuses. But normally I am a get-all-you-can type guy. I had better add to that get-all-you-can as long as it is legal and doesn't hurt anyone except maybe the opposing quarterback.

I'm sorry but something is wrong when we use these numbers to talk sports and not education or other worthwhile pursuits. And guess what? That is your money. Yep, your money and my money that these leagues and people get from you via television, game attendance, shirt purchases, sneaker purchases etc etc etc. We are the ones paying those salaries and making those loans.

Maybe it is time to stop and rethink our priorities. Maybe it is time to explain to our kids or in my case grandson, why we will not be going to a major league baseball game this summer. Maybe it is time to spend that $200 we would spend at the ballpark on can goods for the local food pantry that is currently hurting for food. Maybe I will spend more time with my grandson fishing and talking about doing for others. Maybe it is time to change my own priorities. Maybe it is time for this nation to change its' priorities.

Have a great day!! I promise back to real estate on Monday..