The greed principle: when making up the numbers makes an earn

LET'S talk about money. Loads and loads of the wrinkly stuff that philanthropic Sir Hamish gifted to hawkers and hongs alike last week.

Sport at the highest level is awash in a pool of money. In turn, the pool is infested with 10 per cent types eager to cash in on other people's talent.

Superstar sportsmen arrive at tournaments with an entourage of agents, accountants, managers, image consultants, and even coaches, in tow. Their raison d'etre is quite simple, to make millions for the boss while he can still serve at 100 kph plus, putt with profitable precision or run the 100 metres quicker than you can say ''I knew that Ben Johnson guy had to be on drugs''.

Top-bracket performers don't rely on prize money to fuel this zippy money-making machine. Endorsement dosh, promotional cash and, the easiest buck accruer of them all, appearance fees account for the majority of their swag.

Sporting bodies, tournament organisers, sponsors and the majority of sportsmen regard appearance money as the bete noire of the golf, tennis and athletic circuits. It's distasteful in the extreme to pocket thousands of dollars just to show up at an event but those ranked in the top 10 do it all the time and the bubbling-unders grab whatever they can whenever they can.

Everyone is coy about revealing details about how much the likes of Greg Norman (the 1993 British Open win increased his value overnight), Andre Agassi (a Wimbledon champion can name his price) and Linford Christie (striking gold at the Olympics means just that) actually insist upon to parade their talents but you can be sure it's never less than six figures US.

The Salem Open in Hong Kong has been a lucrative stop for leading players over the past couple of years. The sponsors did not receive much change from US$500,000 to lure Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang last year and the latter has increased the ante to show up at next month's event.

Chang will be good value for the reported US$200,000 he has demanded as his appeal to hero-seeking Hong Kongers is such that a full stadium is ensured every time he plays. But there is something decidedly unpalatable about this money for nothing, but the smiles for free scenario. Far better for the loot to be put into the overall purse so it's accessible to all competitors, not just the elite.

The ATP Tour discourages the ''pay to appear'' practice at Championship, Challenger and Satellite Series events but leaves the door open for players to accept ''fees for promotional services'' at World Series tournaments that don't clash with ones in the Championship Series. The Salem Open falls into this category which is why the line-ups have been so good in previous years.

It's a vicious circle that's difficult to break - without cash inducements the players would not come and without the big names the tournament would not attract publicity and spectators in big enough quantities to make it a viable proposition for the sponsor.

The Kent Open golf is trapped in much the same way. Winner David Frost, third place finisher Corey Pavin, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, a quartet of International Management Group contract players and a handful of top Asian professionals were paid a totalof US$250,000 just for turning up at Fanling.

This causes resentment amongst the Asian Tour regulars who have steadfastly supported the event for years and embarrassment to the organisers when someone, like Montgomerie nine days ago, fails to make the cut but laughs all the way to the bank with more than the prize money for first place.

Tighter controls by the governing bodies would just lead to under-the-table payments so the only real hope of ridding sport of this malignancy lies with the players reining in their selfishness. Don't hold your breath.