Do you respect the life that Ricky Williams choose to lead? Did he give up the chance of a lifetime? Explain your answers on these first two. Then, answer the following: In what way/ways does Ricky Williams represent all that is right or wrong with athletics? And, what do you believe to be the intent of this 30-for-30? Explain. Thursday, February 6, 2014
Run, Ricky, Run
Do you respect the life that Ricky Williams choose to lead? Did he give up the chance of a lifetime? Explain your answers on these first two. Then, answer the following: In what way/ways does Ricky Williams represent all that is right or wrong with athletics? And, what do you believe to be the intent of this 30-for-30? Explain. 
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You kind of have to respect the life he chose because it's his. Sure, most of us would have taken the millions of dollars offered in the NFL, but Ricky Williams didn't want it. He gave up the chance of a lifetime in the NFL. Most people would kill for the chance but he worked to be in the position to be able to make the choice. He represents what is right because he's one of the very small few not doing it for the money. He's doing what he loves over money. I believe the purpose of this 30-for-30 was to explain Ricky Williams very odd choices because it made a good story.
ReplyDeleteI respect his choice because he has the privelige to do what he wants, but I question his decision. He could've been rich. He would've made it to the hall of fame. He was going to be one of the best running backs in history, but he quit. Maybe the pressure and the attention got to him. Maybe he was overwhelmed. You never know what's going on in Ricky's head so we can't really judge him for his decision to withdraw. He represents the players that don't like the spotlight. He doesn't like attention, he just wants to live his own life doing his own thing. The intent of this film was because he is so different from the average pro athlete. They showed the public that not everyone likes the attention that pro athletes recieve and some just can't handle it.
ReplyDeleteI do respect Ricky's life he chose to live. He did what he wanted to do and didnt care about all the money he could have made. He did give up a chance of a lifetime by choosing to not play and be a star player in the NFL. But you have to respect the fact that Ricky didnt give into all the pressure everyone put on him, and walked his own road in life. He represents the right in athletics in that he did it for the love of the game. He didnt do it for money, or for the fame. He did what he loved to do, and I believe that it is a very good thing. I believe that the intent of this 30 for 30 film is to explain the life of Ricky's life. I feel that while the producers did talk about what Ricky did wrong and his mistakes, but most of it was trying to explain why he did what he did in a good way.
ReplyDeleteI respect the life he chose to lead because he had to make a very hard decision to change his life dramatically. Most players, put in his position, would have been hesitant to give up the game they love. He looked past the money that comes with football to live his life to the fullest. Yes, he did give up the chance of a lifetime, but it's because he wasn't happy with it. He went from making millions to owing millions, but who cares as long as he's happy with what he's doing? I believe the purpose of this 30-for-30 was to show that money isn't everything, and that none of it will matter as long as you are happy.
ReplyDeleteRicky leads the life that he chooses. People need to respect the fact that he gets to make his own choices and has to live with those choices. Whether they be right or wrong to society. Williams did what he thought was in his best interest. Although most of us would take the money offered from the NFL; Ricky felt that he wasn't in the right state of mind to continue to play professionally.
ReplyDeleteRicky displays how to make choices for yourself although nobody agrees with you. He represents what it means to do what's in your physical and mental best interest instead of what's laid out in front of you on the table.
I think the intent for this 30-30 is to show that there are some athletes that believe professional sports is just not for them or they're not cut out for it mentally. I think Ricky did the right thing for himself.
I don't respect his choice at all. Biggest waste of talent I have seen in awhile. He did give up the chance of a lifetime. Instead of being a star football player he chose to smoke pot and that just explains for itslef how dumb of a person he was. He represnts exactly what is wrong in athletics. He left his team and spent all of his bonus money on pot. It was a good 30 for 30 because it showed you who not to be like, and how much of a wasted life Ricky Williams has had.
ReplyDeleteI do respect the life Ricky Williams chose because he did his own thing. It's his life. No one has the right to tell a man what he should be doing with his life. Football is a once in a lifetime opportunity but like Ricky said, Life isn't all about football. Ricky wanted to get away from the game and find himself. I respect that. If your heart isn't in the game then it is wise choice to do other things. He represents what is right because he isn't a thug, he doesn'y have an attitude. Although he might have some issues he is still a genuine person. The 30 for 30 showed that Ricky Williams was a football player who wanted to do his own thing. The 30 for 30 showed that Ricky missed playing the game, He had a love for himself and the love for the game when he returned a few years later and carved out a decent career.
ReplyDeleteI do not respect the life that Ricky Williams chose to lead. He chose smoking pot over playing professional fooball and was a complete bust of so much talent. I also do believe he missed out on the oppurtunity of a life time. Ricky Williams was a specimen that could have been one of the best running backs in the last few decades, but he threw it all away to do drugs. He took the money that he got in a signing bonus and spent it all on dope. Instead of being a legend who could have been idolized by many he chose a different path and wasn't able to live the life that so many dream of. Ricky Williams represents all that is wrong with sports. He makes immature decisions, does too many drugs, and has babies with many women. He gives athletes a terrible name because he juat throws away everything he has. The intent of this 30 for 30 was to show the real reasons of Ricky's departure, but I feel it just made him look dumb.
ReplyDeleteI 100% respect the path that Ricky Williams chose to live out his life. He said it best himself, "when is it ok for me to stop playing football?". He does not need the approval of his fans and other media to stop playing football and enjoy the rest of his life without his body breaking down on him. I don't believe he gave up the chance of a lifetime in retiring from the NFL, but he gave up a lot of guarenteed money just to try and prove how good he was. He did leade the league in rushing one year, but he lost a lot of money because he failed to out perform almost every running back to every play. I think that Ricky Williams represents the choice behind being a professional athelete, that an athlete can choose to live a normal life instead of relying on their bodies not to break completely. Ricky does not represent a bad person or even someone who took his talents for granted, to me he represents someone who explored the depths of life and found interest in learning things outside of football.
ReplyDeleteI respect the life Ricky Williams chose to live because it's his life and he didn't care what people thought. When he asked the person who was interviewing him if the right time for him to retire from the NFL was when he broke something in his body, I feel like it was better for him to retire when he thought it was time rather than him having to retire because of an injury. I feel like he did give up a chance of a lifetime, a lot of people dream of being in the NFL but he decided not too. I feel as long as he was okay with his decision it was okay though. Even though he spent a lot of time smoking marijuana he wanted to help people and took classes to be a physician. One way that Ricky represents all the rights with athletes is that he plays football for fun and because he loves the sport, not just for the money. I believe the intent of this 30-for-30 was to show that he messed up in his life but also did good things and is very different from other pro athletes.
ReplyDeleteI respect the life Ricky chose to leave, although I cannot say I would've done the same thing. He was a supreme athlete, and was one of the best runningbacks in the NFL. He did give up the chance of a lifetime, because being an NFL player is a lot better than smoking marijuana and living in the dark for living. Ricky Williams represents what is both right and wrong with sports. He is a very modest athlete, which to be honest we do not see that often lately. His humbleness represents something that is right in sports. His decision that he made represents what is wrong with athletics...there is no common sense. Yes, it is his decision with what he wants to do with his life, but why would you give up being an NFL icon, to be smoke marijuana, and find your "inner-self." That showed me that there is a lack of common sense in athletics, in terms of decision making. I think that the purpose of this film was to show that being a professional athlete is a lot of stress and pressure, and sometimes athletes just need a break.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with what Ricky Williams did. Some people arent strung out to be an athlete or they don't want to pursue what they have been doing for such a long time. I don't think that he gave up a chance of a lifetime. Being a professional athlete can mean nothing to some people but everything to others. Williams did not have that interest in the game anymore because he was unhappy. He used this drug to deal with his inner issues that he wanted to fix. I think that him choosing to change his life from being the football athlete to becoming a student and studying medicine makes him a better person than people thought he would become. Rickey represents the wrong in the athletic point because it goes to show how hard these athletes are pushed and they aren't really given their own time. I think that Ricky was struggling through depression and having an unhealthy day to day lifestyle that no one really tried to help him with until he stopped playing. Once he stopped playing, there was more publicity on the problems that he had. Williams shows the good side of athletes though because he shows us that he was able to bounce back and grow from his athletic experience. He went back to school, spent his time studying medicine, and was able to get a good job and start a family. He could've taken the other path and just stayed at home and didn't do anything to better himself but he chose to move forward from then on. I believe that the intent of this 30 for 30 was to show us there is a lot that goes on beneath the helmet. Some athletes, like Williams need to do other things to keep themselves balancing out their life. "The money that I lost by choosing not to play does not make up for the experiences that I have now been given," Willams said during his interview. He said that he thrived from this experience because he knew he was taking the right direction for himeself finally.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with the life Ricky chose to lead. He should do what he believes is best for himself. I do think that he did waste a lot of good talent by not being fully committed to the game. Unfortunetly Ricky left behind a negative image by failing some drug tests. This was one of the main issues with atheletics. Marajuana was not increasing his playing ability so I do not beleive it is any of their business. I think that the intent of this 30 for 30 is to show that people need to do what is best for themselves whether people think it is wrong or right.
ReplyDeleteI do respect the life Ricky had chosen to lead. It is his life and he should be able to choose what he wants to do. I do think he gave up the chance of a lifetime though. He said so himself that he could be the best player in the NFL if he wanted to. He chose weed over lots of money and the potential for an amazing career. I respect his choice to study medicine and convert his religion the most. Everyone was saying, "oh he's not doing anything with his life". When in reality he is just doing what he wants to do with his life. I agree with Mack when he said that Williams is one of the only athletes not doing it for the money. I really think he is a bad influence as an athlete and just not really a good person. I think this 30 for 30 was just trying to inform the public about him and his life and why he made the choices he made.
ReplyDeleteI respect the life that Ricky Williams chose. I know that if I had the option to make it big in the NFL and make a lot of money I would play pro ball immediately. I think he did give up the chance of a lifetime, but again that is his choice. He wanted to feel at peace and not feel stressed at all. If marijauna is the way he stays at peace I don't have a problem with it. Players today have admitted they have smoked before games as big as the Super Bowl. Even Roger Goodell is considering allowing medical marijauna. So if Ricky Williams were to be in the NFL when they allowed medical marijauna he might've continued playing and been in the Hall of Fame. I think he points out some of the flaws in sports. Do what you do to keep you well and able to keep playing. I think this 30 for 30 shows why Ricky left the game. I developed some more respect for him as a football player and a human being as well. He's living a happy life unlike other athletes that have gone bankrupt and pretty much thrown their life away. He seems to think he made the right choice and that is what matters most.
ReplyDeleteI respect Ricky Williams' decision in his life. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that I think it was a good idea, I just respect his choice because it is his life and not mine. If that's what he wants to do with his life, then good for him and people should let him be. Sure he turned down an incredible life of fame, success, and wealth, but he chose something else that interested him. So, he did basically give up a chance of a lifetime, considering only a select few people in the country have the opportunity to excel at that level in the NFL, while anyone can light up a joint and "find their inner-self" or discover religion. Williams represents players in athletics that keep their cool, they don't brag and act like arrogant assholes. Williams chose a life that interested him more than football, which is lesson that needs to be spread; if you don' like doing something, just stop. This 30 for 30 shows that the life of an athlete is more than it seems, that an athlete's life is hard and pressuring.
ReplyDeleteI respect Ricky for doing what he did and quitting football when he did. It is very stressful and hard to give up that much time and dedication to a sport. However, I do believe that he gave up very good oppourtunites that most seem not to have in life. Therefore, yes, I do believe he gave up a huge chance to be much more successful and to give back more then what he did. Ricky represents the dumb jock look to me in sports, that everyone needs to have a set mind and a set mentality in order to succeed in pro sports. I believe the Intent of this 30 for 30 shows that his side of the story and why he choose what to do and why he choose to do it. Also shows that athletes are a lot more then just stats and numbers, but actually true people, and their life is hard and pressure filled.
ReplyDeleteI do respect the life of Ricky Williams because I think that people should be able to do whatever they want to do without facing the scrutiny of others. As long as their decisions don't harm anyone else then I don't see the problem in letting people do what they want with their lives. I do think that Williams did give up the chance of a lifetime, though. Very few people are blessed with the talent that Ricky Williams had and many would kill to be given the opportunity to play in the NFL. But even though it may seem like a waste to me, it was his decision and I respect that. I think that Ricky Williams represents the love of the game and the freedom to do what you want despite the pressures that an athlete faces. I think the intent of this 30 for 30 is to challenge viewers to think about why athletes really play the game. Williams played because he loved football, not because he loved the money or the fame. And when he wanted to stop playing, he stopped, despite other peoples opinions.
ReplyDeleteI respect the life he chose to lead. I'm a strong believer in doing what makes you happy no matter what others think. Sure money can be great, but only for so long. Eventually you need to find exactly what makes you happy and money just can't always provide that. He did have a love for football but that doesn't compare to more important things he probably cared about. I think people need to leave him alone because ultimately it's his life and he needs to make the decisions that make him the happiest.
ReplyDelete