• From: Clarion PA
  • Registered: 2008-05-18
  • Posts: 328

Topic: athletes out of control

We've all heard about them. Some of them are on our favorite teams.What's up with the behavior of guys making millions a year for what is basically a part-time job. Plaxico Burris- in prison for carrying an unregistered gun. Santonio  Holmes -released by the Steelers due to his attitude and 4 arrests in as many years. Adam Pac-man Jones-another promising career ended due to drug use and a street thug mentality. and last but certainly not least, Big Ben Roethlisberger- accused of sexual misconduct twice in two years(makes you wonder if he's been hanging with Tiger). These guys and many more are supposed to be the people our children want to be like and who more often than not are exactly the opposite of what we want our children to be. So why do so many people like these, who have advantages that most of us will never know, act like common criminals or "gangsters". Too much money and too little time? Unable to deal with being a celebrity? What do the Chordians think?  Lets hear your opinion.    Butch

Don't take life too seriously, you're not getting out alive anyway
  • From: Tooele Ut
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 4,049

Re: athletes out of control

Well I am glad you got that off your chest bswyers.  I have always said that professional sports people make way too much money for something they enjoy.  It should be against the law.  Some of them are so cool and they know it and they have money falling out of their wallets.  The money and the fame just weren't meant for everyone.  Many can't handle it and thats where they end up.  It's a shame really.

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  • KAP54
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  • From: London Ontario Canada
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,746

Re: athletes out of control

Hey Butch, I don't watch too many professional teams any more because of that and that they make way too much money for what they do.
Gimme a college game or OHL hockey (One step below NHL) any day. Those kids aren't spoiled yet and are fighting for a spot so they can get spoiled.
With the exception of Cheetah Woods that's one reason why I like golf. They play for the love of the game. Last weekend (I can't remember his name) was in a playoff with Jim Furyk and accidentally hit the grass on his upswing.
He saw that he did it and called the match and lost. They had to go to a TV review in slow motion to verify it. If he won it was 1.3 mil. His take ended up being in the $600,000 area for 2nd place. That's how much he loved the game.

Great Thread
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  • From: Clarion PA
  • Registered: 2008-05-18
  • Posts: 328

Re: athletes out of control

I don't follow golf too much but I did hear about that match. The man showed class and pride which is something lacking in a lot of people. I don't know if stiffer penalties are the answer (suspensions,fines) or maybe counseling. The Steelers have instituted a zero tolerence policy for their players. Basically if you get caught spitting on the sidewalk you can be fined. Big Ben stands to lose 2.8 million dollars for his little escapade if he sits for six games. On top of that he cost the Steelers $200,000.00 as their fine by the NFL .  In addition one local (milledgeville GA) officer forced to resign and a PA State Police trooper sanctioned for demeaning the case. (He was working as Ben's bodyguard) As my dad says"IF it makes you go hmmm, it's probably a bad idea"

Don't take life too seriously, you're not getting out alive anyway
  • zguitar
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  • From: Mentone, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 1,367

Re: athletes out of control

Money and fame make people crazy. Because they are spoiled and get everything they want and don't have to work for any of it, they rely on other outlets. I agree there is way too much money being thrown around in the entertainment world. Doctors and teachers should be the highest paid people in the world if you ask me. To make millions playing a game or being on tv is ridiculous. When we have homeless people living on the street why does a football player get 20 million a year? Something wrong there I think. It is not common to find a celebrity that doesn't indulge in the wrong way.  Money can get them whatever they desire, but that must get old. So they end up doing stupid things that get them in trouble.


I have heard that most athletes have alot more testosterone than an average guy. That's why they are athletes. Because of this, it takes more to satisfy them. So you can't have a football player just turn off his aggression once the game is over. They need to find more things that give them a rush. More sex, drugs, etc. I personally think this is a crock. They are grown ups and can make decisions for themselves.

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  • From: carson,washington
  • Registered: 2009-09-22
  • Posts: 350

Re: athletes out of control

This is a sore subject with me also. These guys got the world by the gonads and blow it. Money can
      make a person do really dumb things and one of the reasons I believe is that money can buy
      a way around these dumb things. Why not axe these guys on the very first offense with no
      buy-outs? Maybe they would think twice? Sorry to say, but,.... their big monies come from our
      wallets. Can't help it but I like to watch MLB on TV. I still have the need to watch sports. College
      is a good alternative but even they get into trouble.            Mike

Our intuitions serve us well
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-03-29
  • Posts: 953

Re: athletes out of control

I agree that they make to much money, way to much, especially baseball which has no salary cap, but to much in all sports. I seldom ever watch any professional sports because of their actions on and off the field, I'm sick of it, have been for many years now. I love college basketball and football, for the most part they play with their hearts, and yes even college sports has it's problems. When I was a kid you could look up to the guys playing sports as role models, not to say that there wasn't players even then who got into things they shouldn't have there was, but now with instant communications, and technology being what it is words, pictures get out there. A couple of good examples were Babe Ruth, he was a drunk off the field, even as far back as Ty Cobb, he was a known racist. I believe in cleaning up sports, if they get caught with a serious enough offense I say kick them out for good, and they should know thats how it's going to be coming in. I believe in second chances for some things but for others you should just simply be out period! Clean the games up. I'm sick of the thugs, the I'm greater than God attuide they have, oh look how great I am, sick of it, give me college sports any day of the week.

Cam

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  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: athletes out of control

I don't really watch much in the line of sports (typical woman?)... but my husband refuses to watch pro football after having run into a well known (and at the time respected) quarterback snorting cocaine in a local bar restroom... only to go on to the super bowl that same year.  On top of everything they do, it seems they don't even get caught for half of it.  Although, that doesn't stop him from buying a few squares on the local boards.  Funny, we still don't watch it... we just wait for the call to come in to come pick up the money if he has any coming.  Oh well... I guess in a way THAT is the problem but on a bigger level.  Folks all over are making money off them so they keep on throwing money at them.  sad

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  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: athletes out of control

Young, rich, and no one to tell them "No."  What other result would be expected? 

I heard a story from some famous football player or another.  I don't recall who, but it was in the 80's, so it doesn't really matter that much.  Anyway, he had options from a bunch of schools.  They were all slobbering over getting him on their team - offering cars, apartments, private tutors, stipends, etc.  Joe Paterno at Penn State looked at his grades and handed him a reading list.  He said that if he read one book per month from that list and sent the book reports in to Joe Paterno for review, that he would consider putting him on the Penn State team.  His parents said, "That's the school for you, boy."  "What about all this stuff I can get elsewhere?"  "Those schools are offering that because they care about themselves.  Joe Paterno is going to make you work for it because he cares about you."   I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and saw shots of the Penn State locker room on the news frequently.  It was common to see one particular college athlete being interviewed, and in the background instead of the other athletes hamming it up and joking around, they were studying.  That's what a college football program should be.  College and discipline first, football second.  And I don't think you can say that over the years, Penn State has suffered for that attitude towards football!  SMU on the other hand...

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