Net Worth

The Chicago sports’ world is going crazy over the WNBA Sky signing Naperville Central product Candace Parker to a two-year deal for a reported $385,000. Until now, the 34-year old forward had spent her entire career with the LA Sparks. Chicagoans love it when a local born and/or raised player who “got away” comes back, even though it hardly ever works out in any meaningful way. Before Parker, think Dwayne Wade; Cazzie Russell; Ken Holtzman (though more downstate than Chicago, and traded by the Cubs with most of his career before him); Greg Luzinski; and Ted Kluszewski. This is hardly a comprehensive list. It's the same with entertainers; we love to hear how much they miss the old digs; only the more honest ones will admit that LA has the better weather. By the way, I haven’t heard Parker said anything about actually moving back home; she just intends to play here. I guess that makes it a partial homecoming. Parker has the stats, ring (one WNBA championship so far) and awards (including Rookie of the Year, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, two times each) to qualify as a star. The money, not so much. She’ll make $192,500 over the next two seasons as opposed to the rookie minimum in these sports: $563,500, MLB; $610,00, NFL; $700,00, NHL; and $898,310, NBA. In case you’re wondering, the WNBA minimum is $57,000. At least Parker will find the cost of living around here lower than in Southern California. That and the average temperature.