The life of a professional athlete can be difficult to navigate, especially for those who have stardom early in their careers. Think about it. Young men are instantly put in the spotlight, and the public attention can be intoxicating. However, the modern athlete has to deal with an entirely different set of circumstances than those who played just 15 years ago.
Think about social media, and how quickly news can spread of athletes being in a public location. The stories of fans seeing members of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins at local establishments regularly are long gone. Now, athletes have to keep a low profile if they want any semblance of privacy for themselves and their families.