Whatever happened to paying your dues?

Sports Illustrated is having a contest, televised, of course. The winner gets her photo in their annual swimsuit issue and a million-dollar modeling contract.

ESPN did the same thing by having a show in which the winner got to be an anchor on SportsCenter for a year and a hefty salary.

The Apprentice. Making The Band. America's Top Model. American Idol. The Swan. The Bachelor. The Bachelorette. I could go on.

Somehow, the idea of getting famous and rich quickly is less romantic in my mind than some rock band slaving away in clubs and finally getting their big break. And since when did becoming rich doing what you love seem to override just doing what you love?