They obviously require superior to outstanding talent. However, since the essence of the term "professional" means (of a person) engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime professional sports will always contain an aspect of profit and risk as detailed in the movie 'Moneyball'. If you truly love a sport, college and amateur sports may be more satisfying.
Many years ago I learned the meaning of amateur in movie from a character played by the great John Houseman:
"Mrs. Burns is right, of course; you are amateurs, unlike certain pseudo-professionals like myself who insist on slave wages. Your voluntary and steadfast attendance at these rehearsals fully qualifies you for any definition of the word "amateur". What Mrs. Burns and many others are wrong about is the meaning of the word, which has to do with motivation, not quality. Remember "amo, amat, amas", the Latin verb "to love". The meaning of "amateur" is "he or she who does a thing for the love of it". There is no higher reason for singing than the love of doing it. In that respect, you do qualify as amateurs. And I salute you for it."
= new reply since forum marked as read
And the games ARE fun!
