Why do people resent Athletes?

By Kshell

We have all dealt with some sort of bias throughout our entire lives. People will make rash decisions on people they don't know that is always going to happen. Now in this post I'm going to give you the other side of the story which is actually defending athletes. Too often growing up the guys who play sports are viewed as dumb, spoiled, full of themselves and a bully. Then when these athletes grow up certain people will continue to bash on them. These same people will have no problem supporting some crappy movie that Adam Sandler made where he is being paid over 20 million dollars. These same people will complain about how rich and spoiled these athletes are today. There isn't a hatred towards musicians, people in hollywood, people who are famous for being t.v. talking heads, etc. In this following post I'm going to explain in two specific examples on why people hate athletes with such a strong passion. I'll also bring up other myths that people gripe about when talking about athletes as well.

I think one reason is because of race which is sad given how this is the year 2011. Take a look at the picture to my right I know it just drives people crazy that this man has made over 100 million dollars. The picture is of Allen Iverson who represents everything that white america hates. He appears to be very selfish, cocky, full of himself, has corn rows and has plenty of tats all over his body. If he was some random dude on the streets white america would look down on him as he would be beneath them. It just drives certain people crazy that he makes more money in a day than these racist dicks will ever see in their entire lives. The college system is built to keep white people on top and keep black people at the bottom. So when a black person is great at sports and makes lots of money it's almost a loophole in the system. Just like the rule that David Stern made forcing these kids to go to college for a year because white america was getting pissed that these young 18 year olds off the streets were skipping college making mass money. The resentment towards the cocky black athlete or simply the black athlete with tats will always be there.

Then that time comes when an athlete gets in trouble with the law. The immediate reaction is always these "thugs" are just running around committing crimes but they'll probably get away with it. That is when someone will always bring up how O.J.Simpson literally got away with murder and how all athletes get away with crimes. The anti-athlete crowd always feels better about themselves when an athlete screws up and immediately passes judgement even if facts say otherwise. Kobe Bryant is still hated because he will forever be viewed as your typical athlete who got away with rape. What people fail to realize is basic common sense like that girl had sex with two different guys in that same 24 hour period. Take a recent look at the Venoy Overton case which if you see my facebook page or my Seattle Sportsblog Group has caused a huge reaction. Would people assume Venoy Overton is a rapist if he looked like Jake Locker? Probably not. Overton is your typical athlete that people hate as he is cocky, has tons of tats, is often called a "thug". Not saying Overton is a good guy but if you read the report common sense shall tell you he didn't rape that chick. I do think race is one of two main reasons people are so resentful towards athletes.

The other reason people dislike the "jocks" because on average those are the coolest kids in high school. From the beginning every age group has their select few kids who are great at sports from eight years old on up. Those kids become local legends at a young age amongst adults that everyone knows who they are. Growing up everyone wants to be accepted and there is a jealously that some 14 year old kid who happens to be good at sports already is so known amongst adults. Any decent high school coach in any sport knows his upcoming talent years in advance. These kids aren't necesarily given extra benefits but the adult teachers will talk to them in the halls to try and be their friends. I have two close friends I played sports with at R.A.Long who went on to play college sports. One was all-state at football and basketball while the other was a stud at football(first team all state WR) and baseball. Those two had the Lebron James syndrome going for them as well. They were the most popular in my class and probably the most hated as well by many. Truth be told with those two and a few other friends of mine who played sports the most cocky, arrogent, guy with the largest ego was and still is myself. I wasn't good at marquee sports(was good at wrestling but nobody really cares about wrestling) so I was viewed as the nice one. Typically the better you are at sports in my school and I'm sure everywhere you are viewed as a jerk. For an example my sophomore year there was a rumor that one of my friends was groping freshman girls in the hall which I know was 100% pure bullshit. Instead it was viewed as typical athlete getting away with whatever he wants. It's kind of a joke how people of all social groups judge people before knowing about them.

When these kids grow up they make millions at their sport. Now people don't have the same resentment towards musicians or actors because most of those guys weren't popular in school. Most musicians were outcasts in school and the actors were in drama class which doesn't exactly have the cool kids. While when people see an athlete make money they view that as unfair how they got everything in life and continue to be rewarded. You often hear people complain about player salaries like Alex Rodriguez who signed a 10 year 252 million dollar deal to leave the Seattle Mariners. I'll admit I was upset then because I was only 15 years old but I'm not going to lie if someone offers that to me I'd simply respond with "Where do I sign? Thanks!". You often hear people say such ridiculous things such as "They are playing a game I'd play for free". That statement is 100% bullshit who would ever do something for free? I sure as hell wouldn't and neither should you. People always complain about player salaries yet musicians and actors/actresses make bank on movies, endorsements, concerts, etc. Nobody cares that Jim Carrey made over 20 million to make "The Cable Guy" or that Martin Lawrence continues to make movies. Someone tried to reason with me saying that you can watch a movie for free at home. My response was you can watch a sporting game at home and going to a Mariners game is actually cheaper than seeing a movie at the theaters now. I find it funny that people will hold grudges from their high school days towards people they have never met. In fact it's not funny it's pretty sad instead.

In conclusion, I'm amazed that athletes receive so much hate. I find it disturbing that when an athlete is arrested it automatically assumed that he is guilty. If he never serves time in jail it is assumed that he got away with it instead of people going after them because they are easy targets. I laugh when the same people who complain about player salaries have no problem going to a movie or a concert. To those who bash on player salaries I think is hypocritical as I would never turn down that type of money so why should they? Chris Rock said it best once when he said "People complain that Shaq is rich. You know whose really rich? The guy who signs Shaq's check." I find it sad that people still hold high school grudges towards these guys. I'm aware high school wasn't great for the majority of people but did you ever stop to think that maybe just maybe that was partly your own fault? Then what is really disturbing is how the old generation just can't handle the fact that black guy with tats can be a millionaire so "easy". We'll just ignore the fact that the school system is set up so black america can never succeed ever. So the point in this whole post is that there is two sides to every story. Not every athlete is arrogent, get away with everything, a "thug", and dumb. The same people who complain about stereotypes are the same ones who cast those towards "jocks". Just remember each individual person is their own person and you should judge each case as an individual case. Just don't hate the athlete for making tons of money when if you were in their shoes you'd be doing the same thing.

Mat Classic this weekend brings back memories

By Kshell

Throughout the state of Washington in several gyms ranging from Seattle to Spokane, to Aberdeen to Longview wrestlers completed their last practice of the season today in their gym. Today is the last day wrestlers who fought to qualify for state will practice in their practice rooms. On Thursday they'll get one practice at the Tacoma Dome then on Friday the quest for a state championship shall begin. The Washington state tournament is unique in that this is the only state wrestling tournament in the country that has all qualifications under one roof. With the Tacoma Dome getting up there in age who knows how many more years we'll be able to say that. For now it's great as my high school is in 2A while my old college roomate's school is 4A so for now I can watch my old school and watch his kids. In this following post I'll talk about my memories from what I've gathered over the years of watching state and talk about how my current school is sending 11 kids to state the most in over 30 years!

First I remember going to state when I was in eighth grade. At the time I had never wrestled in my life before. I went to see my cousin wrestle who had basically wrestled his whole life and it was his Senior year to that point he had only lost once. My cousin made one mistake that match and cost him five points. He ended up losing by a score of 5-3. My cousin would bounce back and take third at state. Although that didn't involve me I'll always remember that night. I was up there with my dad and two uncles and of course my cousins dad as well so in all one aunt, three uncles and my dad. I never thought in a million years one year later I would be wrestling. At that time I wasn't interested in wrestling and only went because my cousin was wrestling.

The following year at the football awards banquet the R.A.Long wrestling coach Darrin Dollemore aproached me about wrestling. I kindly told him no thanks that isn't my sport. The following weeks I kept being called in to the principal's office(I had never been before in my life) and each time Dollemore was there asking me to wrestle. In a small town people find out who you are related to pretty quickly. So tired of being bothered and my uncle was the assistent coach at the time I decided I would wrestle. I would say that is one of my best decisions of my life. Like I do with everything I've ever done when I do something I let it become my life. Well the first two years at R.A.Long we were a struggling program going 3-8 my freshman year. For me being a first year wrestler I won just three matches the whole year. As a team for the first time in our coaches career nobody went to state as well. My sophomore year was a get over the hump year for my and my team. That year I finished 9-8 to record a winning season which was a big deal considering the year before. I finished that year finishing second place at a J.V. tournament that had a 12 man bracket. My team went 8-8 which was the first non losing season for my head coach in his fourth year there. Due to some unfortunate things outside the mat we would once again have nobody at state.

Then my Junior year came which saw more progress happen. As a team we finished with a winning record and defeated our cross town rival Mark Morris for the first time in 10 years. I also cracked through the varsity lineup that year in spot duty. I struggled big time individually that year so that was frustrating but gaining the varisty experience helped me the following year. That year we finally had someone make it to state which was and is a good friend of mine. I went up Saturday with my dad to watch him wrestle. He would end up upsetting a returning state finalist by pinning him. He would eventually take fourth at state. I remember trying to vision myself at the Dome the following season. My friend who took fourth by the way is an assistent coach for my old school and was one of many college roommates I had at the party of 805.

Then my Senior year finally arrived. I had put in all the work in the offseason to make this my year. I was cutting down to 103's, benching 155 and had 5.5% body fat at the time. I was primed for a big year unfortunately so were other kids in my same city. I ended falling a match shy of going to state which shattered my hopes and dreams. In my area alone there was a state champion at Kelso, then at Mark Morris they had a fifth and a sixth(I'm in the black and the guy who took sixth is in the red on the left) at state guys as well. I still went up to state that year which I'll admit was tough but I wanted to support a fellow classmate who I had gone to elementry school with. My friend like the year before took fourth at state. I was really happy for him as he defeated this kid who had beat him in the district and regional finals. As I left the Dome I was happy for my friend but disappointed I'll never have the opportunity to wrestle there on the 24 mats on day one and 12 mats on day two.

The following two years I was in college but for wrestling weekend I would go watch state. In 2005 these two brothers placed at state. The oldest one took fourth while the younger one took seventh. Then in 2006 they switched the younger one took fourth while the older one took seventh. In 2005 after watching state I just came home to visit my friends and family. In 2006 because I had came home the week before I just went straight back to Ellensburg. I remember on the drive home listening to the Washington Huskies basketball team destroy the Oregon State Beavers. Both years I left the dome thinking what if? How would have I wrestled under the dome lights. Not going to state used to bother me a lot. Then in the last year or so I realized going to state, placing or even being just J.V. my senior year wouldn't have changed my life in any way. Wrestling doesn't define who I am today. I wish I had known that at 18 years old so I wouldn't have put so much stress and pressure on myself and my body from cutting at times 10 pounds in a span of 24 hours.

This Friday you'll see 16 wrestlers in each weight class in four different classifications all going towards one goal which is to be called a state champion. For some kids this weekend they have already achieved their goals, for others the goal is to at least place and for a select few the goal is state championship or bust. The wrestling tournament is a two day tournament if you win two matches on Friday you will place and survive to see another day. If you lose two matches your season will end that Friday night. The sad truth is 50% of the wrestlers on Friday will not make it to Saturday and 75% of the wrestlers will have a loss. At the state tournament I'll look forward to seeing several friends I made at Central Washington and root for all their kids. I hope the best for my former school R.A.Long who has 11 kids going to state. I will root for all the local kids as well this Saturday. I love seeing state champions come from this area even if they are my rival schools. No such thing as rivalries at the dome I always root for my league to represent.

So much emotion from the winners and sadness from the losing wrestler. So much joy from the state champion and so much heartbreak from the kid who finished second place. For all the Seniors win or lose the finality of it all hits home as well. You'll never see a place full of tough guys have so much tears fall but at wrestling state you have it all. You have kids thrilled to take seventh at state while kids who take second are disappointed. Coaches who are all fired up to get as many kids to place as they can and hopefully even coach a state champion. At the time this seems like the holy grail for all wrestlers in high school and coaches to be part of a state championship. Some will achieve their goals this weekend while others will ultimately fail and think it's the end of the world for them.

This weekend is a special weekend for all the wrestlers and the coaches in this tournament. This weekend also isn't the end of the world either. The journey to where you arrive is more important than the final result itself. Whether you go 0-2 BBQ or win a state championship that may seem like a huge deal at the time but that shouldn't define your life one way or the other. What is most important is the competition itself and the good memories that one gains from such an experience. The friendships that you have gained with your teammates and relationships you have made with your coaches should be priority #1. So yes placing at state and for those lucky enough to win state is great but it's not the most important thing in the world.

All in all I've come to grips on not going to state. I love the sport of wrestling and wish I had appreciated my four years more as they were going on. I was too caught up in results such as going to state instead of sitting back and enjoying the journey. Unlike some people who didn't go to state I can go to the Tacoma Dome this weekend with no regrets. I love the sport of wrestling and I'm very excited to see how my friends do this weekend with their kids at state. The state tournament is my favorite event to see which is why I have no problem missing the Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats game to watch the tournament. I'm also content finally that I did my best I could do and made several great friends. I still have a friendship with my former head coach Darrin Dollemore and get to watch my old college roommate coach at R.A.Long as well. It was a special year for R.A.Long and regardless of what happens this weekend the kids should appreciate what they have done along with the coaches. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what happens this weekend. Just remember the journey to the Dome is the fun part. The end results are just extra icing on the cake but does not define who you are. None of the kids will realize that now but someday this will all make sense. Good luck to all the wrestlers this weekend and great job coaches if you have any kids at the state tournament!