The seamy underbelly of professional sports
See here for SI.com story
Once they leave the national stage many pro athletes, both famous and obscure, run into financial and personal problems because they have, up to the point of their retirement, been pampered and coddled by teammates, coaches, media, friends and family and oh so many hangers on. Once the big money stops coming in, these athletes can often times have an extremely difficult time coping with paying their mortgages, raising their children, and a host of other concerns that other men in their age group long ago came to grips with.
The SI.com story linked to above is a great example of how professional leagues players unions let down their members by not teaching them skills such as financial management, life skills, parenting, and many others. These men are in many cases overgrown children who need direction and tough love, which so few receive as to boggle the mind.
If you ever think that professional athletes have it made, keep in mind that for most of them their careers will end far short of what is known as "legacy money" (ie enough money to pass down generations) and the bills pile up once the paychecks stop. Though the NFLPA is the worst example of a players union not taking care of its members, we all share in the guilt in my opinion.
Once they leave the national stage many pro athletes, both famous and obscure, run into financial and personal problems because they have, up to the point of their retirement, been pampered and coddled by teammates, coaches, media, friends and family and oh so many hangers on. Once the big money stops coming in, these athletes can often times have an extremely difficult time coping with paying their mortgages, raising their children, and a host of other concerns that other men in their age group long ago came to grips with.
The SI.com story linked to above is a great example of how professional leagues players unions let down their members by not teaching them skills such as financial management, life skills, parenting, and many others. These men are in many cases overgrown children who need direction and tough love, which so few receive as to boggle the mind.
If you ever think that professional athletes have it made, keep in mind that for most of them their careers will end far short of what is known as "legacy money" (ie enough money to pass down generations) and the bills pile up once the paychecks stop. Though the NFLPA is the worst example of a players union not taking care of its members, we all share in the guilt in my opinion.
posted by joe sweeney at 5:02 AM
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