Have things changed or are they now getting uncovered?
July 28, 2009
Been thinking a little about athletes in general across the sports spectrum with the recents brushes with the law and related problems. It occurred to me that things haven’t changed much since I was a rookie in 1994. The things that have changed are the instant gratification of blogs like these, the phenomenon of the internet and paparrazzi infused sites that promote nonsense. You could have closed you eyes at a NFL depth chart in the early 90’s and easily pointed blindly to a player with a run in with the law. Whether it was a DUI or some other infraction it did not make headlines. Can we really know what happened all those years at the infamous white house the Cowboys partied in? I think not. We had people in our own security staff on the Vikings at the time quelling a lot of those matters before they became news. Not today where news trumps all. If you happen to go to a lunch with a business associate who happens to be of the opposite sex in a group setting people are still assuming you are cheating on your significant other. That’s the physique that permeates todays society with all of it mistrusts in government/financial officials and people with privilege getting the upper hand on the masses. It will always be a problem for athletes staying out of trouble. When you are put up on a pedestal your whole life for your physical prowess and given exceptions in life making things easy in every way, there is going to be a entitlement mentality. This mindset believes that no matter what the circumstance presented with, they will come out unscathed. Thus giving rise to the various problem that happen every year like clockwork to athletes across the sports platform. Whether it Micheal Phelps smoking into a bong or Dante Stallworth killing a man in the wee hours after partying with teammates drinking and smoking. The harsh realities should and I hope bring players back into focus on how vulnerable they are. Just ask Mike Vick if he would change things if he could? The benefits and rewards of being a pro ball player are immense but so are the entrapments that lurk seemingly everywhere. If you relax at any minute those traps don’t seem so bad and the entitlement mentality gets you when you least expect it. All in all as the bible reads “to much is given much is required”. In how I translate that phrase: You are blessed and exalted by GOD and man respectively, with that comes a lot of responsibility.
ESPY’s week July13-16th
July 16, 2009
ESPY’s Award Show
Samuel Hosts this Years event and there are sure to be a lot of laughs and major sports talent in the building. Great time for me every year to catch up with friends and old teammates.
Think about what makes you GO!
July 7, 2009
Ask yourself can I make this a full time gig? Can I support myself or family doing it? So many people are unhappy with their jobs and life as they know it. What a sad existence that can be to not be motivated on an everyday basis. I make it a point to think about what is NEXT in line in things I want to do or accomplish. Then the creative part comes in after that: HOW and WHEN. Anything is possible if you know what you are chasing or striving for. Make time to think about what is NEXT today.
UFL
July 5, 2009
Gearing up for the inaugural season of the UFL or United Football League. Speculation has quickly turned into a frenzy of calls from agents,collegues and friends about players they want to get signed. The old saying holds true “you build it and they will come”. Well looks like the architects of this league built it well. The timing can’t be more perfect to introduce a new league that will serve as a compliment to the NFL. At a much lower price point for tickets with NFL experienced players and coaches, it is a great fit.
An eerie day in the Meadowlands
July 5, 2009
I believe that there are always 3 sides to every story. The respective opposing sides and then the empirical truth. Check out this interview I did with the dug out sports show.
http://min.scout.com/2/876337.html