Draft Day, D-Day, Destiny Day

I feel sorry for my couch, I really do because I've spent the last 4 plus hours playing bench warmer on it. Now I'm the type of guy that can't stand a lecture class that runs over one hour, yet can kill half a day when sports are involved.
So the great America sports machine roped me in for half of my Saturday, first the Pens v. Flyers in the NHL Playoffs, followed up with the NFL Draft on my laptop. While a selected few today are become America's newest millionaires, granted many were not born with any silver spoon, they all had to put in the hours on and off the field to get to the NFL.
Yet it still just is beyond my comprehension that there is now a 20-22 year old with a few million in the bank. Who knows where these draft picks will end up a few years from now. Most players only have a shelf life a 2-3 years at the level, yet the amount of coin they are set for life as long as they don't do something stupid. If you add up their signing bonus, game checks, some endorsement deals is considered one of the best nest eggs by market experts and CFO's in this recession. Once again this is money they have earned, no question there. They gave up girls, greek parties, and other good times of college life to sacrifice and make plays on the field. Plus they've helped their universities make tons of cash in ticket sales, team shop sales, bowl appearances, etcetera. (Just because I feel the need to interrupt myself I'm going to state my position on their payment right now)
Should college players get paid??? The Answer: NO. They already get a free 50,000 education, high end dining halls, dorms, and some other living expenses paid. This a great life lesson in being humble and giving back, esp. at the next level where having a foundation and hitting up local children's hospitals needs to be a must.
Still I'm jealous, they have the natural talent and have made those sacrifices to play at this level, and yet they can provide for their family's and I can't. Most top ten picks always say they are going to buy their parents a new crib, only seems fair their parents gave them their first one and a shot at life. So what's left for a sucker like me to do, well in this economy I save money, put my trust in the my $60,000 education and degree, and finally buy my Powerball/ Lotto ticket. Hey I know i have the same chance of getting hit by lighting, but what if a money bolt hits me first. It would be nice to pay back all my lenders, of corse that means my mother, as she was the first to trust me with a single dollar. Plus set up my family so we all have a decent roof over our heads in this housing market, and good meals on our table rather then living off of dollar menus at fast food joints. Yet on the other hand I'm know their are millions of other American's out there praying just as hard as me that this their time, and some more deserving. So I'll be going back to work the next day and the day after that, to a job that only requires a high school diploma. Hopefully one day I will be out of the debt deep end and can swim towards a 401K, retirement, and know my family is secure. Maybe even one day I will get that drafted that golden ticket, and the American Dream will be just a dollar away.

Post-Script I
I'm not completely ignorant to know that I do have a pretty damn good life here in the United States. I've been privileged to sights, sounds, and progression of this country that some places on this plant can't even fathom. Plus I give much respect to those who protect our way of life day and night. Therefore we must give major props to those once young men that at 18, were drafted into a war in a jungle half way across the world.

Post-script II Pens. v Flyers Game 6 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This has been one of the best opening round series by far. These teams really didn't like each other, and it showed on the ice and within the passion of the fans in the arenas. Today's game was the kind of hearty performance the Penguins needed to get deep in these playoffs. Down 3-0 on the road is not the ideal spot to be in especially if that shut out follows you into a potential Game 7. However, Pittsburgh didn't allow for that, they rallied big time in the 2nd period, played their game and now get ready for the next round. I can see them on a collision course with Boston if all the parts fall in order, and I can't begin to say I know what would happen in that series.