comparing athletes to non-athletes is a major issue within intercollegiate athletics. athletes have a more intense schedule, they tend to get "special treatment" from teachers when it comes to homework and tests, etc.
131352
rule 1: athletics before education, athletes before nonathletes
179712
NFL - the champion is determined on the field, not thanks to a bunch of voters. The level of the game is higher, talent is better. You do not get to beat up on some small school that has no chance against you. Anyone can beat anyone in the NFL in one game.
667226
There isn't that large of a fan base for the pros.  We used to go to the games and virtually no one was there in the stands.  I think that they should have left softball in the olympics.  Softball has always been a hot topic of the olympics.  Since I have graduated from college, I had to hang up my glove.  Damn, it hurt so bad.  Now all I have to look forward to is the NCAA championships to watch each May.  I tried coaching varsity high school softball, but the girls didn't have the heart that I had for the sport and it was just too frustrating.  The problem is that people like watching men play sports more so than women.  What's sad is that I have to listen to my boyfriend say that MLB is much harder than Fastpitch softball.  It really pisses me off.  I think that ESPN has noticed that they get great ratings during NCAA championships, so now they might play the National games.  I have a couple of friends that played pro in Akron, but they didn't get paid good and the fan base was not great.
613211
I totally agree!\n\nIn our country there are a "System" in which an X percentage of players in the team should be "Native". Last year I did not make the provisional team because of my skin colour. \n\nNot to be bitter or anything, but this is not right. A lot of players get chosen because of their Colour and not for their skills. Not only is it not fair to the guys who don't make the team but are good enough. It is not fair to that "native" player to know he is not there on merit. How should this guy feel proud when the National anthem is being played before the game
76506
I know exactly what you are saying. It's always been this way. I think in many areas such as the area I live in, it's because of pride in the sports. It starts as early as youth football or little league and continues through high school. I've even seen parents from the same youth team fight until the police showed up. Seems for our high school having the "best" team is how our small area made it's mark. So, grades were pushed back as "not as important".
252341
It isnt. All sport clubs want better conditions for theirs\nsportsmen. Thats the reason.
597660
Pride my friend. To much pride.  A lot of people after playing a sport for so long begin to think that other sports that are in contrast to theres are inferior. No harm in ignoring them and rockin out in what ever sport you play.  \n\n         I know where your coming from I played soccer for 12 years :)
225153
What exactly is a sport?  To me, a sport is competition.  Nothing is more competitive than Nascar, especially when you factor in the setups of the cars, and the technology and research that goes into the "fine-tuning" of each component on the car.  What drivers have you been looking at exactly, when you say that they don't look athletic?  What exactly is your definition of athletic?  I can more than 20 of the regulars who are on a strict work-out program, several of which include running 5-10 miles per day.  Many of them are very intelligent.  Ryan Newman, for example, has a Masters degree in Aeronautical engineering from Purdue.  Although many of the drivers may not have graduated from a secondary institution, consider the hundreds of engineers that work the cars.  And you are calling Nascar drivers dumb?   As compared to what sport?  Baseball?  Football?  God forbid, the NBA, comprised of thugs?  To be competitive in NASCAR,  you have to have superb intelligence to setup the car for a specific track, and to make split second decisions on the track as well as in the pits concerning your race strategy.  Hundreds of a second are many times the difference between first and last.  What do you have to do in Football or basketball that requires intelligence?  Run fast or jump high?  Get 20 tattoos on your arms, grow an afro or braid your hair in cornrows while sporting a "grill" and belting out the latest 50 Cent rap?  I would bet $100 to a donut that the average IQ of a Nascar participants (when you factor in the drivers, crew chiefs, and team engineers) is double that of the average participant in any other of your major sports.   I think the thing that attracts me most to NASCAR is the fact that you have all 43 teams on the playing field competiting simultaneously.  When you run 200 MPH with someone to your left, right, behind, and in front of you only inches away, it is like a high speed game of chess.  And more importantly, in most cases, they are paid according to their performance.  And in my opinion, they aren't overpaid.
65625
i totally agree with you,i think teachers and the military dont get the pay they deserve, theres a reason those athletes can play their sports for a living in our free country and im pretty sure that goes back to thanking the military for risking their lives, and the teachers who taught that athlete how to write their signature.
539358
This is a hot-button issue that's a bit more comlicated than it looks on the surface.\nYou really can't blame schools for doing that, though -- athletic functions bring in the money as fast as the schools spend it, and for colleges, it's a big way to boost admissions.\nConsider UNC Chapel Hill, the beloved home of the Carolina Tar Heels, where my husband went. They promote their school to fans of their team, by saying, "hey, if you're a full time student here, you can come to all the home games for free." I personally know two people who enrolled at that school just for that reason. Same thing for Duke and Wake Forest.\nThe fact of it is, if people bought tickets to see scholastic tournaments, schools would promote them more. But scholastic competitions don't draw big crowds, and thus don't make any money for the schools. If people idolized academic achievers the way they idolize athletes, the schools would be more geared toward academics. They're simply giving us what we ask for.\nHere are some websites to help with your research:
7593
Homework is to scholars what practice is to athletes. Do you play basketball? If so, do you practice outside of gym class?
577634
Come off it, stingking13.  Do you think the 11 that start for the US are not passionate about the sport?  Just because the nation as a whole isn't rabid about the sport doesn't mean the players on the field don't give it their all.
269180
I agree with you! Even the most "naturally gifted" athlete can't reach optimum potential without hard work.  An average athlete can improve through hard work and a "never say die" attitude.
621944
you make a good point here. it makes no sense to argue over which sport is better. different people enjoy different sports, nothing wrong with that. \nwe should appreciate the spirit of the sport which is  fair competition and achieving performance through effort and self improvement\n\ni also like a lot of other sports beside football
475049
Perhaps it has more to do with influences aside from your game play. Are you a good team member? Do you value your contribution to the team over the other members? Do you take school seriously and face your requirements with a positive attitude? Maybe it is time to scedule a meeting with him after practice or at a time when you both are free and just out right ask him. \n\nGood Luck
556205
Realize that school is more important than baseball. Explain this to the coach. If you're any good, he'll make some exceptions for you.
598989
Now that you mention it, I guess I never really considered it a sport.  But it is when you go to competition & get scored, I guess, now isn't it?\n\nIt's just the same reason that people would say dance, cheer, or swim may not be a sport.  How about figure skating?\n\nPeople usually equate sports with those we competed in in high school - football, basketball, softball, baseball....I wouldn't consider track or cross country sports either, I don't guess.  Just because there's a squad, group, or team doesn't necessarily mean it's a sport.\nBut then it doesn't mean it's NOT, either.\n\nIt all depends on a person's perspective.\nNext time a friend or family member gives you crap about it, throw your board down & see how far they can get before landing on their heads.  \nIt takes a LOT of skill and coordination, and that's good enough for me.  Rock on.