It is estimated that 78% of NFL players will file for bankruptcy or face financial hardships only two years after playing their last game. The issue is the same for 61% of NBA players 5 years after retirement (sports illustrated, 2009). Professional athletes put their health, money and reputation on the line for the sake of our entertainment, and this is usually overlooked because of the amount of money that they are making. People who do not watch a great deal of sports are distracted by the 30 million that Kobe Bryant is making, or the 75 million that Floyd Mayweather makes, and they forget what athletes have done for others. These athletes are forced to train extra hard to be the best at what they do. Athletes are more than just athletic humans who jump around for millions of dollars; they do tons of work for our youth, our …show more content…
It takes only 9 weeks to complete your training to become a police officer; an athlete’s chances of becoming a professional are slim to none. About 1500 kids in Canada end up spending time in the NHL. 500,000 play for hockey leagues. Meaning that there is a 0.3% chance of those kids making the NHL. That’s 3 out of every 1,000 that ever make it. To narrow it down even more, how many of those 1500 kids who do make it have an impact? Maybe half, or even less meaning only 1.5 of the 1000 that make it end up becoming contributors. How many people can throw a 90MPH fastball? How many can throw a football accurately for over 50 yards? How many people can shoot a basketball into a hoop from 23 feet away and get it in about 80-90% of the time? Now compare those numbers to those who are able to become doctors or teachers. In order to become a police officer, the basic requirements are to be 21 years of age, have at least a high school diploma, license and a clean record. A professional athlete’s skill is