So You Want to be a Sports Star or Think it is Easy!
It's been a dream for most of us at one point or another. I want to play in the Show, whichever Show you may have chosen. You want to score the winning goal or hit the three at the buzzer. You believe it would be the ideal life. But how much thought have you given it. I know I could not do it, even if I had the talent, I don't think I have what it takes to live the life of a pro athlete.
This idea started in the fall of 2006. I'm a huge Raptors fan and wanted to be as dedicated a fan as I could be. I was determined to catch every game. But it wasn't that easy and sometimes I just didn't want to watch, but I did. Some games were easy to get up for; the Lakers and the Celtics (despite their record) are always going to get me going, Lebron and the Cavs (at the time) were a great draw, and don't get me started on Vince. (I finally thawing on Vince!) But then there was Atlanta, Seattle, et al. The games against the cellar dwellers where the players were just showing up to collect a check. I didn't care for those and eventually, I was getting tired of watching every game. And then one day it dawned on me; I'm just watching.
So here are the challenges as I see them:
1. The Physical toll
More than one famous NFLer said you do not feel your body the day after a game. The whole day! By Tuesday you could move and then Wednesday you could at least exercise. Major league baseball plays 162 regular season games a year! NBA players hurt every joint in their body and still have to play the next night; sometimes four in five nights. If you see the stars on the bench, they are often packed in ice. And speaking of ice, NHLers are just tough. Listen to the great stories of players scoring Stanley Cup winning goals on a broken leg or yanking a broken nose back into place with no pain killers. (If you really want more on this read Don Cherry's Grapes. Amazing insight and I have had nightmares with Eddie Shore.) I feel stiff the morning after a casual run. I don't know how they do it.
2. Game Pressure and expectations
You must perform. Not for someone else but yourself; to stay there. If you don't, someone else will get your shot. Sometimes you do your best and there is no shot to hit. I rarely hit a 4 foot putt. I could not imagine having to line it up if there was a million dollars, a cut, or my tour card on the line. No, I cannot imagine performing for my life.
3. The Blame game
Hey, you are either a hero or a goat. You will have to deal with losses and the fans who take the loss personally. Teammates will point fingers and coaches will throw you under the bus to save their job. Since most teams win about as much as they lose, that's about half the season.... plus playoffs if you are lucky. Plus there is twitter.
4. The Business
Professional sports is a business. Sorry, that's all it is. We believe it is more but blow down that house of cards. The bottom line is the bottom line. We play because we love it, pros play to get paid. Sure they are doing something they love, but try getting paid to do something you love. Only the lucky ones do not feel the business side creep in. Most have to deal with the business on a daily basis. Good players have to negotiate with owners to convince them of their value. Imagine hearing of your how good you are during the season only to be told why you are not worth it in the off season. Most NFLers do not have guaranteed contracts. Trades mean you can be uprooted and moved without input. Calderon went from Toronto to Memphis to Detroit in one day. (That's a Yes! to Really? in less than 12 hours.) Fans love trade deadlines but players must hate it. Sorry Honey, we are moving from San Francisco to Buffalo in this weather. Yikes!
5. The Fans
The fans believe you are accountable for every action on the field. You must be on 100% of the time. Can anyone really give that type of effort? Is that even possible? What type of person do you have to be to always perform? Most of us don't have it but the fans still expect you to. They also expect you to be a great guy who will sign every autograph and slap every high five and listen to every long winded story. You are out for dinner, someone wants to talk. At the club, someone wants a picture. In the bathroom, someone wants you to give them your used toilet paper. Think about how many times you left work and wanted to just go home. Sorry Pro, you have fans to deal with!
6. Family, Entourage, and Hanger-ons
These people are a tough group. Some you owe, some feel you owe, and some you barely know. I would want to give everything I could to my family but you know it would reach a point where they seemed ungrateful and troubles arise. The number of people who think they are close family would also grow. Eventually things get expected or people ask for too much. Also, I love my high school boys but I can't see me taking care of all of them. Money for this, a favor for that; no thank you!
7. The Media
The media has always been tough but now they are impossible. There is nothing they won't ask you. Just watch NFL media day during Super Bowl week. But the league has its public relation rules and you have to attend ; right Mr. Lynch. Do something stupid, press conference and a press release. There are 1001 opinions on what you are doing. For every Stephen A there is a Skip Bayless; one of them will dislike what you are doing. When I was in university, I had some nights where I got so drunk.... well I got drunk. If I was an unpaid college student I would have to wonder if all the questions are really worth it.
It's not just the constant attention but it's the self righteous attitudes as well. The media talks like they live their lives as saints and never get into trouble. The most telling stat for me is the NFL crime rate. People talk like the NFL is full of criminals but their crime rate is less than that of the average American in their demographic. How is it fair to criticize their behavior when ours is worse?
So yes, they have the fantasy life. But you know what is great about our fantasies? We can leave them at will. We can return to real life and enjoy our anonymity. We don't have to live up to the expectations they do. We get to be comfortable and watch them without the screen watching us.
