The headline seems to be implying that since these sports are "obscure", it's easy to dominate them.

lol

Given how much bowling is on TV compared to some of the other sports on this list (like Triathalon), I expected the top-earning pro bowler to be pulling down at least a quarter million, but probably something more along the lines of half a million.

Bowling, at least competitive league bowling, is a dying sport. That's why the salaries are so low these days. Used to be a regular pro bowler could pull down a decent living just cashing in tournaments. Not to mention winning a big tournament could sustain you for an entire year. First place in 1982 at the Firestone Tournament of Champions was $40,000. This past year the entire prize fund for the TOC was just $50,000. Most bowlers now have to have other activities on the side just to make ends meet.

I'd guess that a lot of these "high" salaries get eaten up in administrative expenses. I bet these guys pay their own travel and meals on the road.

I JUST SHAT A PERSON!

/caption contest, anyone?

Not surprised at all about Kelly Slater. He is quite probably the most dominant athlete in any sport of all time. Managing to stay on top for almost 20 years in a sport filled with people half his age really says something

Men play beach volleyball? That kind of seems to defeat the whole purpose.

Phil Taylor - Darts - $1,044,000. Wow.

Earguy: I'd guess that a lot of these "high" salaries get eaten up in administrative expenses. I bet these guys pay their own travel and meals on the road.

Well, you know, most people have to pay for their own meals at home too... just saying.

SharkTrager: Those sports were obscure?

I guess "obscure" in that it isn't the top TV draws in the U.S. And some are "obscure" in that people don't think about them having a "pro" circuit (ie... Raquetball isn't obscure, but, "pro raquetball" is).

But, they could have probably found a few more. My guess is top world Table Tennis players can make a good living in Asia. Even something like sepak takraw probably pays well in the countries where it is a top sport.

drewogatory: And the billiards guy probably doubles that easily from cash games. That is a gambling man's sport right there.

True... billiards is basically like poker... if you are truly good you are probably making 10x more in side wager games than "pro events". Basically any of those "bar games" like pool, darts, fall into that.

mynameisdouglas: swahnhennessy: I didn't know that "prize money" was mistaken for "salary" by people.

Yes. Stupid.

Plus whoever wrote this: "You can't count of squash to make you rich. So I guess you'd better be playing for the love of the game." The top earner made $167,000. Sounds rich to me.

Sure, $167k is nice, but it's not darts rich.

mynameisdouglas: swahnhennessy: I didn't know that "prize money" was mistaken for "salary" by people.

Yes. Stupid.

Plus whoever wrote this: "You can't count of squash to make you rich. So I guess you'd better be playing for the love of the game." The top earner made $167,000. Sounds rich to me.

Well, ignoring whether 167k is "rich" or not (it is certainly very very well off)... my guess is that you can't count on making $167k year in/year out on the "Squash tour", both on staying at the top of the sport consistently... and depending on that whatever is funding those event prize values will stay at the level they are. Also, as others have pointed out... unlike other sports, my guess is, other than if he has sponsors that are paying for it... all of the travel expenses involved to go to these events (hotel, airfare, etc) comes out of that and isn't something you'd otherwise spend money on... although, my guess is the Squash tournament events are in nice vacation locales and not Cleveland and Topeka, so, there is that.

UCFRoadWarrior: Somehow I think Walter Ray Williams makes more per year than 123K....bowling still is on TV every week, and they still get sponsorship deals.

True... also, you have to wonder if they keep their eyes out for "smaller" cash-ins when they are in a metro area.... ie, they are in Cleveland for some ESPN tournament for the week.. but they see that some local bowling alley is having some sort of tournament on an off-night of the tournament in town with a top prize of $500... would a pro go try to "blitz" the locals in that tournament, I mean, they should be heavily favored... and $500 is still pretty good for a few hours work.

12,11,9,7,8,4,3,2,1 = not sports

sports pit man DIRECTLY vs man..one has an objective, the other is attempting to stop that man from his objective. That's my take.

Still nice money though

dletter: True... also, you have to wonder if they keep their eyes out for "smaller" cash-ins when they are in a metro area.... ie, they are in Cleveland for some ESPN tournament for the week.. but they see that some local bowling alley is having some sort of tournament on an off-night of the tournament in town with a top prize of $500... would a pro go try to "blitz" the locals in that tournament, I mean, they should be heavily favored... and $500 is still pretty good for a few hours work.

There are very few tournaments like that that happen during the week. I don't know of any at all, actually. And I'm on the look out for them regularly. Besides, most tournaments that small would probably bar professionals outright.

Believe it or not, you can do better as an amateur. There are some high-roller tournaments with funds as big as $30-40,000 that go off pretty regularly. Brian Kretzer made a living off those for years. But again, they bar professionals with titles, so Kretzer, who won his first title in 2010 will, at least for awhile, be unable to compete in those.

Also, there are side games in bowling. Brackets, high game pots, survivor boards, and so on. There is also pot bowling where a bunch of bowlers get together and put in a certain amount into a pot (I've done it at $5/man before...pros probably do $100 a man or something) and then bowl a game and the winner takes all.

tdyak: The article fails at mentioning Polo players, who can make up to $150,000 a game (Many earn middle road 6-income salaries).

I think (right or wrong) most people have the image that Polo is played by rich people anyway, so, I don't think that would be as surprising.

Sybarite: Men play beach volleyball? That kind of seems to defeat the whole purpose.

FTFY

Big Beef Burrito: I thought squash and raquetball were the same thing.

What is the difference?
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