Early Monday the Sun’s forward P.J. Tucker was arrested for “super extreme” driving under the influence. After pleading guilty to the charges, the NBA star will be facing 3 days in jail and 11 days of home detention. Tucker was arrested May 10th in Scottsdale, Arizona with a blood alcohol content of .22, nearly three times the legal limit! Yikes. In his statement, Tucker said, “I am truly sorry and I take full responsibility for my actions. No excuses. It is now my responsibility to examine my life and make the changes necessary to ensure this never happens again.” As for the Sun’s President of Basketball Operations, Lon Babby, he states that “‘In considering this matter, we concluded that P.J. was sincere in his remorse and in his resolve to accept the consequences of his actions. We are convinced that he will take the necessary steps to avoid any such conduct in the future. The Suns do not in any way condone his conduct, but we do support him as he works through this.” Let’s just hope he really learned his lesson. Don’t drink and drive!
Why Pro Athletes Get Paid So Much Money
The highest-paid neurosurgeon in the United States makes around $500,000 a year. Their education takes between 14 to 16 years, which means they are well into their 20s when they start working, and they probably won’t be making anywhere near $500,000 until they reach their forties. The average salary of a professional soccer player is 3 million a year, and they’ll be making that sum before their mid-twenties. Is this gap unfair? After all, professional athletes don’t save lives as surgeons do. They don’t have to study for decades, get into school debt, or spend any sleepless nights during residency. The reason behind this difference is a combination of factors, and as with most things in the modern economic system, we have to take supply and demand into consideration.
