Life after death

CEBU – Yes, you read it right. Today’s topic is about life after death. After all, today is All Souls’ Day when we’re all encouraged to pray for all those who have moved on in life. We wish them well and that they all join our Creator in heaven in their life after death “careers.”

But did you know that in sports, we also have a life after death situation for all athletes? But before you think of anything else, this is not about athletes dying per se, although we’ll all pass away in life. But if you look at it closely, athletes somehow “die” when their careers are over and need to do something productive for the rest of their lives, their lives after “athletic death.”

One of the most interesting aspects of one’s career as an athlete is the so-called “what’s next” phase when his or her professional or sporting career is over. We hear so much about how athletes are at the peak or prime of their careers; how somehow their on top of the world and can’t possibly fail. They’re paid well, given all the luxuries that the world can give and are like prima donnas praised and admired by sports fans from all over.

But what happens when they retire? Do we ever hear about these athletes again? In what manner do we hear about their plights? I’m sure you’ve heard about what has happened to some of the country’s best boxers of the past who won world championships at the peak of their careers but whose lives today are an exact opposite of their athletic lives. I’m also certain that you’ve also heard about former athletes who have been able to make that smooth transition from sports to a regular career as private citizens in either business or the corporate world.

Did you know that retirement age for athletes is at least two decades younger than those with regular work in either the private or public sector? When one talks about retirement, it’s almost automatic to assume that one has already reached the so-called “retirement age.” For many, this is anywhere between the ages of 50 to 65 years old. But in sports, retirement can come as early as the late 20’s and as “delayed” as the late 30’s. You’ll no longer see athletes in their 40’s still playing as they can hardly catch up with today’s thoroughbreds fresh from college.

The tougher part about this is the fact that not all blue chip college prospects can make it to the pros and go on with a pro career. Many borderline athletes are good only for collegiate sports and nothing else.

This is why all athletes must always bear in mind that sports is only a temporary part of one’s life, and that there’s a more important and longer life to be lived away from sports. Those involved in collegiate sports must maximize those scholarships that are rewarded to them and which so many other students fight for just in order to get a college degree. Athletes just don’t know how fortunate they are. Free education shouldn’t be abused. This should be treated to be just as important as their athletic careers. They should thus go to classes in the same way that they go to practice religiously. They should hit those books just as hard as they execute their drills. Sports and academics can mix and match perfectly even if all student-athletes are not alike intellectually. Athletes may not be as intellectually gifted as their other ordinary classmates, but with the proper programs and guidance, they can surely study and earn their degrees.

This is where coaches, athletic directors and school owners should exert their influence on all their athletes. Gone are the days when one’s major in college was “BS Basketball” and the athlete’s role was just to play for the school’s honor. If coaches are truly sincere in helping their athletes, they should also look into the academic performances of all their players and implement programs and measures that will make their athletes mix sports and studies.

In the end, it all boils down to the athlete himself who will make his own decisions for his future. But with the guidance of his coaches, school heads, teachers and the encouragement from fans, he should be ready for a life after death: his life after sports.

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Time-out: Today is a day that we pray for the departed. Let’s keep that communion of the saints as we link in arms in prayer. You can reach me at [email protected]. – THE FREEMAN