We expect athletes to be gladiators & trained killers @ game time, & to basically only have human emotions & responses on our schedule & on our terms. We want them to be “real” even though it has real consequences. When they show emotions we don’t like they are labeled soft.

Fight to death for the team, talk nice to the reporters, take time for the children, feel pain but not too much. Play hurt but don’t be reckless, get me fantasy stats but don’t play hero ball, get the bag but don’t dare not earn every penny, take all the criticism but don’t react

Have Swag but don’t be cocky, be leader but don’t be a tyrant, be the face of the team & city but know your place. Help the poor but don’t take too much credit, speak up for the community & for causes but don’t be too political, be yourself but make sure you fit in.

Be a role model but don’t get preachy, believe in God but don’t talk about it, win the game but don’t run up the score.... unless I need you to cover the spread, live the good life but always be humble, make the scene but not too much, let us inside your life but not too far.

We want athletes to have patience for the constant pressure, criticism & scrutiny they are under but we have zero patience for them. People who are too soft to show their faces on Twitter call athletes soft every day. It’s ridiculous. We don’t own them. They don’t owe us.