Money is truly a multifaceted thing. There’s much more to it than just the value of it. While I do love money, it’s undeniable that it does things to people and too much of it is not always a good thing.
Sports stars are a prime example of this. No matter how long of a contract they sign, no matter how many millions they are guaranteed — on top of whatever endorsements they have — some athletes just love finding ways to screw it up.
Classic examples of this include New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who a few years back brought a loaded gun to a nightclub and ended up shooting himself in the leg with it, prematurely killing his extremely promising NFL career. Another guy who just loves to bring guns into public places is NBA player Gilbert Arenas, guard for the Washington Wizards, who was suspended for the majority of last season.
Or take Larry Johnson, current running back of the Washington Redskins. Here is a guy who could have been a prolific running back and while he holds the all-time record for single season rushing attempts, his off-field behavior often overshadows his talent at playing the game of football.
Not only has Johnson become a liability for teams, he is an individual who seems to have a proclivity for violence against women. Since 2003 Johnson has been arrested four times for assault.
Is it really so hard to buckle down and concentrate on the task at hand for these athletes? Their priorities should be with their teams, and maybe it would be a smart idea to stay at home on a Friday every once in a while, or go to whatever club you must, but, for God’s sake, leave the gun at home.
How many people would kill to have a promising career in sports, be the distinguished recipient of a multi-million dollar contract and be an inspiration to fans and kids all over the world?
These guys have often times defied all odds. Many of them did not have privileged upbringings, and a lot of the time grew up in less-than-stellar areas. This fact alone seems like even more incentive to not go back to the problems they had while growing up.
But time after time, the exact opposite happens.
What’s even more frustrating for me, as a fan of sports, is the contract holdouts, like the current one by San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson. On top of his suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Jackson will not be on the Chargers for much longer due to his holdout. The team is trying to find a good deal to trade him but the situation remains in a nebulous area.
It’s not that these guys shouldn’t have the option to haggle and demand more money. The question is simply: when is enough, enough?
A lot of these players would say their passion in life is football, but their actions seem to suggest otherwise. Of course people want to get paid as much as they possibly can, and it’s even better when you can get paid for doing something you love, but as soon as egos come into play, the whole process becomes convoluted.
Many people probably can’t even comprehend what it’s like to have as much money as these athletes do, as many houses and as many cars as they do — only for playing the game they love.
But how hard is it to keep the wheels on and to stay out of trouble? This means not running dog-fighting rings, bringing weapons into public places and driving recklessly while drunk.
Apparently it’s harder to do than one might think.
Gerry Wachovsky is a graduate student and columnist for the Daily 49er.
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