Not even pro sports are immune from hard times

I typically try to separate my sports from matters of the rest of the world, like family, relationships and money. However, I read an article the other day that mentioned that baseball is the newest thing to feel the crunch from the economy.

As America's favorite past time starts its season, it will have to do so in what analysts call the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. With unemployment rates skyrocketing and those with jobs pinching pennies everywhere they can, it is expected that when faced with the choice to attend a baseball game or watch it on television that most people will choose that which is least expensive.

Season ticket sales are expected to be down, and single ticket sales could decline even more. Two-thirds of major league teams have either frozen or lowered their ticket prices to keep people coming into the park. Whether attendance stays up or not, people will likely be spending less when they get there on everything from food to souvenirs.

Baseball is the first of the three major American sports to have to start a season since things got 'really bad." However, it will certainly not be the last sport to have to endure as Americans tighten their pocket book strings.

I received my season ticket renewal packet for the Seattle Seahawks the other day. It is a decision I am still weighing. In this period of uncertain financial times I'm not sure if I should part with such a large sum of money. On the one hand, the 'Hawks had a terrible season last year. I love my Seahawks whether they win or lose, but while choosing where to cut and where to save I have to consider what I'm getting for my money. Also, since I live 500 miles away from Qwest Field, I usually sell most of my tickets. Therefore, I must consider whether anyone else will see Seahawks tickets as a good way to spend the little bit of money they have.

I'm sure I am not alone in this predicament whether it be for football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR or whatever sport people usually spend their extra money on. However, it seems as though these usual "cash cow" fixtures of America are creating strategies for survival like all businesses are having to do in this country. A few have taken salary gambles on players hoping to keep attendance up. The Seattle Mariners signed Ken Griffey Jr. back on to the team for $2 million a year. That's a $10.5 million pay cut for the "Kid," who, in an interview two years ago after his first appearance at SafeCo Field since leaving for the Cincinnati Reds after the 1999 season, said that he would like to retire in Seattle. At such a "low salary," it has been said that he will more than pay for himself.

My mom and I were discussing careers that I may want to get into if my "lucrative" journalism career follows that of many others in the country. She suggested going to school for something that would give me a job that is 'recession proof." I guess being a professional athlete isn't recession proof and all those NCAA commercials about student athletes should be taken seriously.

But let's be honest. Nothing is recession proof right now. But when you're making millions, a pay cut is less painful than it is for the common person, and when your business is running a baseball team, cutbacks are a little bit different than those in a corporation, school or other industry.