Pimping the College Athlete

darkd: I think that we (using that word loosely) need to have better ways of preparing athletically-skilled men for post-collegiate life. I mean the stats on who goes on to play pro-ball are saddening if you think you're gonna make it... gotta have those back-up plans

me: honestly i blame the schools. they put so much emphasis on these players in their lame divisions/conferences and you make them think they are the best and they are getting drafted so they start to believe that and they start to only focus on that one thing *he* wouldnt have been *he* in say the ACC but because the SEC isnt all that hot, he got bigged up like he was amazing not cuz he was but for profit of the SEC, Ratings, & University. The media uses these players and it messes them up and they know who to go after too. They go after that kid who scores low, but plays big, who comes from a lower income family, and who loves/needs money. So he goes to this school and lives only for ball because he thinks this is the way to go. I mean really this didnt work on say a tim duncan why? because he came from an affluent area and knew the importance of being well rounded. not these guys

darkd: I can see where a lot falls on the shoulders of schools/scouts/coaches because they know better and many times these "kids" don't. All they know is that AI signed a hefty multi-million dollar contract, and they want one, too...So I can see that... but of course, the schools aren't going to do that because, like you pointed out, that's hurting their pockets. Having said that, though, by the time an athlete gets to college, they think they're the shit, anyway. It's not until they DON'T get drafted that it ever occurs to them that maybe they're not that good... so i mean, does it do any good to look at a player who's ready to get drafted in a year or two and say "you know, there's a good chance you're not really as good as we've made you out to be and perhaps you should consider alternatives..." they're not going to hear that because at 20, they've been told for at least 8 years (perhaps longer) that they are good and they could play pro... sure, it may have been by people just as ignorant as they to what it really takes to get drafted and STAY in the pro-leagues, but... when we like what we hear, we tend to believe it.

me: yeah but really you may be told you are the best in your school you are the best in the conference but look at the overrall picture, you gotta wake up and see that you arent the best its called relative privelage or whatever relative deprivation some crap like that - i learned/was taught in sociology

darkd:lol

me: Rashida Sparks may be rich in comparison to those ppl living around her in compton but when she goes to vanderbilt she realizes what rich really is

darkd:Very good point

me: and im like how do we change this? we cant. the answers are there. these athletes just refuse to see it and the coaches, schools, and conferences aren't helping them, but that would be hurting their pockets. It's a business man.