In athletics, there seems to be a different sorts of people. There are the over achievers who are the last to leave practice, the hard-working athletes, the cheerleaders of the team, and then the sports divas. We know at least someone that falls into the category of a sports diva. In an article that appeared on FoxNews.com, there is a list of some well-known athletes that fall into the sports diva category including baseball player Barry Bonds, tennis player Serena Williams, and ice skater Sasha Cohen.
Athletes Barry Bonds, Serena Williams, and Sasha Cohen
The reasons why these athletes are considered to be “sports divas” range from Bonds’ demands in terms of his salary and having two lockers to the hygiene treatment of soccer player David Beckham. Personally, I thought sports were all about having fun — but it does seem that these athletes view themselves above other athletes. And the question is for the sports organizations and teams that these athletes represent– is it worth it for them to have these athletes demand the diva treatment, or are they a liability to their reputation and image to the fans? People want to support and follow athletes that they not only know as an athlete, but as a person– so if athletes are talented, but they are divas– some fans may not care, but some may be less likely to cheer them on.
In the ten years I competed in track and field, I had my time dealing with some divas. One would say, “I have to have this shot because it is my lucky shot, and I can’t throw without it!” or “we HAVE to eat Mexican food– that is what I want so that is what we get.” You can get the picture– and when you are on a team with one of these individuals, it can make life tough. Sometimes you have to talk to them and bring them back to reality. 🙂
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