Every year my love for high school athletics is reinforced as professional sports salaries continue to skyrocket.

To me there is nothing like the high school football playoffs. As a matter of fact, every year, for my sabatical, I travel to Texas Stadium on a Saturday and watch three playoff games in a row - one right after the other.

High school athletes play the game for the sheer enjoyment of it. They play to win and work out because of their love and dedication to the sport. Football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, tennis, track - all athletes put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into their chosen sport.

Professional athletes? Most of them are there solely for the bucks. And not just big bucks, but ridiculously exorbitant money. Who’s to blame? The crazy fans who will pay $75 or more for a ticket to sit in the stands and not be able to see the game as well as we all do on television. And pay $4.00 for a soft drink or $6.00 for a hamburger at the concession stand

Don’t misunderstand. Talented, blessed men and women with superior athletic abilities should be paid very well. But I have a solution as to how to pay them.

Pay them based on performance. Give them a good base salary, but the "big bucks" come as a result of having a great season.

Let’s take baseball as an example. Pay players a bonus for each game won. If their team makes the playoffs, give them another bonus. Remember pay is based on performance. Then, pay them for each playoff game won, for a division championship and if they win the World Series, they really make some moolah!

I would have a base salary for each position. For example, first basemen could be paid $150,000 per year. Then, pay them for each homerun hit. They make a certain amount for each run batted in. If they have a game-winning hit, they get more bonus. If they make a tremendous defensive play, they get paid for it. If they make an error that costs their team a game, they get pay deducted. If they strike out with runners in scoring position, pay is deducted. Hit a grand slam homerun and they cash in. Pay based on performance, I think it could work.

As for football, the same thing could happen. Pay a quarterback $200,000 per year. Then, bonus for each touchdown pass, pay for each pass completion, a bonus for a game of over 200 passing yards, more for over 300 yards, etc. Then, deduct pay for an interception or a fumble.

Just as in baseball, pay each team member for every game won and bonuses for making the playoffs, playoff games won, championships won and big bucks for winning the Super Bowl.

I’m sick and tired of professional athletes getting ridiculously rich.

I’ve got THE plan ready. All they have to do is call me. I’ll give it to them and mail my invoice. That will be $50 million please!