We are failing our star athletes by giving them such huge salaries and no guidance on how to deal with the celebrity status they will soon be experiencing, thus leading to their failures as role models.

All young, new players signing with any major league sports team should be given contracts that include the following:
Your contract will be $3 million annually, however, you will receive only $100,000 annually. The remainder will be put in a trust fund, until 4 years or the remaining stipulations completed.
Prior to your first playing season you will participate in classes where you will meet older, retired players who either ruined their careers or had serious setbacks with drugs, alcohol, or damaged marriages and learn what went wrong so you won't fall into the same traps.
You are required to take a budgeting class using the given salary allotment and learn to manage your budget with savings included.
You may either select a non-profit organization of your choice or select one the team supports and participate actively in a program to assist this organization for the minimum period of 24 months.
Additional 6 months of training in finances and investment running a fake portfolio.
Required to receive your GED if you haven't graduated school.

Yes, our sports heroes are role models to our youth whether they want to be or not, so our teams should take responsibility in helping to assure they succeed. A program similar to the one above will assist them in reaching their future goals, will help the teams to have better grounded players and promoters for their teams.

So many young men are just not prepared for the negative influences that are imposed upon them by fans, society and hanger-ons. Teams and managers need to make up for some of the lack of training and morality to help their players to climb to higher levels. This will assure continued success, full careers and our enjoyment watching and enjoying their games.

Hopefully some NFL, NBA and other large league societies will begin to look at a way to protect their investments and their young players.

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