18 SportsUnion | AUGUST 5, 2018
College
Soccer
What happens when the
cheering stops? When you
no longer walk on the field
to those adoring fans that
have been cheering you on
it seems like forever? What
happens when you wake up
one day and it’s over?
By Matt Ondesko
Managing Editor
With athletes making mil-
lions of dollars, it’s hard to
think of them as human. Af-
ter all, most think of them as
an idol - someone they look
up to. You forget they are just
normal every day people like
the rest of us.
While some of us are writ-
ers, doctors or teachers, their
job is to entertain fans. At
some point, however, that
will come to an end - and a lot
sooner than someone who
has a real job. A professional
athlete could retire in their
mid 30’s or early 40’s, while
the rest of keep going until 65
maybe even 70 years of age.
Just think if you are a col-
lege athlete. Their sports ca-
reer could end at 21 or 22.
So what happens when they
walk off the field for the final
time? What happens when
the cheering stops?
For some, it’s not an easy
transition. Some have been
known as the man, or wom-
an. They have been showered
with adoration for years -
even before they were teen-
agers. They cheered and told
how great they were.
But, at some point, it stops.
One day they will wake up
and the cheering is no longer
there. They early morning
workouts are a thing of the
past. It’s almost like they be-
come a normal person again.
While some can adjust others
will struggle.
When the
cheering stops