Some athletes are paid $13,000,000 to throw a ball through a hoop, hit it with a stick or throw it down a dirt field while the families  of soldiers who are sacrificing - and have sacrificed - their lives overseas for their country aren't even paid enough to pay the interest on a monthly home mortgage ...  or rent ... in a roach infested dwelling.

very true

maybe we can make war into a sport that everyone will tune into and buy memorabilia of their favorite soldier. We can start by putting Nike logos on the combat boots and spalding logos on the helmets

seriously though it is a shame but the money is in sports, as long a people keep forking over the dough for sports, athletes will continue to make the big bucks

There's generally a $20,000 signing bonus that should help most soldiers make it through unless they're career guys.  The career guys receive better-than-average wages considering they have no expenses in their military life.  The problem comes when they leave a family at home that expects the soldier to be the bread-winner.  It's doable, but they have to have a strong financial plan in place and follow it strictly.

As for the wages that athletes make...I'm probably in the minority that believes they deserve what they earn.  Average salary of an NFL player is $770,000 per year, and the average career is 3 and a half seasons.  Most players are never 100% physically after playing and have put in more time and effort than your 40-hour/week for 40 years laborer.  They're not hurting financially by any means, but they are going to have to work another job until they retire (keep in mind, with taxes they're really only making about 1.5 million over those 3 seasons). 1.5 million is good for 15-20 years of retirement if properly invested and expenditures are "middle class".  If they desire to be upper class for their life and retirement, 1.5 million is only going to give them about 5-10 years of wealth.  A million just ain't what it used to be.

All the best,

Ish