Malcolm Gladwell argues that professional athletes should have negotiable salaries throughout his article, “Talent Grab”. Gladwell also repeatedly makes the point that people with so-called “Talent” are overpayed. These two key points are slightly contradictory, however, as athletes that negotiate their salaries generally are pushing towards a raise. Gladwell portrays his key ideas through Marvin Miller, a former head of the Major League Baseball Players Assosiaction. Throughout Miller’s career, he fought for player’s rights and was one if the first figures in baseball to stand up against the Owners.
I agree with Gladwell’s points in his article for many reasons. Towards the beginning of the article, I was slightly skeptical of his argument, as it seemed like he just wanted players to be payed more. As the topic of the article shifted to a debate of negotiation privelages, I became more and more convinced. After reading the annecdote about the player who asked for a salary decrease after having a bad game, I was sold. Although the salaries of professional athletes may seem absurd, these players are one of a kind. Teams need specific players with ideal skill sets, and teams must fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Losing a team member because they don’t feel that they are payed enough is like losing a piece of the puzzle: not easily replaced.
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