Devil's Advocate

[jrs]

How many of you would agree that you would, if you had the chance, be a pro NFL player? The fame, the money, financial security, complete athletic pursuit as a career, etc. I sure as hell would. If you say you wouldn't, you're a fucking liar.

Anybody know the average life expectancy for an NFL player (not including linemen?) A study in 94 -by OSHA- (and we can agree that things havent necessarily gotten healthier in 15 years) showed that the average was ~55 years. Over 20 years shorter than the average population (which was pegged at 77).

What about long distance running, cycling? Just as bad. I believe the New York Marathon had a couple deaths this past year and their life expectancy is known to be quite low due to heart problems.

I'm not saying that being reckless is a good thing. It does, afterall, end your life sooner than it would had you not done it. What I'm saying is don't ever let somebody tell you that what you do is going to kill you. You could say the same to them about their lifestyle, I bet. If the participation in one dangerous sport PROVEN to end your life prematurely can be celebrated and relished, you have to accept the same of basically all other extremely high level athletes and what it takes for THEM to be happy and successful in what they do.

 

[Thor]

YES

I would play pro football in a heartbeat, I played in high school and it was pretty rough so I can imagine how tough pro would be, but i would still do it if given a chance, as far as life expectancy, well i never thought I would live real long anyway so........it's not about quantity, it's about quality(of life).

 

[The Grim Repper]

Now...

that I'm a father and cherish my little girl I think much differently about sticking around. Gone are motorcycles, ideas of skydiving, etc.

TGR

 

[BigNJ]

Ya get big or die trying right?

 

[jrs]

Ya get big or die trying right?

No. This is what I'm talking about. Why should people have to die to get big?

People should be "big" naturally. People should already be getting comments and compliments on their size/shape/look daily before even touching anything illegal. If they can't get to a certain advanced level through simple training and eating right, this is not meant to be for them.

I'm not condoning anything reckless. Let's use your example though. 1/10 people with a predisposition to a certain ailment may end up in a hospital with problems due to steroid use, excessive body mass, congenitive heart problems, complications due to high blood pressure, infertility, etc. This is probably no more than the average population anyway. Obviously 1/10 is a random number but you get the idea.

Let's compare that to a sport where, on average, every single participant is statistically lowering their life expectancy every year that they play.

"Get that big contract or die trying"

"Bike across the country or bust. Won't give up till I collapse."

"I'm going to swim across the English Channel. I -have- to make it or I drown."

"Tallest peak in the world? Certain death with a small mistake? I'm in!"

"Give me a parachute and take me up. If I die, well, I bet it's a hell of a view."

 

[Steve123]

How many of you would agree that you would, if you had the chance, be a pro NFL player? The fame, the money, financial security, complete athletic pursuit as a career, etc. I sure as hell would. If you say you wouldn't, you're a fucking liar.

Anybody know the average life expectancy for an NFL player (not including linemen?) A study in 94 -by OSHA- (and we can agree that things havent necessarily gotten healthier in 15 years) showed that the average was ~55 years. Over 20 years shorter than the average population (which was pegged at 77).

What about long distance running, cycling? Just as bad. I believe the New York Marathon had a couple deaths this past year and their life expectancy is known to be quite low due to heart problems.

I'm not saying that being reckless is a good thing. It does, afterall, end your life sooner than it would had you not done it. What I'm saying is don't ever let somebody tell you that what you do is going to kill you. You could say the same to them about their lifestyle, I bet. If the participation in one dangerous sport PROVEN to end your life prematurely can be celebrated and relished, you have to accept the same of basically all other extremely high level athletes and what it takes for THEM to be happy and successful in what they do.

The problem is only a small handfull of NFL players really have the fame, furtune and glory. Most of the NFL players are constantly fighting for their job, totally abused by owners and coaches and don't make a furtune. I heard one player say that the NFL is made up of "haves" and "have nots" Most of theme are "Have nots" . That said, i would do it in a heart beat!

 

[Pekkerwood]

Would I have done it? Please understand I would have been making that decision at a 22 year old, not the 47 almost 48 year old I am now. Absolutely. Would it have been the wrong decision for me? Probably.

 

[thebrick]

Don't let the money fool you…

There is a recent article in Sports Illustrated and I don't remember the exact figures but its something along the line of nearly 80% of all NFL players and 60% of NBA players are either bankrupt or in very bad financial shape within only a few years of retiring form pro sports.

Too bad all those millions is blown during one's youth

 

[Deus ex machina]

I'd rather play professional baseball instead if I could - as seen by many multi-sport athletes in college.

-More money
-Less injuries
-Good life expectancy

But yeah NFL is nice too

 

[Che]

Not all pro NFL guys are making millions. Granted, the overwhelming majority make great money, but not compared to the short window of time they have to make that kind of cash. A good friend of mine plays for a pro team as a defensive lineman and doesn't make QB or WR kind of money, but it's still better than what I'll make over the next 15 years. However, if he lives like he's making $500k - $750k in the present, he'll have to work for a living like the rest of us idiots. He's almost past his prime at the age of 33 for his position - I'm still getting to mine for what I do for a living and I see my pay scale rising, not falling. All in all, I'll take health for a short burst of cash. Of course, that's coming from a man with 4 kids.

 

[vadim_b1]

well
if playing football was what i loved to do, then being a pro and getting paid to do what you love would the best thing ever.

agree or not?

 

[SacToSD]

that I'm a father and cherish my little girl I think much differently about sticking around. Gone are motorcycles, ideas of skydiving, etc.

TGR

ironic that your screen name is the figure of death

 

[jstforme]

ive seen a few comments amount money. i couldnt find anything for last year but in 07 the minimum salary was $285,000

with that being said, i show no pitty for any nfl player who goes bankrupt after a decent career, i mean dont these guys have financial advisors or are they just that ignorant

 

[SangGoon]

NFL NBA Pro's suck anyway

NFL, NBA, I think half of them are'nt really all that. Some of them don't have shit else going for them so they don't play there hardest cause they don't wanna get hurt.

Half of them are freaking middle age cocky punks. there like 25-30 and act like there still in high school.

Name 1 pro that after 2 years in the NFL and NBA that did'nt buy a new car and drove there car they had to save up and buy from working at Mcdonald's as a teenager.

Shit I'd go pro just to talk shit to half of them out there cause half of them are looser's

 

[jrs]

Very good points have been made. It is temporary and very possibly -almost- not "worth" it to some people but we'd all agree that, when they shorten their life span by over 20 years for a REALLY DAMN GOOD couple of years earlier in their life, there's really not a whole lot wrong with that and many of us would agree that it'd be worth it to be at the top level in what they do.

 

[BigNJ]

Very good points have been made. It is temporary and very possibly -almost- not "worth" it to some people but we'd all agree that, when they shorten their life span by over 20 years for a REALLY DAMN GOOD couple of years earlier in their life, there's really not a whole lot wrong with that and many of us would agree that it'd be worth it to be at the top level in what they do.

But again, not everyone is going to be a Tiger Woods or Tyson etc...
Very few athletes out of the population make it to stardom.
Say you thought you have the genetics to be a pro bodybuilder, I will use a bodybuilder since this is a bodybuilding board, say you took up bodybuilding seriously and obviously trained hard, ate well and used AAS.
Say few years down the road you get some health problems most likely due to steroid use such as liver issues or kidney issues etc... What now?

You got big and massive, you are the biggest guy in your area, you got the attention, but then what? All of this shit is going to go away in a month or 2 after you find out you have liver tumor or kidney failiure etc..

Is it fucking worth it? You really think it's worth it?
Have you ever experienced a serious health problem? I doubt it, if you have you would not be having this attitude about health and dying younger.

The way I see it, bodybuilding no matter how dedicated you are is a assuming you are using AAS GH etc... is FAKE. I don't care how big you get or if you won the Mr Olympia, in the end, take away AAS,GH,Insulin and the million other compounds bodybuilders use, including myself, we'll all shrivel down to almost where we started.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I think you are still in your 20's, I think most of us who have been there and done that and dealing with some of the side effects, will tell you that health is number 1 priority.

Eventually people grow out of it, I have lots of friends my age who started bodybuilding with me, they don't give a rats ass about how big they are now, cause what concerns us is our health,financial stability and our families.

My advice to you, is use moderately and always always monitor your health, you don't want to be in a hospital bed in a nice afternoon summer while everyone is enjoying a beer and a hot dog

Be safe!

 

[jstforme]

NFL, NBA, I think half of them are'nt really all that.so your saying you can beat them at thier own game? (half of them right?) Some of them don't have shit else going for them umm actually most of them have more college experience than the average person so they don't play there hardest cause they don't wanna get hurt. that is your opinion

Half of them are freaking middle age cocky punks. there like 25-30 and act like there still in high school. you forgot to insert in the begining: In my opinion

Name 1 pro that after 2 years in the NFL and NBA that did'nt buy a new car how about you name me one guy who after making over a million dollars at his first real job didnt buy a new car and drove there car they had to save up and buy from working at Mcdonald's as a teenager.

Shit I'd go pro just to talk shit to half of them out there cause half of them are looser's

i dont know you but you sound like a strait up hater and are very judgmental. i agree that not every pro athelete is a model citizen but who are we to judge. im not going to hate someone for making it big and living large. whey they act dumb shooting themselves in the club or getting several dwi's or drug charges then ill judge

 

[Massive G]

I'd like to be a professional porn star insead.

 

[The Grim Repper]

ironic that your screen name is the figure of death

LOL!
The "Grim Repper" was a charcter in the old 'Musclehedz' cartoon strip.

 

[dropshot001]

I'd like to be a professional porn star insead.

lol