What does it take to become a pro athlete? (Split)

[cdif911]

"Maybe because you have never played organized sports at a high level, you have not had the opportunity to be humbled by a truly talented player."

And why am I not a truly talented player?   Because EPSN and the TV say such a player doesn't exist?

I haven't seen many stories on 37 year olds trying to make the league for the first time...

crazier things could happen

what I'll say is, you really really should try out. You seem pretty convicted that you'd make it, so why not go for it.  Its better to try and fail than not try at all - I believe that.  and if you make it, how cool would that be?

before doing this though and setting yourself up for a colssal disappointment, play in a real organized league with refs and the whole 9 yards.  Its quite different from playing pickup or shooting around.  Its a good way to gauge how you do in an organized system, where your bball iq is, etc.

[star18]

How has the USA not won a gold medal every year?  You mean to tell me the 2004 USA team didn't go gold? Have you heard of every player on Argentina & Brazil & Lithuania? No.   Are you to tell them they can't play either, even when they beat the best players from the USA?

Again I'm not saying I'm a gold medal olympian.  I'm just saying the gap between the guy on TV and the guy watching isn't as great as many of you make it out to be.  Unless you want to be the guy watching who can't play.   I don't believe that I am that person.

[vitaminC]

I'm sure a few of my friends that I played with when I was 19-21 would say I was a great player.    That doesn't matter.     If I'm not playing with anybody with NBA talent, no one will know until I actually play. 

That is what I am talking about.  It is similiar to athletics at a younger age.   People say, "you can't play", "you can't shoot" etc.  Well until that happens everything is speculation.   For all the reasons some of you are saying I can't play well, is all the same reasons for me to say that I can. 

If you were an NBA prospect your friends would not only say you had game in your day, they would say you embarrassed everyone (who would all be of lesser talent) you played against. So you would have been with out a doubt the best player on the court in each of your 200 pick up games.  I think you put too much stock in you being "physically fit" and knowing who might win a basketball game between two professional teams.

 That's my last comment because i feel foolish for responding to this thread to this extent.

[star18]

Thank you cdif911.  That is the reponse I am looking for.    It is good to think positively about people who have good aspirations.   The only thing is it wouldn't be a collossal dissapointment if I wasn't good enough.   That is the thing.  Sports isn't my life.    

However if all goes well in my life, I will try and play basketball in about 3 or 4 years, it is not something I am going to do right away.    I enjoy playing, and I really love basketball.    I know if I can practice for a few months and play in an organized league that would be fun and as long as heatlhy I would be a great player.  

[Roy Hobbs]

Because no way the Magic can beat the Cavs, and no way can I be a great basketball player?  I mean the media woudln't allow it, now would they?

With all due respect, the "media" didn't keep you from missing every single pitch against a pitching machine as a high school freshman, it didn't make you give up organized sports, and it didn't limit you to roughly 10 pickup games per year over the past 20 years.

It's not the media keeping you down.  It's not "the man".  Rather, it's genetics and work ethic.  I see no reason why you would succeed, when literally tens of thousands of athletes have failed.  Maybe I'm wrong on that, but put me in the category of guys that is a little skeptical.  Many of us on the blog have either been closely acquainted with, or played against, pro athletes.  To put yourself on their level, without having ever even been good enough to get a chance to play against them, seems to be greatly underestimating their talent level.

[star18]

"If you were an NBA prospect your friends would not only say you had game in your day, they would say you embarrassed everyone (who would all be of lesser talent) you played against" 

Why I haven't really played much since I was 21, and I am much bigger and stronger now that I am 32.    And I was the best player we played with.

[star18]

I missed every pitch when I was 13.   I am 32 years old now.  Much bigger and stronger.   It didn't bother me that I didn't make the MLB.  I keep saying sports isn't my life.    And I'm not underestimating the talent of an NBA player.  I think many of you are understimating the guy who watches TV as opposed to the guy who is on TV.  And you may be cutting youselves short on what you are really good at.  I'm athletic, that is all I am saying and have the size of players who are professional.   That at least gives me a chance to be a great player.  If I don't make the NBA, it still doesn't mean I'm not good enough, it just means that some coach or agent or scout picked someone else over me.  It won't be because I played in the NBA and went 0-82, it will be because my record was really 0-0. 

[star18]

And 10 EPSN experts failed miserably on the ORL-CLE series.  I did not. So just because a large percentage of people fail, doesn't mean I can't succeed.  And it doesn't mean that they failed either.   The coach, scout, manager, agent or whoever it was picked someone else to play over them. 

[Edgar]

and just do it

pretty much sums my feelings
and when you do it

I am pretty sure, it will not really matter to me .

I'm athletic, that is all I am saying and have the size of players who are professional.   That at least gives me a chance to be a great player.

mmm.. not really

P.s. do you have ANY fundamental preparation for profesional hoops.
I mean do u ever watch betterbasketball video at least.

[dark_lord]

edit

[Roy Hobbs]

I just don't get the "I could be great, but my coach held me back" mentality.  If you were as great as you think you were, either 1) the coach wouldn't have cut you, or 2) you would have found another way to allow your talent to shine through.

Anyway, it's a silly debate.  I will say, though, that I don't buy for a second the "I'm good enough to make the pros, but that's not really my interest" argument.  Unless you're making millions of dollars or saving lives, I can't think of too many more careers that provide more opportunities -- both in terms of finances and connections -- than pro athletics.

[cdif911]

do ur thing mods...this is going nowhere!

nonono this is the most entertaining thread of the year

also it just woke me up at 11:56 b/c it reminded me of an awesome story - go see SOTOTT in a few minutes, then I'm going to bed for real

[dark_lord]

actually....go on pros vs joes.  ur a perfect candidate!

[pengaloo]

And 10 EPSN experts failed miserably on the ORL-CLE series.  I did not. So just because a large percentage of people fail, doesn't mean I can't succeed.  And it doesn't mean that they failed either.   The coach, scout, manager, agent or whoever it was picked someone else to play over them. 

You are very right that just because a large percentage of people fail - it doesn't mean that you can't succeed. But people won't start believing that you're the next Rajon Rondo until people see it with their own eyes...

[Edgar]

at 3ish maybe the next marbury
ohh well maybe cd is right
We will see, maybe this can stay on topic in a more appropiate manner like in

1) Does having a pro athlete body its enough to become a pro athlete in a specific sport, i men to play bkb u have to have a bkb body, same for american football  and boxing for example.

2) how much , fundamentals count in that.

3) can u do it without the body?

4) Can u do it., even if youre old.

5) What is condider all

6) Is Edgar ever going to be the next tiger woods.
   I have great distance and a little hook for example.