I understand it is difficult to mentally 'justify' the salaries. But I'm sure that regardless of your property or other tax you pay - the benefit of having the team(s) is greatly offset financially.

You are right that role-model (or not) is a different argument as well as criminal athletes. Personally I don't think a criminal athlete should be band, I think they should go to prison/jail like anyone else without unfair treatment. But ther are many jobs where x-criminals CAN work so why make professional athletes an exception?