Anyone here ever play a sport professionally?
I'm sure many here remember Shaq Thompson, one of the most highly-rated safety prospects in the country. Something I did not know, however, was that he was also drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round after one year of varsity baseball. Unfortunately, he has started off his career going 0-for-32, with an amazing 31 strikeouts. I have no idea how this is possible. I'm not exactly athletically inclined, but I feel like I might be able to put bat to ball at least twice in 32 at bats.
Going off that, does anyone here have any experience in playing a sport professionally? I'm curious how things work on the minor league level, for almost any sport, in terms of how the team treats you and what kind of benefits you get. I always enjoy the stories ESPN puts out, like "Prospect X" or "Player X," where an anonymous athlete shows fans how they are really treated. Link (Insider required). So if you are/were a professional athlete that has any stories they'd like to share, please do.
true identity. With that caveat, here is sample of my experience as a professional athlete:
I played college football for, and graduated from a large university. I was a backup my first two years, while my teammate and future NFL quarterback led our team to an undisputed national championship. When I first enrolled in college, I was seventh on the depth chart and had an intense struggle to get some playing time. At one point, I hired a sports psychologist to help me cope with frustration and anxiety and even considered transferring to another school. I battled for the starting job and ultimately starting every game for two seasons. During my first full year as starter, I set school records for most pass attempts and completions in a season. We won 20 of 25 games when I started and shared a Conference title. In my final season, I led our team to an overtime win in a bowl game against Alabama, throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns.
My professsional career has been somewhat uneventful in the NFL. Although I am know for treating my reammates on the OL to some lavish gifts for keeping my ass safe. Also, you are probably familiar with some of the hot (we are talking "world-class" hot) ladies I have associated with during my career.
In the unlikely event you are able to guess my idenitity from this brief bio excerpt, I ask that you respect and protect my privacy. I value my anonymity and don;t want to be hounded by hero worshipping fanboys (fangirls? Yeah, OK).
Way to use wikipedia's summary of your college career almost word for word.
through my classes. Curse you Interwebs!
Remember the photos posted from the HTTV release event? Those provide a good indication of what the answer to your question might be.
I competed in Fists of Fury Tournament in Tokyo under the name Bruno Hockaluggi. I took 3rd place but felt like a champion.
To be fair, Shaq has seven base-on-balls.
never ever swing.
But by night, I am a crime-fighting superhero.
i don't know about y'all, but i would LOVE MeganGoBlue's perspective on how hard it is to hit a professionaly pitched baseball. I mean, I sort of feel like I could get at least ONE hit in 32 attempts.
Would have gone pro if it weren't for my bum knee.
I used to be a pro, but then I took an arrow to the knee.
Yes. I was a football player at Auburn.
Back in the 1980s I had a stint as a professional Ninjutsu fighter. I got into a bit of trouble when I went AWOL from the army to participate the Kumite, an illegal tournament in Hong Kong. Totally worth it, though, as I was the first westerner to have ever won the tournament. My last opponent was a real dick, though, threw sand in my eyes and everything.
Can you show me how to do that Dim Mak thing?
When it comes to any and all martial arts training, there really is no substitute for kicking trees over.
huh who would've thought. i'm kicking trees over from today onwards like its my job.
is crippling anxiety a sport?
You know what will help with that? Stimutacs.
And if that doesn't work? More stimutacs.
as Marduk would say, "eat some more pills, pillhead".
Say It!!!!!!
suppose to be in reply to GoBlueinTx
"What's the diffference if Bruce Springsteen is his shidoshi?!"
My wife had some e-sport sponsorships back when she was in high school and undergrad. I used to think I was decent at Starcraft, but against her I normally never even live long enough to map out her full base.
I flipped her monitor off once thinking it would give me a few seconds of respite and be funny. She just left it off, continued hitting hotkeys for her bound commands and slaughtered me. At this point it's just pure muscle memory and it's creepy as hell that she can visualize the map in her head.
but then I remembered your wife is Korean.
I too was like 'WTF??'. Korea, the land where people play Starcraft UNTIL THEY DIE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4137782.stm
BTW It's not genetic; my folks are Korean, and I absolutely suck at the game.
As a Koream friend described video games:
"It's not really a good game unless at least two people starve to death playing it in Korea."
They actually have laws about that now where the internet cafes have to close and the time you can play new releases is limited.
You better hope that's all that she remembers that well.
(Oh, who am I kidding...wives never forget ANYTHING you ever do wrong).
...and you still haven't "mapped out her full base"?? C'mon man.
I was paid (not handsomely at all) to play in a Mexican soccer tournament in St. Louis while I was still playing in college. It wasn't completely obvious at all. Seriously. A 6'4" white goalie surrounded by a team of 5'6" field players.
So, define professional. I don't think it counts, but by the loosest definition, I may be able to sidle in and quasi-qualify.
to get paid to play semi-pro?
The question was not: Has anyone committed any NCAA violations? That can be a different thread.
You can start it yourself - as soon as we have at least two more video game threads.
"Have you committed any NCAA violation" has the potential to be an awesome thread, maybe as awesome as any this offseason.
I would read that thread avidly. Heck I could even CONTRIBUTE to it, although not with anything terribly interesting.
I raced cars in some pro series.
I'm Ted Brogan. I played a little minor league ball in the 80's. I was supposed to play in Japan, but I failed a drug test.
Nobody failed drugs tests in baseball in the 90's!
/s
I got papers if you got weed!
Big D (Dallas, TX) Winter league 2012 Flag Football Champions "Balls Deep!" Best part is in the championship game we wiped the floor with the same team that beat us twice in the regular season! Hooray for playoffs!
Collegiately (football) - yes.
Professionally - not a chance...
I was a pornstar. Does that count?
Did you just get stopped by the TSA?
2 girls 1 cup remake; 2 boys 1 cup?