If your children want to go outside and shoot baskets or hit golf balls instead of doing their homework, let them. In fact, encourage them. Hide their textbooks and push your kids out the door and tell them not to come back inside until it is dark. Make it a rule that they play some game involving a ball rather than do math problems. If they break that rule, punish them, but only in a way that doesn't affect their putting stroke or ability to throw a football sixty yards or shoot a fade away three-pointer with a hand in their face.
You might think such advice is poor parenting. At best, you might feel it is some form of reverse psychology to get children to do homework, or at worst, just pure stupidity. Actually, this counsel is a wake-up call for “old school, do-your-homework” parents who still cling to the notion that an education is the best way to succeed. On the contrary, this advice is a reflection of an acute understanding of the present state of professional sports today. That state being one of money and youth. It is crucial for parents to understand this fact, an understanding that could lead to early retirement.
It is all really quite straightforward. Professional athletes are presently earning salaries greater than the Gross National Product of many countries and many who are being paid such large sums of money are very, very young. So young in fact, that kids who only just recently were able to stay home without a baby-sitter are now signing multi-million dollar contracts to play games and wear a particular brand of athletic shoes. Some of these kids reaping these windfalls are so young, they are signing their contracts with a crayon.
Besides the young age of these athletes, what makes this situation even more remarkable is that the level of play doesn't have to be particularly outstanding to command such huge salaries. Third-string quarterbacks make more money that their coaches. Baseball players who can't hit their weight still earn over a million dollars a year. Basketball players who ride the bench, wearing baggy shorts and more tattoos that every member of the Seventh Fleet and Hell's Angels combined, earn salaries that rival CEOs of top corporations. And they all make more money than the President of the United States.
It is obvious that despite the protestations of many team owners, there is a lot of money to be had in the world of professional athletics. Not only is there a lot of money available, there are many more opportunities to receive this money because of the expansion of franchises over the years. And since this expansion has led to a dwindling talent pool, it is easier to become a pro nowadays. Athletes who wouldn't have made the roster for the Podunk Porcupines in years gone by now play for big time teams and take home sums of money that would even get Bill Gates' attention.
The bottom line is that in the present climate, it appears that kids who prefer recess and gym to math and science may be showing a greater wisdom than their parents and teachers. It is apparent that playing kids games is now definitely a valid career choice, even if the player isn't the most athletic kid on the block.
The following conversation, which should be read by all parents of either male or female children, illustrates an extremely salient point concerning your child's future…
High School Coach: “Come on in, Joey. Have a seat. I called you to my office because there is a basketball scout from the NBA here to see you.”
Joey: “Someone from the NBA wants to see me?”
High School Coach: “Well, not exactly. Actually he wanted to see Jumping Jerome Jackson, Sammy the Skyscraper, and Dunking Devon, but since they've already signed pro contracts, he said he'd talk to you.”
Joey: “Golly, coach, you'd think he'd want to see Willie the Water Boy before he'd see me. Willie got into more games than I did.”
High School Coach: “As a matter of fact, he did want to see him, but Willie also has signed a pro contract. He got a deal to play for the new franchise in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Knock on the door.) There's Sam now. Come on in, Sam. Joey, this is Sam Skywalker. I'll leave you two alone.”
Sam: “Nice to meet you, Joey. Your coach has told me a lot about you. I think you just might fit into our team, but there are a few questions I'd like to ask you. First of all, what was your scoring average this season?”
