Letter

Shaquille O’Neal is irreplaceable
This letter is in response to Mayar Zokaei’s column,
“Society’s values reflected in high sports
salaries” (Oct. 26, 2000).

I think you’re missing an important point. In a market
economy, the price paid for labor and services are set by supply
and demand, not by the objective value of work. For example,
objectively, a trash collector has an important job. This
person’s job performance has a very direct impact on the
quality of life of many people. The reason he or she is not paid as
much as, say, a medical doctor, is because as far as their labor is
concerned, they are more easily replaceable. In the same fashion,
think about the huge numbers of high school and college basketball
players there are. Now, narrow it down to those playing for
Division I teams, and further narrow it down to those talented
enough to go to the pros. Get the picture? These professional
athletes are truly exceptional individuals. And the competition is
a lot tougher than any medical school. If you think Shaq is
overpaid, I’d like you to suggest a replacement who can post
the same numbers.

Dr. David Blackwell
UCLA alumnus