Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
I'm sorry that I can't be nice about this, but this has got to be the dumbest topic I've seen in a while. It completely overlooks the amount of dedication that it takes to a sport to be able to play it on a professional level. "Love of the game" is a luxury that you only have when you're winning or at least doing well. If you're struggling or not suceeding, it's the worst possible way to spend your time, especially if you're injured.
As someone who spent 12 years competing and has gotten paid for his efforts, this OP sucks.
|
I find this to be unnecessarily harsh. It is true that you have to get paid to be called professional, and that a certain level of dedication is required in order to get there, but love of the game is not just a "luxury" for some. I know plenty of people who play professionally in lower level leagues (Can Am baseball, for example) who don't get paid much, but love what they do. I am certain that they would play for free in most cases. I have also met professional paintball players (didn't know there was such a thing until 2 years ago) and I am certain that they would have also played for nothing. Love of the game is that feeling you get when you still love to compete even when you're not necessarily successful. I am glad you got the opportunity to get paid to play but I don't think that you can generalize your experiences to everyone else.
If I got the chance to play games I love, even for nothing, I would.