Flamma
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So I have been thinking about what it is to be a professional athlete these days and I think I am starting to find a bit of clarity. Back in the day, say 30 years ago, a professional athlete was not outrageously different that you or I. On average they made a very good living for a brief window but they did not live in the world of the rich and famous. I believe that on average an athlete back then would have considered winning a title to be very important and it was most likely the primary goal.
I really do not believe that today's athlete feels the same way and who could blame them. Look at our very own Cowboys. Players like Zeke and Cooper and D Law are already rich and famous beyond belief. They have already achieved through sports everything that you could possibly imagine. I believe that their primary goal has been fulfilled. Winning titles are incidental.
Now there are always exceptions to the rule. Some guys would play for free and their legacy on the field is all that would matter to them. I think of players like Ronny Lott or Ray Lewis or Michael Irvin. These are the exception not the rule.
I have always been a die hard Cowboys fan and I have loved and cherished the great players who helped pave the way to super bowl victories. I think in order to remain a true fan I i am going to have to alter my views and expectations. Expecting the world to adapt to my beliefs is just foolish. If I am going to cheer for athletes I need to align my goals and expectation with theirs. I need to prioritize and celebrate the same things as they do.
When Clear Eye View meets it's gross net revenue targets that would be great.
When Dak finally gets his 50 million dollar signing bonus that will truly be something to celebrate.
When Zeke's twitter account reached 3 million followers that will be so cool.
And the list goes on. In all honesty these types of personal accomplishments are better than a super bowl win so why wouldn't players focus on them? And why wouldn't we as fans prioritize them as well?
I agree with you all the way up until you said what it takes to remain a true fan. I only celebrate the things worth celebrating. Things that make me happy. My happiness level doesn't move whether Dak gets a 50 million dollar signing bonus or a bag of shells tied with a pink ribbon. If he plays on either condition and wins a championship, then I'll celebrate.
I'm not a fan of the players, just the team. If good things happen to the team, I'll celebrate. But I will not celebrate Zeke's Twitter account reaching 3 million anymore than I would celebrate what my dog does when I take him for a walk.