Topic - Sports & Money

Due to the recent tragic passings of Diego Maradona and Italian World Cup hero, Paolo Rossi, I took time to view games of old where most players who played didn't do it for the money but rather the passion for the game. The games back in the day were more about finesse rather than strength and speed. The talent these players had was immense as well as what they did with the ball on their feet was just awe inspiring. Nowadays, however It seems that soccer as well as other sports alike and their players have been consumed with the numbers on their paycheck rather than the joy in playing the game. Players don't look to be legends of the game they are partaking in but rather how much followers they can rack up to which they believe determines how good they are. Of course, it doesn't all fall on the players shoulders as corporations and sponsors have plagued the game and milked it for all its worth.

I'm sure my POV you may think I'm an old soccer fan but in reality I'm in my early twenties and I am thankful to have learned and watch the legends of old from a multitude of sports thanks to my father who seen it all. He saw Michael Jordan drill that game winning shot, saw Mike Tyson knock out a guy only a few seconds after the ring of the bell, saw Maradona will Argentina to a World Cup Win, and saw Niki Lauda dominance in a Ferrari. He saw it all and so he passed those memories on to me and to that I am ever so thankful. He gave me my pride for sports as well as showcase how the game was meant to be played. Of course, there are great players playing in todays game but it seems almost empty at times as compared to the days of old they played more for the badge on their chest rather than the name on their back. The game wasn't played for followers, for money, or damn anything else but the love of scoring that winner amongst a screaming crowd.

That was what sports was about. Sure you can say that still reigns true but I feel money has tainted the game at least a bit. I love watching sports but it just seem that the past was just pure nirvana on how they played the game as if it was almost effortless. I hope sports in the future holds to that Idea but only time will tell if that rings true. The only thing we can do now is truly teach the next generation of not only the stars of today but those who built the foundation with their blood, sweat, and tears but most importantly for the love of the game. Ricardo Signing Off