I have got to write this today, mainly because I need to vent a little bit and because of comments I have heard from a few people recently and in the past.
There are 2 types of sports fans:
1. The ones who have played sports in the past, understand competition, understand how hard it is to lose, understand the rules of the game and because of their past experiences in sports...they may not like another team or another teams player, but they respect their game.
2. The ignorant sports fans. You know, the ones who say shit like "OMG, I could have made that play" and actually believe they could have made that play. Or they make comments like "Tom Brady sucks" or "Aaron Rodgers sucks" or "Drew Brees sucks" or any other legit superstar...maybe a Lebron James? I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say he sucks. Really?
There are only a few explanations:
1. Jealousy. - I think its well known that if someone disrespects someone else that they don't even know, they are probably jealous of them. Jealous of what they have, what they do, who they are, etc, etc.
2. Complete and total ignorance. - Saying something like "Lebron James or Tom Brady sucks" just goes to show how stupid you really are or how much you do not understand sports. I loath, loath, loath Ohio State University...but I have told OSU fans to their face "As much as I don't like Troy Smith, that kid can ball."
Its called common sense...because really, lets break this down:
NO professional athlete really sucks, do they? To make it to the pro level in any sport...is pretty much impossible. Lets look at some status for football:
- According to the NCAA, there are 1,108,441 high school kids in America playing football.
- Out of that #, .08% make it to the NFL...that is less than 1%...that comes out to 8,867 of
1,108,441.
- Now think for a minute of how many of those 8,867 players drop out, get cut or end up just being a
role player for their team.
- Also, out of the 1,108,441...only 6.1% get a chance at playing NCAA sports.
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Issues/Recruiting/Probability+of+Going+Pro
- To be considered a consistent or above average player (say a Matt Schaub) is defying the odds.
- To be considered one of the greatest to ever play the game? Say a Brady, Manning, Lebron, MJ, etc...OMG, the odds must be...I dunno...maybe .000001% ?? I mean, truly impossible.
Think about it, seriously...THINK ABOUT IT!!! If you played high school sports...you know how demanding and competitive it can be. You are working out and training 5 days a week, sometimes twice a day. The peer pressure is high, the practices are hard, you are vomiting after a hard work out, the coaches are screaming at you, your parents or grandparents have high expectations for you, you are being tempted with supplements that could give you an additional boost, you are trying to find time to practice and maybe even work on the weekends...for some, getting a full ride or a shot at the pro's is all they have going for them and their family...with out that shot, these kids could end up on the streets, using drugs, getting in trouble, etc.
So all this pressure at the high school level...AND don't forget, these are just kids we are talking about...14-18 years old! So remember the stat I flashed earlier...out of all these kids who are working their ass off to make something out of themselves, 6.1% make it to the college level. Now your works out intensify, the pressure is even more intense. You are the lucky 6.1% to make it to the next level...but it only gets harder and harder and harder, out of the 6.1% of college football players, only 1.7% make to the NFL. To give you a real #, out of the approximate 15,000 SENIOR football players...255 will get drafted.
My point, making it to the pro level in football is extremely difficult, to be considered an elite NFL players...almost impossible. The #'s don't lie.
So...if you want to hate a player or hate a team, go ahead...we all have our rivals and teams we despise. BUT if you choose to be THAT ignorant fan...before you go making ignorant and stupid comments about how bad they suck or how you could have done it better or you question their decision making...remember this, you can make those comments because you really have no idea and no appreciation for what it takes to be in that athletes shoes. You will never understand how hard they work and what odds they have defied to be in the position they are in.
And worst of all...you have no idea how stupid and ignorant you sound to the people around you. So when you say 5,235 yards passing, 39 TDs to 12 Ints, 66% completions and 105.6 QB rating "Sucks"...just simply remember a few things:
1. You could never do it.
2. That player that "sucks"...could care less about your comments. They live in a world defied by odds and at one point in their young life, were probably told they can't do it or they "sucked" and it didnt phase them then and it would not phase them now. So save your breath.
3. Don't forget that this very tiny % of athletes give back to the community, almost all of them do...do you? No, you don't.
4. Learn to differentiate between hating and disrespecting. Hate them all you want and for whatever reasons you want...but respect their accomplishments, because by not...you don't make them go away.
Again, for those reading this who played and appreciate sports...this article probably sounds like common sense to you. Its all about that key word called "Understanding"...isn't that what ignorance is anyways? A lack of understanding?
Hate all you want, it is expected. But I am starting to learn, understand and appreciate sports more now...than I did when I was younger and its dawned on me that, even the back up kicker or punter or 5th string WR or 3rd string QB...that player, has worked harder and is more gifted than I ever was or that most fans ever were...for that reason, they don't suck.
For those who make it to the elite level...I truly thank you for giving back to your communities and inspiring our youth. Without you, without our elite players in any sport...our kids would not have role models, sports history would not be as exciting, sports simply would not be what they are today and its the following of elite players who give the media and public something to talk about.
America without sports? Unreal...America is a sports nation...respect the sports, respect the players and respect the history. Because no matter how many times in your life you say Tom Brady sucks, his legacy will live on for decades and decades to come...just like Babe Ruth, Jim Brown, Wilt, etc...your legacy? Yea, not so much. So might as well live your life without saying ignorant shit and "respect" what you are witnessing and if that does not make sense to you and you choose to just say they all suck...well, just keep in mind...everyone around you thinks you are a dumbass.
