Different sport, different era, but the same idea:
After the 1976 season, the Cleveland Indians signed free agent pitcher Wayne Garland to a 10 year, $2.3 million dollar contract. Thirty years ago, $2.3 million was like $75 million is now.
After he signed the contract, Garland noted Cleveland's then-bad reputation throughout baseball and said, "For that kind of money, I'd play in Siberia."
Garland blew out his elbow in 1977 and had a career record of 15-29 in four years with the Tribe. The team paid him through 1986.