Is someone going to think about the children?
While professional athletes make their own children, including 1-to-1 ratios with mothers, too many are neglecting impressionable high-schoolers, still a major part of their fan base who go beyond purchasing their jerseys, sneakers, gloves, videos, CDs and whatever other marketing projects to sell.
Actions and antics by young millionaires who play for a living create enough alarming questions to fill a failed high school character test obvious to everyone but them.
The threat of sports’ bad taking over sports’ good is real and right in front of teenagers. Here and across the sports world, you know who they are. It has become a “Jeopardy!” show of sad responses, none close to correct, but evident in print and electronic form for confused prep players. For instance:
Should I take steroids and offer a half-hearted explanation that I thought would work?
Do I throw a temper tantrum when they fire my coach despite never being in the playoffs?
Do I say thank you when my quarterback acts like he’s 3 years old and takes attention away from another of my numerous incidents with police that probably will get me suspended for half the season? Do I need to answer that one?
Is it OK to cop an attitude when my coach takes me out of the game, then mock him by sprinting to the bench the next time it occurs?
Why not keep wearing out my welcome every couple of years when I know some team out there will still sign me for a staggering amount?
Who says $45 million for two years is enough when I’m clearly entitled to nine figures?
Pro athlete or a mercenary? Is there a difference?
Mind you, it has just been reported this way, but why not ignore text messages from my coach? Can’t he call me?
Why not embarrass myself, my family, team and fans? Won’t they forgive me when I score, get a hit or dunk?
Who says I shouldn’t go after the most money at the behest of my agent, my strong arm who swears he knows more than the actual people in the sport? I’m more than likely going to be broke by the time I stop playing, aren’t I?
I’m all right to drive after imbibing, so who cares if I can purchase a fleet of limousines?
I can fund an entire school district’s athletic budget for a year, but so what? I need it for my legal fees, don’t I?
Considered a cancer to the team, the franchise still owes me a check with seven zeros, so why not pester them to the point that I land with the defending world champions?
My first wife’s second cousin who lives abroad says it’s a supplement, so why can’t I take it?
Darn those cellphone cameras, but does it have to be on the Internet, too?
Negative attention? Is there such a term? Isn’t it all good?
If I want to dismiss a question, shouldn’t a simple “it is what it is” take care of it?
It’s holiday time and I’m going to fork over some free turkeys and toy- shopping sprees. How do I alert The Denver Post and television stations?
Can’t all of you see that I’m just having fun when I belittle opponents, choreograph reaction and thump my chest?
When I get out of the joint, two years inside isn’t different from consecutive season-ending injuries, so why shouldn’t a team take a chance on me?
I apologized, and that makes it cool, right?
No doubt about it, the current crop of scholastic athletes aspiring to be the next batch of pros as well as those who will fill the seats to watch them have been well-schooled.
Who knew the teaching would be so hands-on and begin at such a young age?
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
