Retiring at 30 years old sounds like a dream come true, but for many professional athletes it’s their unwelcome yet inevitable reality. Athletes typically maximize their career earnings towards the beginning of their career, meaning they have to plan for retirement and support their lifestyle on an increasingly dwindling income. Grappling with the sudden transition to the regular working world can be difficult without the proper financial, psychological and social resources. Even though sports federations and former athletes have done more in recent years to help current athletes plan for the future while their best playing days are still ahead of them, it is not uncommon for retired athletes to go broke or bankrupt within a decade. Athletes dedicate endless energy to the here and now, but taking time to think about retirement is what will ultimately set them up for success.

Plus, on this week’s Fun Friday, Claire and Jenna play “Start, Bench, Cut” with popular athlete retirement paths.

Transition track credits:

Downtown Walk by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A warm July evening, a hot dog overflowing with toppings, a cold beer in hand and nine innings of baseball: sounds like a summer well-spent. Baseball has always been a sport best enjoyed from the stands, where fans can experience a team camaraderie that feels homegrown even at the professional level. Amidst declining viewership within the past decade, MLB is striving to incentivize audiences to buy into its 162-game season and learn to find joy in baseball’s deliberate, calculated pacing. From implementing rule changes to investing in youth baseball initiatives, MLB is doing all it can to shed its reputation as being the perfect sport for background noise and remind fans why it has earned the title of “America’s Pastime.”

Plus, on this week’s Fun Friday, Claire and Jenna determine whether athletes’ superstitions are “red-flag” or “green-flag” behavior.

Transition track credits:

Downtown Walk by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The life of a professional NFL cheerleader is not all glitz and glamor. The select group of women that can demonstrate they have the dancing skills, bubbly personality, bombshell looks and the “it” factor required to make a squad put hours each week into preparing for game days. NFL teams love to use these women as extensions of their brand, marketing their sex appeal to a football audience that is traditionally, and sometimes aggressively, masculine. Sure, they get to perform on the biggest stages in American sports, but at what cost? Between the unrelenting nitpicking of their physical appearance and settling for a semi-livable wage, professional cheerleading is largely a thankless job. Their value, however, is becoming more and more undeniable.

Plus, on this week’s Fun Friday, Claire and Jenna draw from a hat to choose the NBA team they will be rooting for this upcoming season.

Transition track credits:

Downtown Walk by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/