Do pro athletes even care about winning ?

[Doug]

I think most don't give a crap, it's about securing the highest possible contract, and living in a city that suits you and your family, it's almost like playoff games are like working for free !

I'd sure rather play in somewhere nice like San Diego, Denver, etc., Instead of a shithole city like Detroit, Cleveland, etc.

Family first, winning is just an afterthought.

 

[TheComputerGroup]

Imo, very few now a days......Jordan & Brady lived & breathed winning. Everyone wants to get paid, but these two worried more about winning. There were/are others out there that care about winning, but these are the two standouts in my mind.

 

[TimmyRules]

I’m not sure it’s even family first for some....

Ego has to be high on the list, especially for basketball players (at least it appears that way)

Yeah they care, but money or getting along with players/coaches can make losing bearable

Just an opinion and observation

 

[RunMaker]

You also have to break it down along racial lines, tbh.

 

[Serbone]

The announcers completely overemphasize the "winning" motive with these athletes. It is bullshit.

Like when a free agent is out there, they always mostly point to the athlete going someplace with a team that can "win".

It is money, location (player with a wife & family signs a 5 year deal wants to live in certain cities, others, no way), manager or coach (want to play for certain ones, do not for others), stadium or ballpark (hitter wants to play in hitters park, pitcher wants to play in pitchers park, football players do not want to play on artificial turf).

 

[raiders72]

Imo, very few now a days......Jordan & Brady lived & breathed winning. Everyone wants to get paid, but these two worried more about winning. There were/are others out there that care about winning, but these are the two standouts in my mind.

I agree with you. Not many Jordan's and Bird's left.

 

[Mr_Mark]

It doesn't appear very many players care too much

 

[TomGshotput]

I think for professional athletes, a lot of them put happiness first. Sad

 

[SgtLanquel]

I think for professional athletes, a lot of them put happiness first. Sad

The audacity of making happiness one's leading priority

 

[Seymour]

Kobe, Manu, Duncan, Lebron - they definitely wanted to win

Carmelo - he could care less about winning

 

[Doug]

That's couldn't, Seymour !

I do believe maybe 10% of players care about actually winning championships, most all care very much about their personal stats, until maybe they're in that final guaranteed contract, like a Jacoby Ellsbury.

Managers care a lot more than players about winning, their livelihood depends on it.

Owners probably care the least these days.... It's like spend enough to field a contending team, so fans will attend the games, spent outrageous amounts of money on tickets, concessions, parking, souvenirs, etc.

The ones that care the most are the fans !

I can't blame the players too much for choosing where they want to live and once a free agent, choosing to only sign with 5-6 teams out of the 30 approximate choices in the 4 real sports

College players want to win badly...so they can get to the pros !

A young baseball player tends to get shipped around a lot, and up and down, from AAA to MLB, then get traded anywhere at anytime.... after years of that I'd say OK, I'm a real player, here is where I'll play !

 

[DoublePlayBall]

Interesting thread. I met a professional sports bettor last year in Delaware..Said he was banned in Vegas. I watched him bet 5k on a college football game, win it and get turned down when he tried to bet 10k the next day... He was a disabled Viet Nam veteran, that made a living betting ONLY on college sports.. He called the NFL, "The dark side"..

 

[Kev]

Most baseball players want to win. NFL/NHL as well.

NBA is spotty at best, but some nice motivational angles can be found from time to time.

Damian Lillard is a guy who wants to win.

 

[DoublePlayBall]

i agree that "MOST" pros want to win and that translates to just over 50%. However somewhere in the 35 to 45% range don't really care.

 

[Coldweather]

​Winning don't matter much no mo IMO! cheersgif