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Sports Greatness Gone Wrong
Lucrative
contracts, the adoration of thousands of fans and the access to almost
any material good can skew reality for a professional athlete. Those
perks can also become a distraction to potential champions, leading to
a precipitous fall from grace. –amir shaw
Too Much, Too Soon
– Once a rookie signs his first contract, he instantly becomes a brand
and must begin to think like a businessman. Many athletes are
unprepared to handle the responsibilities that come with earning a
seven-figure salary at a young age. Prodigies on the field can have a
difficult time adjusting to a new lifestyle off the field.
Most Horrific Example: Len Bias – Overdosed on cocaine on the same night that he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1986.
Guilt by Association
– There is often a struggle for professional players who want to remain
close to the people who they grew up with. Their lives have changed,
but they have a natural desire for their associations to remain the
same. However, once an athlete signs a multimillion-dollar contract, he
must pay closer attention to the individuals he surrounds himself with.
Many players have lost careers due to the people in their inner circle.
Most Horrific Example:
Michael Vick – Allowed his childhood friends to run and operate a
business called Bad Newz Kennels. Apparently, the business was a front
for a dogfighting ring. Once the scheme was uncovered, Vick’s childhood
friends testified against him and he was sentenced to 23 months in
prison.
Lack of Leadership
– When a player can have all that he wants financially, who will be
there to tell him what he doesn’t need? The access to money can cause
those around him to be untruthful, submissive and manipulative. If a
professional player doesn’t have a mentor who will tell him the truth
when he’s wrong, he can put himself on the fast track to derailing his
future.
Most Horrific Example:
The Dallas Cowboys released Adam “Pacman” Jones in January 2009, after
numerous arrests and suspensions. Although he may get another shot at
the NFL, the fact that he doesn’t have a viable mentor could ruin a
once-promising career.
