Why is it hard to be a professional athlete?

[GettyRoad]

Very few people go pro, why?

Were you athletic? Are you still athletic? If not, why/why not?

 

[Charmonium]

I don't actually know, but I'd guess it's a combination of genetics and training.

I did a very lame attempt at track in JrH. I could never understand why some kids were so much faster in the 100yds (we didn't do "meters"). Now I'm sure that muscle development and training can improve whatever your "natural" time is, but the speed at which your muscles can respond is largely genetic - IOW, not everyone can be Usain Bolt.

I had the same experience with playing sax. There were kids who could sight-read some pretty complex sheet music and do it remarkably well. Me? Well, no need to embarrass myself.

 

[biostud]

It is a matter of perspective. Work smart or work hard. I prefer to work smart

 

[DigDog]

are you serious?

1. pro athletes ALL have started when they were too young to decide by themselves; you have to have been born with parents who decided that you would be a pro
2. you also need to, by pure chance, have the genetics that can support you
3. and you need the mentality to train hard at a age when you got other things to think about
4. and all of this is risky, because the level of injury is really high
5. and then you need to get signed ...
6. and somehow not fuck yourself up after the early signings with the drugs & hookers

 

[Red Squirrel]

Out of all the people who play sports the pro teams only need so many players. If you take the NHL for example there might be thousands of people who want to actually try and make it, but the teams only need so many new players per year as older ones retire. You need to be the best of the best of the best. It's like trying to make it into Google or Microsoft as a coder.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

It's not THAT hard to be a pro athlete, it just depends on the sport. Want to make it in a high paying sport? Very small chance you'll make it to the professional level. Indeed it will be beyond hard. OTOH, want to get punched, kicked, choked, or have your joints bent the wrong way? Sports like Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, all have much lower barriers to entry. You probably won't make much money, and you'll get brain damage, but you'll be a real pro athlete. There's an old joke about how half the taxi drivers in Mexico City have a pro boxing record. Another about how the 25yr old Muay Thai Kru at the local gym is a retired pro with 200 fights because he turned pro at 13. Only they aren't really jokes.

And yes, I'm athletic and have always been athletic. Why? Because fuck you, that's why.

 

[HomerJS]

There is a really steep curve in any sport from being really good to professional.

Example: only .1% of people can bench press 200 lbs. I can do that but could never be in a competition.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Example: only .1% of people can bench press 200 lbs.

That has to be a made up stat. Sauce for that?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Very few people go pro, why?

Because it's hard, requires a lot of time and effort including money, with money being the main issue (need to pay the best trainers to learn the tricks of the trade, eat the right foods, follow the correct training regimen that provides the best results). We don't live in a world where everyone is able to do what they really want to do. Too many sacrifices have to be made.

 

[HomerJS]

That has to be a made up stat. Sauce for that?

I just googled it.

200 Pound Bench Press (How To Do It & How Rare It Is!)

Bench pressing 200 pounds is a fairly impressive achievement for every gym-goer.

vitalizedfuture.com

 

[highland145]

Not a baseball fan but one of my favorite highlights.

Bo knows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYstQtYAweQ&ab_channel=NeoMac

 

[pete6032]

I think to make the ranks of professional athlete you have to have some innate talent/capability/physical characteristic that very few people have. If you want to be an NBA player, you need a big wing span. You can practice until you're blue in face and can hit three pointers with a blindfold but if you're 5'7 with a tiny wingspan, you're never going to cut it in the NBA.

Same goes for professional musicians. I think some of them just have insanely fast brain processing power that allows them to move faster than most people can. If you've ever seen a professional piano player, strings player, trumpeter, etc. you will see their fingers move at the speed of light.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I just googled it.

200 Pound Bench Press (How To Do It & How Rare It Is!)

Bench pressing 200 pounds is a fairly impressive achievement for every gym-goer.

vitalizedfuture.com

I appreciate your even trying to find some data for it. Robb there ain't nearly enough for me to buy in though.

"It’s estimated that 1 in 1,000 males can bench 200 lbs."

By whom? His prison wallet?

 

[GettyRoad]

Because it's hard, requires a lot of time and effort including money, with money being the main issue (need to pay the best trainers to learn the tricks of the trade, eat the right foods, follow the correct training regimen that provides the best results). We don't live in a world where everyone is able to do what they really want to do. Too many sacrifices have to be made.

So A-Rod, LeBron and Brady are really special.....

 

[DAPUNISHER]

So A-Rod, LeBron and Brady are really special.....

WTF is this oxygen thieving crap?

 

[MrSquished]

I'm a professional shitposter. You know how fucking strong and fast my fingers are?

PRO LEVEL MOTHERFUCKERS!

 

[highland145]

WTF is this oxygen thieving crap?

Hey, I can't even do 1 pushup.

But I'm old, broke down and need 2 more cuff surgeries.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Hey, I can't even do 1 pushup.

Lean against a wall with both hands every day for a few minutes. Perseverance is key. You will get there!

 

[In2Photos]

Numbers! MLB has been around for 120 years. Only ~23,000 people have played in the MLB. There are almost 8 billion people alive today.