Essay/Term paper: The lure of professional leagues

Essay, term paper, research paper:  English Term Papers

The Lure of Professional Leagues

In the past few years, a great number of college athletes have been leaving school
early to enter into the professional leagues. Some athletes are even skipping college and going
pro straight out of high school. Many people ask what is causing these athletes to turn
professional so early. I believe there are three reasons for their decision.
The first factor that causes students to enter the professional leagues early is simply,
money. These athletes are still just kids. If a kid has ten to twenty million dollars waved in his
face, he is more than likely going to take it without thinking about the consequences. The
majority of adults would jump at that chance. College athletes constantly see the professional
stars doing endorsements on television and being driven around in limousines. College athletes
aren't allowed to do endorsements or promote anything, although the publicity they generate
makes money for the university. Many of these athletes come from low socioeconomic
backgrounds and are not used to having money. Some are even having to support their own
parents and siblings. These athletes cannot afford to turn down the money.
The second cause for students leaving college early is fame. Many athletes are well-
known in college, but nothing like the athletes who are the professional leagues. Look at
Emmit Smith, the running back for the Dallas Cowboys. A person cannot go into a mall in
America where his jersey is not sold. Both little children and some adults worship him.
Professional athletes are even making their own movies now. What other profession can a
nineteen or twenty year old be paid millions to play a game and have a movie career on the
side? The lure of this stardom usually takes the place of finishing ones education.


Finally, the risk of injury plays a big factor in the athletes decision to leave early.
Every college athlete knows that each time they step onto the field there is a chance that it
could be their last time. Once an athlete suffers a severe injury, the professional scouts lose
total interest in them. The teams are not willing to waste a draft pick on a player who might
never play. For example, Tennesse's, Peyton Manning, recently injured his knee in the
Arkansas game. This was not a season ending injury, but one more step to the right or left and
it could have been. Peyton saw his lifelong dream flash before his eyes. If people think he is
not more seriously considering turning pro early now, they are fooling themselves. Most
athletes can only dream of turning professional, so when they have the chance they go for it
before it is too late.
The majority of athletes are going to leave for these three reasons. Money and fame are two
of lives goals in society today. Whether or not this is bad is not considered because that is the
way things are going. . Education is not valued as much today as it was in the past. Athletes
are not saying they want to go to college for an education. They are saying they want to go to
college so they can turn professional. When athletes see their chance to get the money and the
fame they are going to go for it. They are not going to care if they are a sophomore, a junior,
or even in high school.