Debate about becoming a professional athlete...

[Davis_Ever]

My friends and I often have a debate about whether or not someone could become a pro athlete by simply busting their ass everyday of their life (someone being good to average genetics...nothing outstanding). Say you started one sport when you were very young and trained to become a pro, do you think its possible to make it without having very good genetics?

[2kgt]

Depends on sport/position.

[Davis_Ever]

Depends on sport/position.

elaborate...my stance is that no matter how hard you work you have to have superior genetics (whether that be mental smarts directly related to the game or outstanding athleticism) in order to make it to the pros.

[Dysfunqtional]

VERY VERY rarely, you can practice all you want with a good coach, perfect form, excellent work ethic and you just may not have it genetically. You can't teach a 90MPH fastball, how to play under pressure, hand eye coordination, speed.

[Horns3]

in b4 pitbulljr

[ESPforMe]

I don't think you NEED superior genetics to be a kicker. Maybe for shortstop. Knuckleball pitcher. Golfer.


I think you could make it with above average genetics and elite work ethic though

[Horns3]

I don't think you NEED superior genetics to be a kicker. Maybe for shortstop. Knuckleball pitcher. Golfer.


I think you could make it with above average genetics and elite work ethic though

this, and having someone that could open the door for you, like a coach with a hookup or something

[Dysfunqtional]

I don't think you NEED superior genetics to be a kicker. Maybe for shortstop. Knuckleball pitcher. Golfer.


I think you could make it with above average genetics and elite work ethic though

Look at Michael Jordan's sons, they had the greatest basketball player in history as a father and I am sure they were taught the game well by him and probably played all of the time, but they will never be NEAR what he was.

[jump_man23]

sure look at the average baseball player

[IamaMotherLover]

Look at Michael Jordan's sons, they had the greatest basketball player in history as a father and I am sure they were taught the game well by him and probably played all of the time, but they will never be NEAR what he was.

yea but jordans wifes genetics hurt them

i dont think steve nash has great genetics or brett farve

[The_Sho]

If/When I ever have a son, he is going to be a lefty specialist or a punter...

[CCAurora]

There are too many variables in pro sports to "guarantee" a spot for anyone. Scott Norwood was a Pro Bowl kicker who was just as good after "Wide Right," but that one kick cost him his career a year later.

[RAT_LYFE]

it depends how you work, if you bust your ass training like a bodybuilder to become the biggest, but you want to be the best football player then its not gonna work. If you wanna be a marathon runner you gotta train like a marathon runner. If you wanna be a football player, you gotta train like a football player. Also gotta have proper coaching and have the ability to sit down and memorize your responsibility in all situations(linebacker for example) so that when the situation arises your not guessing and the response comes naturally. If you actually want to do it(not just doing it because a parent is pushing you to), have a good training partner, access to the right foods and resources, knowledge of how you should be training, good support groups(coaches, s&c coach), consistency, determination and know how then i believe yes it is possible.

[Briangumble]

I think it's possible, work ethic is more important than natural talent/ability.

[Dysfunqtional]

yea but jordans wifes genetics hurt them

i dont think steve nash has great genetics or brett farve

but they have a certain instinct for the game that can't be taught, much like Peyton Manning (yes he has the good genetics) you can't teach the intelligence he brings to the Quarterback position.

[Dysfunqtional]

sure look at the average baseball player

I hope you are joking... hitting a 90+MPH fastball or a moving pitch can NOT be taught whatsoever. The timing and reaction time you need is insane at the professional level.

[TheVM]

Hell no. Trust me I know people who bust their ass everyday and went to play sucky D1 school and really haven't accomplished anything. Talent is so important. You don't think there are hundreds of thousand of kids busting their ass out there?

EDIT: I know for a fact that Nash was sick at soccer when he was young. All these people were super athletes in high school.

[2kgt]

but they have a certain instinct for the game that can't be taught, much like Peyton Manning (yes he has the good genetics) you can't teach the intelligence he brings to the Quarterback position.

Peyton lives in the film room. He works harder than any other QB out there.

[Davis_Ever]

yea but jordans wifes genetics hurt them

i dont think steve nash has great genetics or brett farve

steve nash is an insane athlete...id say hes probably the best canadian athlete of all time (serious). Ive heard hes good enough to play soccer professionally in europe.

[Horns3]

I hope you are joking... hitting a 90+MPH fastball or a moving pitch can NOT be taught whatsoever. The timing and reaction time you need is insane at the professional level.

hitting a 90 mph pitch is not hard at all, anyone playing high school ball can easily do that lol

[CCAurora]

I hope you are joking... hitting a 90+MPH fastball or a moving pitch can NOT be taught whatsoever. The timing and reaction time you need is insane at the professional level.

LOL, I wonder why all those little league coaches waste their time then, or why the players even bother playing before they turn pro.

[2kgt]

You guys are talking about top level athletes. There are people who spend their careers on the sidelines.

[IamaMotherLover]

steve nash is an insane athlete...id say hes probably the best canadian athlete of all time (serious). Ive heard hes good enough to play soccer professionally in europe.

i feel bad for canada

hes not explosive, weak, cant jump, but has great skill


also throw larry bird into this mix

[Dysfunqtional]

hitting a 90 mph pitch is not hard at all, anyone playing high school ball can easily do that lol

a 90 MPH ball is easy to hit? hmm ok tell that to the pros who are still struck out by fastballs, if high school players can hit 90 MPH pitches then a pro should crush it every time right?

LOL, I wonder why all those little league coaches waste their time then, or why the players even bother playing before they turn pro.

because maybe some people want to play baseball for fun? All pros will need coaching and practice obviously.

[Davis_Ever]

i feel bad for canada

hes not explosive, weak, cant jump, but has great skill


also throw larry bird into this mix

yet still better than 95% of the league who can and is a 2 time (should be 3) nba mvp

[IamaMotherLover]

yet still better than 95% of the league who can and is a 2 time (should be 3) nba mvp

which proves my point that its not genetics

i dont know about 95% though hes not even the best pg

[Suit]

VERY VERY rarely, you can practice all you want with a good coach, perfect form, excellent work ethic and you just may not have it genetically. You can't teach a 90MPH fastball, how to play under pressure, hand eye coordination, speed.

Genetics don't mean as much as you guys make it out to be...

[Zig_Zag_Man]

I have this argument with my brother. He thinks he could box on the level of Money Mayweather if he started training when he was a child and worked his ass off.

Im just like no he is in the .0001% of athletic ability in the world.

[Davis_Ever]

which proves my point that its not genetics

i dont know about 95% though hes not even the best pg

...theres more to genetics than athleticism, the mental game is huge as well (probably more for the point guard position).

[adoniscomplex]

i think the average person could make it to a low level of a pro sport if they had amazing coaches, trained perfect and were 100% on it all the time

by low level i mean double a baseball
third string in the nfl
d league nba
ahl hockey

this all assuming they fit the bill for the position ie if they are 5'9 dont expect to be an nfl lineman

but i def feel like if you started training at 3 years old for a sport and had the best coaches and went to a joe defranco strength coach starting at say 10 years old
youd prolly have a decent chance at low level pro sports