Athletes were going broke in the 70s and 80s just as frequently as they are today.
You just couldn't follow them then as easily as you can now when they are no longer playing.
Also none of us know what Dez's financial situation is. But let's say it is/was as bad as you character assassins say it is. First of all who cares? Let Dez live his life.
But logically if the situation was as bad as you think... wouldn't he have accepted the deal last year that the Cowboys thought they were close to signing?
Why should we care?
1. Because financial problems tend to manifest themselves in football matters and result in holdouts and re-negotiations, and that impacts our football team.
2. Because if a person ends up poor, then our collective tax dollars - whether local or federal - go to agencies and programs to get that person back on his feet.
3. Because when a person is poor, they generally can't afford basic health care. Guess who funds the national health care system? Our tax dollars.
4. Because when people are broke they are more likely to become criminals and harm other people either breaking into their homes or robbing them, etc., And they may likely hurt someone who said, "Why should we care?"
5. Because our young men and, in particularly, our young black boys (I'm black) emulate these athletes, and it's society's responsibility to raise a generation of men who can take care of themselves and not have others take care of them.
6. Because, particularly with respect to my heritage, the stereotypes perpetuated about the black male athlete impacts non-athletes who are black. We, unfortunately, have to live with these stereotypes (we're not good money-managers), and these stereotypes tend to be projected on the non-athlete too.
I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.
