Community Chat

[SisterGoldenHair]

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@blackhole99 wrote:

The society is twisted! These guys are just genetically gifted giants who play a game. Defending and glorifying these people and justifying their rewards for playing a game, well I think it's a crying shame. Again it never ceases to amaze me how some people will always defend the rich under the guise that the rich deserve it because they work so hard. When we are all given the same advantages from the cradle, I'll go along with that thinking.

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@blackhole99It doesn't sound like you have ever been around someone that plays sports. Well, I have and it is a hard job.

You don't realize how much money and jobs are brought to a city with sports.

You see only what you want to believe not what you know. I know first hand.

[SydneyH]

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@SahmIam wrote:

Athletes are a commodity and once they lose their ability to bring in BIG money, they are tossed to the side and forgotten. 

I have a cousin who was a pro-athlete and witnessed first hand how an injury can end a career in a second not to mention the "nice knowing you, here's the door".

Family friend is a coach for the BIG money maker known as college basketball. The information/stories/facts that I've been told make me just shake my head in disgust AND in disbelief. It IS big money with the goal for the athletes to go Pro when they graduate OR sooner.

My son plays football and basketball. He's talented at both but will have to make a choice very soon as to which sport to focus on. Scouts start sizing players up in MIDDLE SCHOOL; not kidding. They watch and talk with each other, the coaches and the high schools. It's in high school that you begin to see the "perks". For example, we are zoned for high school ABC but if the coach at XYZ wants my son (because it's a Class A school in that specific sport), my son WILL go to that school. But Coach, we don't live anywhere near that school. Doesn't matter. It will happen. Same thing with the elite private schools; can't afford our tuition because it's $60,000 a year? No problem! He can play (fill in the blank sport) for us and will give him an "athletic" scholarship (even though they don't offer those when you ask). 

Yes, the money is draw-dropping. Yes, those players work and face injuries that may not and often don't ever heal. HOWEVER....I can NOT wrap my head around the fact that players who are addicts, thieves, abusers of women, children and animals and are KNOWN to this are protected BECAUSE of the money they bring in. IMHO, that has ruined professional sports for me and the reason why I tell my son to focus on EDUCATION first and sports second. If he does get into some big whig college, don't waste the academic opportunity is my #1 message to him. *heavy sigh*

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I can totally relate, my youngest plays baseball and basketball and is equally talented in both.  However I tell him all the time, every game, could in theory be your last for a variety of reasons.  Hit those books hard, lol.

[Twins Mom]

Itiswhatitis: so true that states beg for sports teams because of revenue they provide. But those sports teams can likewise injure those areas when they go back on promises and leave. When stadiums are owned and built by cities, tax revenue is not coming in on property and paying off debt is hard when team gone.

[Twins Mom]

Sunshine45: thank you for tax info. Glad the situation I was aware of is an exception rather than the rule.

[deedledeedeedle]

Living in the suburbs I'm here to tell you that it is quite a big deal when a major sports francise (re)locates to the depressed city. I can only imagine being an inner city legislator greeted with the news that a sports team is coming or returning to their town. 

When did Capitalism become a sin?

It's part of the reason we living in such a fantastic country.

dee

[AngusandBuddhasMom]

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@software wrote:

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@blackhole99 wrote:

The society is twisted! These guys are just genetically gifted giants who play a game. Defending and glorifying these people and justifying their rewards for playing a game, well I think it's a crying shame. Again it never ceases to amaze me how some people will always defend the rich under the guise that the rich deserve it because they work so hard. When we are all given the same advantages from the cradle, I'll go along with that thinking.

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I've never been given a job by a poor person.

Balance & perspective

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Just so you know that closed minded statement speaks volumes about your pov. It isn't balance and perspective. It is a myth that allows the top 1% to continue robbing this country and creating a society that excludes others by way of putting a ceiling over those who no matter how many times they try can not get a break. Unless you are someone like Bill Gates who gives back don't try to equate all the wealthy as job givers. And this is spoken by someone who once shared your narrow pov until I opened my eyes. Why we would once again become a society that rewards the wealthy and chastises the poor is crazy.

[Tinkrbl44]

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@blackhole99 wrote:

The society is twisted! These guys are just genetically gifted giants who play a game. Defending and glorifying these people and justifying their rewards for playing a game, well I think it's a crying shame. Again it never ceases to amaze me how some people will always defend the rich under the guise that the rich deserve it because they work so hard.

When we are all given the same advantages from the cradle,

I'll go along with that thinking.

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@blackhole99

Maybe I missed something here ..... your comment about "defending the rich" seems a little bizarre.   

Do you honestly think that most rich people got their money by sitting on their but t   and someone else just came along and handed them a lot of money?     

What exactly is wrong with people working hard to get to the top of their field and enjoying the rewards that come with that?   They paid their dues, and I don't see why you would begrudge them.  

As for "we are given the same advantages from the cradle" is just not true.    Some people are born with special talents .....   or an enjoyment of the game .....  or a strong will to overcome odds and succeed.    

You could be born with a talent for playing the piano (for example) but if you don't bother to develop that talent, why would anyone want to hear you play?    You haven't accomplished anything, and there's no reason anyone would want to hear you play.   

It really doesn't matter what you're born with ..... it's what you do with it that counts.