BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 1,520
It's not a question of being happy v. unhappy. It's a question of maximizing your market value.
Furthermore, people have a rosy picture of an athlete's life based on the money, and don't focus on the work they put in. I may not make as much as Tommy does, but he works a hell of a lot harder than I do. He works 14, 15 hour days, takes a physical pounding, and essentially crams all week for a mental exam at the end of the week. Go into an NFL lockerroom after a game. If you want to see some guys that take a beating, and keep on going, take a look around. They make a lot of money, sure. But they also have a very short shelf life, and their career is in danger every play of every game, every play in practice, and in the weight room. Is football fun? Yes. But there is a lot of hard work, and abuse taken in order to play the game. They would be silly not to maximize the amount of money that they make. Perhaps it's because I've seen it from both sides, but I laugh sometimes at how bitter and hostile fans get over player negotiations. It really is just business.
Sure, this is all true and fine and dandy, but don't expect people to feel sorry for athletes. I think you're taking it too far. My father was working full-time, going to grad school and help raising - at the time - two children all at once. He wasn't getting paid 7.8 million a year and nobody felt sorry for him.
It's called being a responsible adult, and the vast majority of America has to do it on a daily basis from the moment they turn 21 until they hit about roughly 65. Boo-F-ing Hoo for everybody, professional athletes included.
The reason Asante has pissed people off is because he hasn't been professional about. He's run his mouth and said stupid things. He's going to come back and play, and play well, and turn into a model Patriot again. We've seen it with Ty Law, we would've seen it with Deion Branch - we as a fan base are very quick to forgive people saying and acting stupidly re: contract stuff.
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