The Move to Cynicism

I was telling a friend about a college football player who pledged $2 million to his alma mater. It was days before the pro football draft, and assuming that he’d get a big contract, he told his school he’d send them the cash when it came through. I was describing to my friend how the school had already made a lot of money off his performance on the football field without paying him a dime, and they pushed him through the college program with an emphasis on football and not on academics. Then I realized that there might be a possibility that his school had inspired him to be a better person and become a leader who excelled in football and school. And then I realized that I’d become cynical. At least about college and pro football.