Sports Then and Now

DeShaun Watson has already proven that he belongs on the field with the Houston Texans.

Sometimes the decisions made by teams in the NFL Draft can be very strange. Generally, the NFL is a performance-based league, however, when it comes to draft picks, and most especially quarterbacks, choices are often made based on projected ability, instead of how someone has actually performed on the football field.

That was certainly the case in the 2017 NFL Draft when two quarterbacks with relatively average college pedigrees were chosen ahead of one of the most successful quarterbacks in recent college football history. Something that can be confusing and frustrating for those who follow US Sportsbooks.

While DeShaun Watson was leading the Clemson Tigers to back-to-back National Championship Games following the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Mitch Trubisky at the University of North Carolina and Pat Mahaomes at Texas Tech were playing on mediocre teams.

Trubisky spent two seasons as a backup quarterback at UNC before he finally earned the starting spot for the 2016 season. Though he was a solid quarterback in his 13 stats, his performance on an 8-5 team hardly give the impression he was the next great NFL player.

While Trubisky tossed 30 touchdowns on the season with only six interceptions, in the five UNC losses, he threw only eight touchdowns while suffering all six of his interceptions. His worst performance of the season was against Virginia Tech when he completed only 39.4% of his passes for 58 yards and two interceptions.

Yet, the Chicago Bears thought enough of Trubisky to trade up to pick him with the second pick in the 2017 Draft.

The son of a former Major League Baseball pitcher, Mahomes had significantly more experience than Trubisky during his three college seasons.

Playing on a Texas Tech team that had only one winning year in his three seasons, Mahomes saw significant action as a freshman before starting the last two seasons.

The Red Raiders posted a 12-13 record during those two years while making one bowl appearance. Mahomes racked up huge numbers over the last two seasons tossing 77 touchdowns with 25 interception and compiling over 9,700 yards through the air. For his career, Mahomes completed 63.5% of his passes for 11,252 yards, 93 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Read the rest of this entry →

At some point in life, you’ll likely be forced to admit that your chances of becoming a pro athlete are slim to none. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a successful career in sports. There are numerous related roles that will allow you to take part in your favorite sport or team and get paid for it. Here are some opportunities to focus on.

1. Social Media Director

Sports teams and organizations are aware of the potential for engaging and expanding their social media following, and like many businesses are increasingly looking for someone to represent them. If you have social media experience, writing, and digital marketing skills, the team you’re passionate about may need you.

2. Announcer

While the TV jobs usually go to established professionals and former athletes, sporting events at all levels usually require both on-site and radio announcers for broadcasting. You may be able to find a starting position as a high school announcer fairly easily. Moving up will typically require years of experience, training at broadcasting, and extensive knowledge of the game, along with a clear speaking voice and some authentic enthusiasm.

3. Sales Coordinator

All teams, even local high school teams, have an interest in earning extra money from merchandising or advertisers. You’ll work closely with team management, owners, and often the players themselves. You’re helping the team to improve and prosper in an important way. Typically, all it takes is an undergraduate degree in sales or marketing, some knowledge of sports management, and good people skills. Read the rest of this entry →