Personal vs. Professional Athletes

When a professional athlete is drafted, signed, or picked up by a team or organization they are immediately slapped in the face with the realization that they are not just a college kid hiding behind their university’s compliance department, or a high school prodigy who can “do no wrong” anymore. You are now being dissected under a microscope, as the press wait for your one wrong move that gives them a story and puts a stamp on your career forever.

In a recent survey the NBA administered to their rookie players at the annual Rookie Photo Shoot last week, they asked numerous questions to gauge the opinions of their newest brethren.  One of those being “What will be the biggest adjustment to the NBA?” and apart from the obvious answers “better competition” and “length of season”, nearly 10% said “lifestyle” would be one of the more difficult aspects to deal with.

For the upcoming season, the average first-year, first-round draft pick contract will be about $1.6 million. Ranging from about $900K to $4.2 million, it will be more money than most of these guys have ever seen before. As they say, “mo money, mo problems”, the life of an NBA player is quite extravagant and puts most in very difficult situations.

The issue for pro athletes these days is nothing you do will go unnoticed, and it will shape how fans see you for the rest of your career. If you get caught up in bad situations; possess fire arms, cheat on your spouse, use illegal drugs, get in fights, drive drunk, commit assault, or simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time; someone will see it. The most unfortunate part of this problem is that many common folk commit the same acts and make the same mistakes, but because of whom you are and what you do it’s not the same outcome. An accountant can cheat on his wife and still be a great accountant, get promotions, earn a raise, and be a great face for the organization. However, an athlete will always have that title as a “cheater” as if it’s stamped on their forehead.

Should a professional athlete’s actions off the court, field, track, ice, road, etc. have an impact on their success, or perceived success, on it? Why do owners and GM’s take personal issues into consideration when they prove to you in games that they are great athletes? And how much success must you attain before your past is forgotten? (Example: If Tiger wins a few more majors, will people start to jump back on the bandwagon?)

@hzedeck