In the future, archaeologists sifting through the rubble of a past civilization may stumble on a curious place of worship.

Some sort of temple dedicated to some unknown entity that may have played a role in the civilization’s ruin.

Then, after much speculation and examination, it will dawn on the scientists that this is a temple to….the wallet.

Say what?

Could happen. The foundation has been laid.

And sitting right next to the golden wallet, will be a baseball bat, ball and glove, also encased in gold.

Then, the archaeology boys and girls will be stunned when they determine this shrine was part of a “game” played in the now defunct land of California, USA.

A tattered newspaper nearby will herald the “deal” that started the downfall.

We are “lucky” enough to be part of that history today.

To me, and other sports fanatics, it is the beginning of the end of competitive sports.

Amid the yellowed script on the ancient newspaper will be two words, “Shohei Ohtani,” no doubt a form of writing from centuries earlier.

Also barely legible will be the term “10 years, $700 million”.

Gloomy pipe dream?

Hopefully.

But sane folks must be wondering how on Earth a baseball team could pay such a staggering amount of money for one player to play a “game”.

Where will it end? I think in the ash heap of extravagance and insanity.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to pay $700 million over 10 years to Ohtani, a 29-year-old Japanese superstar who actually pitches AND plays other positions when he is not pitching.

The last guy to pitch and hit home runs like Ohtani was a fella named Babe Ruth, who once broke the $100,000 a year barrier.

The reasoning is “it’s what the market will bear”.

I’m no math wizard but that’s $70 million a year. For playing a game so many of us would play for $70,000 a year if we were able.

There-in lies the primary justification: not many folks can play baseball like Ohtani. Probably no one.

But $70 million a year? Over 10 years that’s $700 million. Approaching $1 billion for one player.

Is it sustainable?

How can it be? Look at the mess the economy is in right now.

The new contract broke the previous high-dollar mark of $426.5 million over several years that is owed to Ohtani’s now former teammate with the Los Angeles Angels, Mike Trout.

And it’s not just baseball. Soccer has seen an international explosion in player salaries. Football (as in American) is also in it.

And don’t get me started about basketball.

Money, generated largely by TV contracts and product sales, is largely to blame, if you think, as I do, this is insane.

And it has long tentacles. Now the NCAA is considering paying college athletes at the “elite” schools “at least” $30,000 a year so those boys and girls don’t have to get an actual job to help support their paid tuition.

Is that sustainable?

Time will tell.

But in the meantime, the other question concerns the morality of money.

Could those bushels of dough be better spent on, say, feeding people? Could some of those dollars be used to advance cancer research?

Or, could some of that cash be used to increase pay for groups like the Navy Seals, Delta Force members and the like. You know, the people who keep us safe so Mr. Ohtani and company can roll in the dough.

Oh, I know and I acknowledge, many of the big time “superstars” donate significant amounts of funds to charitable causes.

Good for tax write-offs and possibly the conscience.

What, for goodness sake, will the price of a ticket or cable sports be in the coming years?

Could be the sports powers-that-be don’t care. They already put up cardboard cut-outs to simulate fans during the Covid years.