Dumb Athletes.... or Competitive Athletes?
I thought I would make a comment about athletes after reading a recent article in ESPN The Mag and then after the whole Ben Roethlisberger motorcycle accident. For those that have been hiding in a cave for the last three days, Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers 2nd year QB and youngest QB to ever lead their team to a Super Bowl title, was injured in a motorcycle accident on Monday when he collided with a turning car while riding his motorcycle helmetless. He was tossed into the car and proceeded to break the car's windshield with his head. Although he had numerous injuries to his head and face, he appears as though he will come out of this ok, and will be able to be back by the beginning of the football season. It is not a law to wear a helmet in Pennsylvania, therefore Big Ben had told many people in the past that he preferred not to wear a helmet for comfort. Now on to the magazine. In this week's ESPN The Mag, John Daly tells us about his gambling problems in which he estimates he has lost between $50-60 million gambling over the years. So this brings me to my point.
Lots of athletes these days find things to occupy their time when they are not playing their sport. Some are more dangerous, see Roethlisberger, and some more costly, see Daly. My point being, when their are athletes that are at the top of their games in the sport they play, many will find other ways to help fulfill their competitive spirits. Many of these athletes are some of the most competitive people you will ever meet. While some might make some really dumb decisions, see Roethlisberger that could potentially end their careers, others like to gamble with all the money they make. Another article by Bill Simmons in the same ESPN The Mag brought home a good point to me. In a recent book by Michael Leahy, Leahy recounts a blackjack game between Jordan, Rip Hamilton, and Antoine Walker in '01. Jordan proceeded to lose half a million that night before playing two hands at a time to make up the money, which he did. Leahy blasted Jordan for that instance. Simmons, who happened to be at the casino that night playing a slightly smaller money game, only $15, saw it as just friends hanging out having a good time. He also saw some interesting things. He specifically remembers Hamilton, still a young player who hadn't done anything, being totally comfortable in the high stakes section of the balckjack tables. Simmons remembers thinking that was a good sign for him in the future. Clutch plays later in the NBA Finals, and there you go. So what does all this mean? It just goes to show that lots of athletes today find themselves resorting to other means to help solve their competitive natures. Many resort to gambling, just not on their own sports as that is highly frowned on. Others resort to more dangerous activites, such as motorcycles, and gamble with their careers. Some get lucky, see Roethlisberger, others not, see Jay Williams and Kellen Winslow. I guess this just goes to show that when athletes get into these predicaments, don't hate on them for what they have done. Who knows what you would do if you were making $10 million a year and were one of the most competitive people in the world?
Lots of athletes these days find things to occupy their time when they are not playing their sport. Some are more dangerous, see Roethlisberger, and some more costly, see Daly. My point being, when their are athletes that are at the top of their games in the sport they play, many will find other ways to help fulfill their competitive spirits. Many of these athletes are some of the most competitive people you will ever meet. While some might make some really dumb decisions, see Roethlisberger that could potentially end their careers, others like to gamble with all the money they make. Another article by Bill Simmons in the same ESPN The Mag brought home a good point to me. In a recent book by Michael Leahy, Leahy recounts a blackjack game between Jordan, Rip Hamilton, and Antoine Walker in '01. Jordan proceeded to lose half a million that night before playing two hands at a time to make up the money, which he did. Leahy blasted Jordan for that instance. Simmons, who happened to be at the casino that night playing a slightly smaller money game, only $15, saw it as just friends hanging out having a good time. He also saw some interesting things. He specifically remembers Hamilton, still a young player who hadn't done anything, being totally comfortable in the high stakes section of the balckjack tables. Simmons remembers thinking that was a good sign for him in the future. Clutch plays later in the NBA Finals, and there you go. So what does all this mean? It just goes to show that lots of athletes today find themselves resorting to other means to help solve their competitive natures. Many resort to gambling, just not on their own sports as that is highly frowned on. Others resort to more dangerous activites, such as motorcycles, and gamble with their careers. Some get lucky, see Roethlisberger, others not, see Jay Williams and Kellen Winslow. I guess this just goes to show that when athletes get into these predicaments, don't hate on them for what they have done. Who knows what you would do if you were making $10 million a year and were one of the most competitive people in the world?
posted by Big Bentley at 10:50 AM
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