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I’ve never been one to critique a professional athlete’s salary or spending habits. They are the backbone of a multi-billion dollar industry, and their salaries in relation to the amount of money they help generate are actually quite modest.
But every so often a story comes along that makes even the staunchest defender of the cause throw their arms in the air and surrender. Sometimes there is simply no argument to be made. Such is the case with the most recent Dez Bryant rookie initiation story.
Bryant, the highly touted rookie wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, refused to carry fellow wide receiver Roy Williams’ pads after practice early in the preseason. The carrying of the pads is a long-standing tradition in the NFL for rookies. Actually, if that’s all you’re asked to do by the veteran players, you’re getting off the hook. Whether or not Williams was trying to stick it to the guy that will eventually take his job has never been determined; but when Bryant refused to comply, Williams vowed he would get the rookie.
Good job Roy.
One day after the Cowboys got their first victory of the season Bryant was made to take the entire offensive unit out to dinner. Dallas has some pretty big boys on their team, especially on the offensive line, so Dez Bryant had to know going in that the tab would probably be paid with plastic not cash.
When all the food and drinks were enveloped, the final tally was $54,896. Certainly no “college night” at Margaritas prices.
There is nothing tangible to show for the Cowboys’ night on the town that could have paid for my entire college tuition. There are a lot of meaningful and productive ways to apply $55,000 to something. Renovating a school or hospital. Providing people with shelter. You don’t need me to put this in perspective for you. What could you do with $55,000 dollars?
I’ve never had any problem with athletes purchasing nice cars and houses because however excessive they may be perceived to be, they are still a necessity. I can’t tell Dez Bryant what to do with his money. Nor can I tell Roy Williams that he shouldn’t exploit a young kid with a lot of money. But I will make this point. After signing his rookie contract he received $8.3 million of guaranteed money. If I received $8 million I would be making some absolutely horrible purchases. And having a pretty good grasp on my peers, I can comfortably speak on behalf of the majority of people my age when I say that at this stage in my life I’m in no way prepared to handle that sum of money. What does this teach the kid about the value of money?
If Bryant succeeds in the NFL his next contract will probably be in the range of $40 million to $50 million guaranteed, so he will be getting plenty of scrilla. But if a young man who is still maturing is out spending one-twentieth of a million dollars in a few hours on dinner, he is more inclined to follow the paths of Lenny Dykstra or Lawrence Taylor.
The Cowboys players who, according to an espn.com article, were purchasing $9000 bottles of wine aren’t going to complain, but to the common man this whole situation feels dirty. When a 21-year old who did not graduate college can spend the amount of money that some parents work their whole lives for in order to send their children to college, you know there is a serious flaw in the wealth distribution of this country.
I understand the concept of free enterprise, but I don’t think it’s asking too much for athletes to apply some awareness as they live out the American dream. If it all backfires for Bryant, he will have a hard time finding sympathizers after Monday night. And this is coming from somebody who supports athlete’s salaries. There just comes a point where irresponsibility supplants enjoying oneself. Dez Bryant and Roy Williams reached that point.
