Since I'm from NE Ohio and have watched this youngster perform several times I have this observation.
1> During the last 20 years the talent has been so diluted in pro sports with the addition of so many teams could a high school player like this make it in the pros. During the 60s to early 70s every team practically had one or two all-stars and even a few hall of famers. Go over the NBA, Major League Baseball, and NFL Rosters from the 60s to early 80s and you'll see what I mean.
Back then with fewer teams the best of the best made it....now when I watch the NBA without a few exceptions I say " Who the hell is this guy?" Bench strength in the NBA is horrible, as in ML Baseball and the NFL.
2> The rush to become rich has caused professional sports to sink to new lows. Greedy owners.........I wanna be rich lemme buy a pro sports franchise! Long term contracts LOL Well I'm earning 250 million for the next ten years......I got mine! And performance has dropped considerably unless the players contract is up for renewel or is a free agent the next year. Best example Juan Gonzalez......could name many more.
Folks..........here's an example late 60s early 70s
Philly 76ers roster, DrJ, Geo. Mcginnis, Hal Greer etc. Do I have to name Bostons roster? Cinn. Royals The Big "O", Jerry Lucas, Jack Twyman etc.......Lakers Elgin Baylor, Chamberlain, Jerry West. Gail Goodrich.....and I could go on...name any team even Detroit Dave Bing, Bob Lanier.....sheeeeeesh....and you think you're watching quality basketball today?
It's become apparent that greed has gotten the best of Pro Sports......the winners are the owners and the players.......the losers alas have been the Fans. And we are paying more for a seat to watch a pro game in all sports that doesn't entertain as it once did. The true sports fan notes the quality......so big deal a guy 6 foot 8 inches can dunk.......does he use the glass like Sam Jones? Can he play defense like Nate Thurmond or Bill Russel? Crap....if I was 7 foot 3 and weighed 330 lbs I too could be an NBA star
Sometimes it's hell being in your 50s I at least had the opportunity to see sports when 1 year contracts were the norm...pro athletes got paid on a yearly basis of performance...Hey! just like me! I do poorly.......my pay reflects that. The great Bob Feller never had a contract longer then one year...........methinks these so-called professionals need the same.....maybe, just maybe we'll start seeing good pro sports again! Till then......I'll watch College Sports.......the greed don't start till after their freshman year
Another point..........use of performance enhancing drugs has smudged any of the accomplishments that these modern day athletes are setting. The Major League Players Union doesn't want drug testing etc, etc, etc. Sammy Sosas rookie card....think he weighed 178.....LOL now 245lbs LOLOLOL.......Barry Bonds.........I watched this guy play in Pittsburgh.........he sure wasn't that big! Ya right........lotsa milkshakes and pasta LMFAO.
His homerun hitting prowess is fictitious........drug enhanced. Being a former college athlete we worked out daily...lifted mostly to build bulk and muscle......were on a diet that would help us gain weight therefore by gaining weight and lifting strength and working out addditional strength was the result........it doesn't happen over a short period of time.......now it damn near happens overnight Bonds was a 30 hr a year hitter at best.....now the guys almost forty.....weighs about 40 to 50 lbs more then he did as a rookie........and he's hitting homeruns at this pace? LOL only a fool would think this natural.....when one ages, a natural process by the way the ability of the body to retain muscle wanes......no matter how much you work out! It's a natural process called aging! There is a personal limit on what each individuals body can do.....but not now in this age of modern chemistry!
