You know raising a family in the lifestyle of a professional athlete can be very difficult.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Most of my family are good athletes.
My family are not sporty - they are all doctors or lawyers.
My overwhelming concern will always be the well-being of the athletes. In Olympic sport, it is rare for competitors not to devote half their young life to this. Their families will have given up all sorts of things to allow them to do that.
If you look at any superior athlete, you will find a strong parental influence. Parents introduce their children to a sport, and then they support them.
A career in sport is almost impossible to manage without the support, and guidance, and reassurance of family and friends. During tough times, and there always are, this is whom we go to.
A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their children to be professionals, but so many pros will tell you, 'No, you don't want to do this.'
Baseball life is a tough life on the family.
When you look at guys who get recruited, most of the best athletes, they come from poor families. I don't forget. I was a junior looking through my mother's stuff and looked at her bank statement, and we had $30 in the bank.
Male athletes don't get dropped when they father kids.
I can't compare family to athletics.