I recently read an article on CNN.com For retired NFL players, most challenging 'season' just beginning and was surprised at the lack of compassion and overall negativity towards NFL players.  My personal take is that people overall love to celebrate the touchdowns and are quick to judges and cheer for a celebrities downfall and failures.

I have no idea what it is like to have the "world" at your beck and call.  Or to have to worry about supporting a large group of people ( family, friends, etc ). Or to have to worry about whether the woman they meet really is after them or a hefty payday.  Because I have no idea what kind of life celebrities and athletes have, I can't judge them based off of my own life and choices.

A common theme in the comments seem to revolve around the fact that these players are broke when they make so much money. I think it is much more complicated than that and much closer to what everyone else goes through ( just amplified by the amount of money ). Many of these players came from nothing and had no role models to teach them about financial discipline.

For those who have no sympathy for them not saving their money I ask this, "How many 20 somethinsg do you know of that are financially responsible right out of college"?