Reflections of A Retired Athlete
Tim Williams
January 24, 2009
During the course of my long athletic and professional career I have witness a decline of personal and professional behavior among athletes. The professionalism and comradely of the 50's, 60's, and early 70's have given way to a self absorption, self serving, self gratifying, and self profiteering ideology where the individual is all consumed with monetary compensation and selflessness without the slightest regard for their fellow teammates, competitors, and the fans. Lost is the sense of fellowship that was once a prime motivation for being an athlete.
What has replaced playing for the "Love of the game" to now where players of all professional sports and a majority of collegiate sports as well have adopted the self serving philosophy where they play for the excessive amounts of money that are being offered to them; and in that light the professionalism, the respect for each player, fans and the general public has diminished so greatly that the players now expect the adoration, the attention, and the publicity to be bestowed upon them not because of their ability, their respect for players, coaches and fans alike, but because of the amount of money they are being paid whether or not they actually produce the professionalism that must be displayed when individuals achieve that level of athletics.
I remember when I first competed in an athletic event. The excitement, the exhilaration , and the respect I had for myself, my coaches and the other competitors made me realize that just to be able to compete was an unbelievable experience. Whether I won or came in last wasn't the main focus. My coaches realized that winning wasn't the most important thing but just being able to strive to do the best that you can do is what competing is all about. Sure, everyone likes to win, but even if you lost or came in second as long as you tried you succeeded, and that is winning.
Today an all full lot of High School and Collegiate athletes are lured by the prospect of lucrative professional sports contracts. Many have succumbed to the temptation to forgo a collegiate career or stop short of graduation and opt for the professional contract only to realize that once their career is over or an injury prevents them from competing they are left with very little qualifications to embark upon a career outside of sports.
Most of these individuals are not mentally,emotionally, and educationally to comprehend the scope of the responsibilities that are involved in professional sports contracts. What has occurred today in professional sports is that they have really encouraged a type of behavior that is most unprofessional by the athletes themselves. I am not saying all professional sports athletes have fallen into this type of behavior but the media has continually exploited some individuals to where the general public actually further encourages student and professional athletes toward behavior that is most unprofessional.
"For the love of the game"or sport ! A time not so distant. The days when players and athletes actually played and competed because of the enjoyment of the sport itself and not because of how much money they are or will be paid.
In the professional sports world winning is the ultimate goal. The key here is to recruit the caliber of players that when they actually achieve to play or compete to the best they can they will produce the winning affect that is so important in today's professional sports.
Aspiring young athletes today have to be taught restraint and to resist the temptation of forgoing an education is the pursuit of the lucrative contract that seems like a sure bet when in actually is a short sighted and misguided attempt to interrupt an individuals life process. What really matters is students and student athletes participation in their respective sports are held accountable for his or her behavior on and off the playing field. They must show a level of personal esteem and portray courtesy, respect, and a genuine fellowship toward everyone.
What has replaced playing for the "Love of the game" to now where players of all professional sports and a majority of collegiate sports as well have adopted the self serving philosophy where they play for the excessive amounts of money that are being offered to them; and in that light the professionalism, the respect for each player, fans and the general public has diminished so greatly that the players now expect the adoration, the attention, and the publicity to be bestowed upon them not because of their ability, their respect for players, coaches and fans alike, but because of the amount of money they are being paid whether or not they actually produce the professionalism that must be displayed when individuals achieve that level of athletics.
I remember when I first competed in an athletic event. The excitement, the exhilaration , and the respect I had for myself, my coaches and the other competitors made me realize that just to be able to compete was an unbelievable experience. Whether I won or came in last wasn't the main focus. My coaches realized that winning wasn't the most important thing but just being able to strive to do the best that you can do is what competing is all about. Sure, everyone likes to win, but even if you lost or came in second as long as you tried you succeeded, and that is winning.
Today an all full lot of High School and Collegiate athletes are lured by the prospect of lucrative professional sports contracts. Many have succumbed to the temptation to forgo a collegiate career or stop short of graduation and opt for the professional contract only to realize that once their career is over or an injury prevents them from competing they are left with very little qualifications to embark upon a career outside of sports.
Most of these individuals are not mentally,emotionally, and educationally to comprehend the scope of the responsibilities that are involved in professional sports contracts. What has occurred today in professional sports is that they have really encouraged a type of behavior that is most unprofessional by the athletes themselves. I am not saying all professional sports athletes have fallen into this type of behavior but the media has continually exploited some individuals to where the general public actually further encourages student and professional athletes toward behavior that is most unprofessional.
"For the love of the game"or sport ! A time not so distant. The days when players and athletes actually played and competed because of the enjoyment of the sport itself and not because of how much money they are or will be paid.
In the professional sports world winning is the ultimate goal. The key here is to recruit the caliber of players that when they actually achieve to play or compete to the best they can they will produce the winning affect that is so important in today's professional sports.
Aspiring young athletes today have to be taught restraint and to resist the temptation of forgoing an education is the pursuit of the lucrative contract that seems like a sure bet when in actually is a short sighted and misguided attempt to interrupt an individuals life process. What really matters is students and student athletes participation in their respective sports are held accountable for his or her behavior on and off the playing field. They must show a level of personal esteem and portray courtesy, respect, and a genuine fellowship toward everyone.
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