The Lure Of Professional Leagues Essay, Research Paper

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.