Remember Carlton Haselrig?

by Steev1705 on Jul 23, 2009 11:45 AM EDT

For every Big Ben, Mean Joe or Fast Willie there's a dozen Hollywood Hendersons or Hercules Haselrigs. The one time Pro Bowler has become a 2nd rate mixed martial artist and is left with nothing but regret for opportunities missed. Tom Danyluk at Pro Football Weekly writes a compelling story of Haselrig's meteoric rise from college wrestler to Pro Bowl lineman in a rather short period of time. He follows that up with a rather sad tale of a washed up athlete, who at 43 is doing whatever he can to pay the bills.

We often revel in their greatness, but we rarely dwell in their ambiguity, particularly when their downfall is of their own making. I think Danyluk's story about Haselrig would make a tragic but interesting documentary, along the lines of "The Wrestler" which is Ironic because Haselrig was one of the greatest wrestlers in college histroy. I could say more but Danyluk's article says it all. I highly recommend you read it:

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/07/22/former-hercules-still-doing-battle

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In all walks of life

one can eventually come across someone who literally wasted away millions. I am not in the circle of pro athletics but I have seen a few highly profitable family businesses with significant surplus cash flow handed down debt free to offspring that ended by selling the business in bankruptcy court.

Another example: My wife’s first job out of college. She worked at Cornell University taking care of lab animals. One of her coworkers had won a lottery of more than a million dollars about five years prior. He took a lump sum and had blown it all in justa few years. Thatswhy he was working again. Last we heard (Wife hasn’t worked there in 10+ years) he was in jail for robbery or some such thing.

It’s just the way some people are and education won’t change it.

by steelerstyle on Jul 26, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions