Professional Athletes

As most of you who follow sports know, The Redskins safety who had 5 interceptions this year, Sean Taylor, died earlier this morning due to a gunshot wound. All who knew him said he had finally started changing his life for the better. What I don't understand is why professional athletes in any sports don't think logically. We always hear about athletes getting caught doping, or in possession of marijuana, or crashing their Lamborghini's into light poles, and recently shootings. It started with Darrent Williams getting shot earlier this year on New Years, and now Sean Taylor. Both dead in the peak of their NFL careers.

One could say that athletes are young and doing what young people do, having fun. I don't think this is the case because if we take a relative sample of people in accordance to the percentage of athletes caught doping or on drugs or getting in trouble, it would translate to nearly 1 out of every 4 friends you and I have, would be doing the same thing. I just cant seem to buy this theory. I think that these athletes are making too much money and letting it get to their heads. They think that they are invincible, more so than celebrities. It's great to think that but you also have to realize that you really aren't and that its ok to have fun but there is a limit.

Its simple, your paid a ridiculous amount of money to do one thing and one thing only. With today's talent out there, the average carer in sports is roughly 10 years unless you are one of the best (I.E. Brett Favre, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Lebron James), you know the "name brand" players. Otherwise you have your peak and you are forgotten about slowly. So basically you have 10 years where you get to be a kid and play sports, its almost every persons dream. Heres what every professional athlete needs to do:

1. Invest your money!
2. Stay at the top of your game and perform at the highest level
3. Keep out of the negative public eye
4. When you retire if invested properly your 12million + should be at least 30million
5. Spend your money!

If you have an affinity for marijuana, take your money AFTER your retirement and move to South America and grow your own weed and smoke until you cant smoke anymore. As a professional athlete you are the role model of millions of children around the world, act that way.

Its a shame Sean Taylor started changing his life so late.

Sean Michael Maurice Taylor
(4-1-1983 - 11-27-2007)