Athletes cash in on potential
Joe Stender
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Perspectives
We all have heard it, "You can do anything if you put your mind to it." We all have the potential to do great things, but the question is: are we willing to put the work into it to fulfill that potential. This past week had plenty of events going on, one of which was the National Signing Day for college football.
For those of you who have never heard of this, it's the day when high school seniors officially decide where they will play their college football at. For months, college coaches have visited, sent letters and made phone calls trying to persuade high school seniors that they should attend their university after graduation.
The time and money that is spent on these players would make one assume that the players are "can't miss" players and that they will surely be the next big star in college football. But is this so? Can one state without a doubt that any player will be the next big thing? These coaches are not putting this effort in because they know for sure that they are going to be great, but because these players have the tools and potential to be great.
In order for these players to reach their potential they will have to work and make sacrifices. These players cannot just sit and wait for the magic to happen, they must go after it and prepare themselves to make the right moves on the field.
After signing day is over, analysts will debate and state who they believe has brought in the best class of recruits. These analysts are not stating who is going to have the best team for the next four years, but they are stating who has the most potential to have a great team in the next four years; it's all about potential.
Another evaluation of potential is seen after these players are done with their college careers and enter the NFL. Every player that enters the NFL Draft is broken down and analyzed to see who they believe will have the best chance to be a great pro.
Former NFL head coach, Bill Parcells once stated, "You lose with potential. You win with performance." The rest of the NFL apparently does not agree with Parcells, since year after year they decide to give the big money to college players who have yet to play a down in the NFL.
If the player turns out to be Peyton Manning, then the contract is correct; but for every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf. There is always someone who does not live up to their potential. You always hear about how somebody had so much potential and just wasted it away, but the individual cannot get the only blame because the teams were the ones who decided that they had the potential.
Each day has the potential to be great, but in the same sense it has the potential to be a horrible day. Potential does not define what or who we are; it only gives us guides to what could be. We are the ones who must decide if the potential turns into reality or if it blows away with the wind.
Everything has potential; You have a potential to be the best at your job, I have the potential to be a great brother and son. Heck, this article has the potential to be great, but if it reaches its potential is the only thing that matters in the long run.
For those of you who have never heard of this, it's the day when high school seniors officially decide where they will play their college football at. For months, college coaches have visited, sent letters and made phone calls trying to persuade high school seniors that they should attend their university after graduation.
The time and money that is spent on these players would make one assume that the players are "can't miss" players and that they will surely be the next big star in college football. But is this so? Can one state without a doubt that any player will be the next big thing? These coaches are not putting this effort in because they know for sure that they are going to be great, but because these players have the tools and potential to be great.
In order for these players to reach their potential they will have to work and make sacrifices. These players cannot just sit and wait for the magic to happen, they must go after it and prepare themselves to make the right moves on the field.
After signing day is over, analysts will debate and state who they believe has brought in the best class of recruits. These analysts are not stating who is going to have the best team for the next four years, but they are stating who has the most potential to have a great team in the next four years; it's all about potential.
Another evaluation of potential is seen after these players are done with their college careers and enter the NFL. Every player that enters the NFL Draft is broken down and analyzed to see who they believe will have the best chance to be a great pro.
Former NFL head coach, Bill Parcells once stated, "You lose with potential. You win with performance." The rest of the NFL apparently does not agree with Parcells, since year after year they decide to give the big money to college players who have yet to play a down in the NFL.
If the player turns out to be Peyton Manning, then the contract is correct; but for every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf. There is always someone who does not live up to their potential. You always hear about how somebody had so much potential and just wasted it away, but the individual cannot get the only blame because the teams were the ones who decided that they had the potential.
Each day has the potential to be great, but in the same sense it has the potential to be a horrible day. Potential does not define what or who we are; it only gives us guides to what could be. We are the ones who must decide if the potential turns into reality or if it blows away with the wind.
Everything has potential; You have a potential to be the best at your job, I have the potential to be a great brother and son. Heck, this article has the potential to be great, but if it reaches its potential is the only thing that matters in the long run.
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