A lot of people look to athletes in groups like NBA, MLB, and NHL with a bit of envy, and so did I at one point. Why? Because ultimately, they play a game for a living, and make millions of dollars doing it. Sure, they're great at what they do, and I'm not arguing their skillset. But as of June 2011 to June 2012, LeBron James made $53 million, including endorsements from companies such as Nike and Coca-Cola. What's LeBron's job? Simply stated, he puts a ball through a hoop.
Now, I said that I was, as in past-tense, envious of players like James for the manner in which they made their living. When did that change? About twenty minutes ago, when I read a press release from Riot Games, announcing the League of Legends Championship Series - "a new professional gaming league with teams from North America, Europe and Asia, multiple regular season matches each week, and HD streaming broadcasts available globally for free."
Among the key facts listed about the series that caught my eye was this one:
"Millions of Dollars on the Line: Salaries, prize pools and other compensation for Championship Series teams will ensure League of Legends is a sustainable career choice for professional players."
And what's more, Riot Games is doing it for the fans. According to the press release, " 'Talking to players around the world, they repeatedly asked if we could kick League of Legends eSports into higher gear," said Brandon Beck, co-founder and CEO of Riot Games. "The new League of Legends Championship Series is our answer. Millions of fans tune in every time we support a major League of Legends tournament, so we're broadening that support in an unprecedented way.'
So while James can get upwards of $50 million for his job, I take satisfaction in knowing that I, as a gamer, can now potentially earn a a nice chunk of change for a simple point and click of my mouse.