The vision of a professional athlete is often one of a pampered, luxurious lifestyle ? one devoid of worries, full of possessions. The Baltimore Blast ? and the other five teams in the Major Indoor Soccer League ? destroy that overpaid image.
While the average salary of a Major League Baseball player is beyond seven figures, the salary cap for a 20-man MISL roster is $350,000. According to Blast president and general manager Kevin Healey, the player salaries can range from $20,000 to $70,000. Baltimore?s highest-paid player makes $60,000.
“This is how they make their living ? and they?re enjoying what they?re doing,” Healey said.
A handful of players ? including Carlos Garcia, Wendell Regis, Guiliano Celenza and Tarik Walker ? also work for owner/investor Ed Hale?s 1st Mariner Bank.
“[Hale] likes the work ethic of the players, and he thinks the work ethic can transcend into other businesses,” Healey said.
Longtime defender Lance Johnson retired recently to pursue a career with the bank.
“You?ve got to be in there and put time in,” Healey said. “And it?s checked by the regulators, because they know we do it.”
While a side job supplements the players? income, Blast players are required to do community work through camps and coaching. Forward Denison Cabral is the boys coach at St. Mary?s High in Annapolis, and according to a team spokesperson, coach Danny Kelly, defender Mike Lookingland, defender/forward Cristian Neagu and defender Billy Nelson are also involved in youth and prep soccer.
In many ways, the Blast players relate to their Baltimore-area fan base. And at the same time, the athletes can build a résumé that will benefit them after they finish their playing careers.
“Part-time jobs supplement their income a little bit, but a lot of them are doing that more for preparing them after the game,” Healey said.
Still, playing professional soccer and holding down another job can be challenging. Healey drew a comparison between his players and those of the old Baltimore Colts, who “worked at Bethlehem Steel ? and corner bars.”
“It?s pretty hard to find a job with someone to work around your schedule,” Celenza said. “It gives us the opportunity not only to find a job but to give you experience for after your career. We?re lucky for that.”
So while the rest of society spent the weekend kicked back, relaxing with family and watching football, what were the Blast?s 20 men doing? After taking Thursday and Friday off,the team met Saturday “for a run, just to get some of that turkey out of us,” Kelly said.
That hardworking mentality has paid off, with three MISL titles in four seasons and a strong fan base in blue-collar Baltimore.
“That?s who we are. We just go out there and work hard,” said Celenza, a Baltimore native who resides in Middle River. “Go out there and play and entertain the crowd and have fun with it.”
WHAT THE PROS EARN
MLB*
» Players earned an average salary of $2.48 million in 2005.
» The minimum salary of a major leaguer was $327,000 in 2006.
NFL*
» The average NFL salary in 2005 was $1.4 million.
» Starting kickers earned an average of $1.2 million in 2005.
NBA*
» The average salary in the 2005-06 season was $4.04 million.
» The league minimum for rookies in 2005-06 was $398,762.
MLS*
» The league does not release salary figures, but according to various reports, veteran players earn about $100,000.
* Based upon information found on each league?s players association Web site.
