by The GM on May 13 at 10:46PM
I have a lot more thoughts on this subject floating around in my head tonight and I have to get them out of there, so I am going to make this the second part of the previous post.
What is our fascination with athletes? What is it about celebrity that drives us to try and be a part of it? I think what it boils down to is the fact that athletes are part of a very special club. Quick, how many professional athletes do you know on a personal level? I'm talking about the type of relationship that you could talk to this person and they remember your name. Most of us would probably say "zero." Now, if you were to ask an athlete that question, they would give you a pretty significant number, because that is who they spend their time with and they have the same common factor in their lives.
My experience is a little different, but I can see what athletes go through, but on a smaller scale. Being in the military, you go through certain experiences with your unit, your team. Those experiences mold tight knit relationships and bonds that will never be broken. This is similar to what an athlete experiences, but again, on a bit of a different scale. They have experiences that most of us will never have, salaries that some of us will never see, and luxuries that some of us will never be able to afford. Trust me, nobody is going to hand me millions of dollars (or even hundreds) to go out and say that I drink Gatorade. The "common" man doesn't give two craps if I drink Gatorade, but how many of us can remember that Grant Hill drinks Sprite? Exactly!
I like to compare athletes to really attractive females. Let me give you an example.
It's a small club and a lot of us are on the outside looking in, but in the end I have to remind myself that I don't need that really attractive girl at the party to talk to me to have a good time, it's just icing on the cake if she does.
What is our fascination with athletes? What is it about celebrity that drives us to try and be a part of it? I think what it boils down to is the fact that athletes are part of a very special club. Quick, how many professional athletes do you know on a personal level? I'm talking about the type of relationship that you could talk to this person and they remember your name. Most of us would probably say "zero." Now, if you were to ask an athlete that question, they would give you a pretty significant number, because that is who they spend their time with and they have the same common factor in their lives.
My experience is a little different, but I can see what athletes go through, but on a smaller scale. Being in the military, you go through certain experiences with your unit, your team. Those experiences mold tight knit relationships and bonds that will never be broken. This is similar to what an athlete experiences, but again, on a bit of a different scale. They have experiences that most of us will never have, salaries that some of us will never see, and luxuries that some of us will never be able to afford. Trust me, nobody is going to hand me millions of dollars (or even hundreds) to go out and say that I drink Gatorade. The "common" man doesn't give two craps if I drink Gatorade, but how many of us can remember that Grant Hill drinks Sprite? Exactly!
I like to compare athletes to really attractive females. Let me give you an example.
Or, how about this one:
You're at a party and you're having a decent time, not great, but decent enough to not split. In walks a couple of really attractive females (athletes) and the party has gotten a lot better. The next day you are talking to your friends, "I can't believe thosereally attractive femalesathletes were at the party last night. That was awesome."
In the end, I think it just comes down to being involved in that circle of what athletes experience. While most athletes and celebrities are rubbing elbows with the "good looking people", most of us are literally rubbing elbows with the sweaty guy that is standing behind us in the Pizza Hut buffet line.
You work at a retail store and you really hate dealing with the customers that day, because they are generally getting on your nerves. In walksa really attractive girlan athlete. There is almost a fight to see who gets to help them.
My passion in life is sports. As a kid, I could rattle off ridiculous stats about random things. I loved numbers, which is why I was so good at math (and probably why I sucked at things like biology!). As I got into junior high and high school I knew that I would never be a professional athlete, but I still wanted to find a way to be involved with the ONLY thing that interested me. If my school didn't have Sport Management as a major, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be in school. I don't expect to be the next Billy Beane or Donnie Walsh, but it has always been a dream of mine. A little part of that reason is because I want to be a part of that circle, that lifestyle.
It's a small club and a lot of us are on the outside looking in, but in the end I have to remind myself that I don't need that really attractive girl at the party to talk to me to have a good time, it's just icing on the cake if she does.
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Comments
Wow, you really missed the metaphor with the "attractive girl". Why am I not surprised?!
no..i get it..but it's misleading to compare attractive girls to athletes. you should've used a different metaphor!
No it isn't. Everyone likes an attractive girl, even you!
Well first, that really attractive girl at the party talking to you better be me.
and second..when you crossed out "attractive girls" and replaced it with "athletes", it's kind of misleading because i'm thinking female athletes. i don't know too many people who would recognize a female athlete if she walked into a party. my first thought would be, "who invited the drag queen?" ...not "i can't believe that athlete came!"
we're fascinated with athletes because they get to play a game for a living while the rest of us have to work our asses off to make a fraction of what they make.
i wish i could play wii for a living and get paid millions. ..then maybe i'd be in your top 3 on your priority list!