Most people are called to their profession. Many of your mentors, parents, older siblings have probably told you to find your passion and to make your profession a vocation. The simplest and most natural reason to make your profession is the mantra "Do what you love and love what you do". It doesn't take a psychologist to figure out that one is more fulfilled in a profession that they love. Many of us have guides along the way that are able to help you discover your passions. It is great to have an "adviser" to helps us develop within our profession. But for some reason it seems that the sports world has a knack for attracting bad career advisers.
This was brought to my attention by an ESPN article that quoted wide receiver Michael Crabtree's cousin and adviser David Wells saying that Crabtree was prepared to sit out the season if he was not payed more. What happened to the guys that just wanted to get out on the field? Later in the article Crabtree's agent asserted that no threats had been made from his side toward the 49ers (the team that drafted Crabtree last April). Who is this guy, Jerry Maguire? Since when has an agent seemed like the voice of reason? I'm sure I just have a bias towards agents because all I hear is Scott Boras and Drew Rosenhaus defending ridiculous contacts and sleez balls. I'm sure most agents are perfectly reasonable people, I even had a friend in high school whose dad is a big-time agent, but I just have never seen the profession as the beacon of truth in a dark world.
Anyway, what is this cousin thinking? If he wanted the best for Michael, wouldn't he want him playing? Does he not realize the history of athletes taking a year off? Maurice Clarett anyone? For those of you that haven't heard, Clarett is currently serving a prison sentence for armed robbery. Taking a year off seems to be just the right thing! Here's an idea Michael: play the game you love to play! Every time I have seen Crabtree interviewed he has seemed a decent fellow, so I hope that this is just a guy out blowing hot air. But I am more concerned about the trend that seems to be growing in sports of bad advisers.
In Kansas City, Chiefs fans had to deal with Larry Johnson getting caught up with the wrong crowd. Michael Vick can point to his old "friends" for getting him involved with the dog-fighting schemes. I am not trying in any way to take the heat off either of those two for their decisions, they have both done incredibly stupid things, but it's a lot easier not to have to say no. How many times have you heard of schools caught up in recruiting scandals because these "advisers" pop up and buy all sorts of new stuff for these athletes? The NCAA should do as much as it possibly can to avoid these moronic people from meddling in the affairs of these athletes. And it starts in high school now too! I can't imagine going under the microscope that NCAA athletes have to go through to maintain eligibility. It is time that the NCAA helped to shield athletes from people who can ruin their lives.
In closing, I will admit that I don't have the slightest idea what the NCAA should do about this, but I also think that in order for athletes to get back to playing the game that they love, it would sure help if the NCAA could help eliminate some of the outside pressure exerted upon them.
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I think it is just a ploy to get more money. I don't really think Crabtree does not dislike San Fran. At least I haven't heard anything about this. They should just get back to playing the game. Its just that with these big money contracts guys want more and more money. More than anyone is worth. The NFL should have a cap limit on draft picks. It is not fair that rookies enter the NFL without playing a single down and are making more than guys who have been around for 10 years. Sports is a big market industry now and players want their own. Some of them don't even love what they are doing. They are just doing it for the money. Juan Encarnacion did not really like baseball. He wanted to play soccer, he just wasn't good enough.
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