(no subject)

[yesthattom]

Why does this make me think that CBS just called the NFL a pyramid scheme that rips of millions of young people, some of whom are robbed of their lives or livelihood?

Comments

[crs.livejournal.com]

Well, they take a sharp left turn away from that about 45 seconds from the end of the clip.

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

Aww, and here I thought it was going to be an exposé on the NFL's lack of guaranteed contracts, retirement health coverage, and other such signs of the league's contempt for the players in one of the world's most grueling sports.

But no, it's just a li'l cartoon about how pro football is a stardom machine that eats its young just like any other elite-driven competitive professional art form: acting, painting, rock'n'roll, writing, tennis, drug dealing, you name it.

I did like the way the NCAA busted in and replaced what seemed like the imminent refutation of their "college athletes do better in the workplace" canard with that goofy sunshine&rainbows routine. Whoa...

[arkham1010.livejournal.com]

hey, they know what they are getting themselves into. Its not like they have a gun put to their head.

What about anyone else who doesnt make the cut? Should we feel sorry for them too? People who don't get to be astronauts, or air force pilots, or lawyers or anything else.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

I doubt that the guys that I went to high school with that were on the football team had any idea what they were getting into.

[arkham1010.livejournal.com]

Maybe, maybe not. But so what? These people are adults, they are responsible to make sure they are getting the ultimate benefit for themselves. If other people puff up rewards, its their responsibility to find out if its true or not.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

High school kids are adults? What school system did you go to?

[arkham1010.livejournal.com]

Well, some high schoolers are technically adults. I was very proud of myself my senior year that i could sign my own permission slips. ;)

I was more referring to those who go onto football in college and try to get into the NFL draft.

Also, many people i knew in HS who played football did it for the love of the game, not that they had any real dreams of playing in the superbowl.

[xthread.livejournal.com]

What leads you to that supposition? Sports injuries happen routinely, and they're extremely well reported in the fan communities that watch sports, as are the effects of them. Lots of adults try to tell high school players just how unlikely it is that they'll be able to make a career of it, and almost all of them report that that founders on the rocks of I know that's what happens to other people, but it won't happen to me! But it's certainly not for lack of information, or trying.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

The guys that were on my high school team were mostly underprivileged African Americans who were given hopes beyond reason. Sorry to be so pessimistic about this, but you weren't there.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

The question really is, is it worth it to not live your dream because it's not going to happen, statistically?

[barking-iguana.livejournal.com]

I see it as much more of a slam on the colleges than on the NFL.