Sports figures are idolized by the young and the old across all walks of life. However, one aspect of their lives that may not be as admirable is the divorce rate among professional athletes. While no couple in Maryland or anywhere else is guaranteed a life-long relationship, the odds of that happening in the sports world is purportedly slim to none.
According to a recent report, the divorce rate in the athletic world is between 60 and 80 percent. That would mean that a marriage in the sports community only has a 40 percent or less chance of being successful. There are many examples of these high-profile break-ups that end up costing these professionals millions of dollars and sometimes a gain in notoriety. Images of Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan come to mind when the words divorce and sports are mentioned.
There are many reasons attributed to why a sports marriage ends. One of the most talked-about is infidelity on the part of the male athlete the majority of the time. Other reasons are the fame and money that can sometimes lead to an over-inflated self-image that is often incompatible with a healthy relationship. Two other reasons cited are poor decisions when selecting a marriage partner or too much time apart. These last reasons are ones that many non-athletes may be able to relate to the most.
While the media is often full of stories concerning athletes and troubles that may surround them, the most prevalent issue they seem to deal with is divorce. To be sure, there are likely many sports marriages that do survive over the long haul, but they are not in the majority. However, no matter what a person’s day job may entail, relationship struggles are not confined to just one career or profession. There may be couples in Maryland who are contemplating where to begin in their own divorce process. There are resources that can provide guidance as to how to best make the transition from married to single once again.
Source: Forbes, “Divorce, Not Domestic Violence, Is Biggest Issue At Home For Professional Athletes“, David Lariviere, Aug. 15, 2014
Source: Forbes, “Divorce, Not Domestic Violence, Is Biggest Issue At Home For Professional Athletes“, David Lariviere, Aug. 15, 2014