Where Bubba came from...

Sierra Ranger wrote:

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated...

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated and well-developed recruiting system focused on just this type of individual in particular (black athletes from humble backgrounds). There is nothing like that for moto- just pinning it, and knowing you're the best. And that is what is amazing about Bubba's story.

Spudnut wrote:

“ How many sports can take people from near-poverty to multi-millionaire?” About 85% of them

Sierra Ranger wrote:

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated...

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated and well-developed recruiting system focused on just this type of individual in particular (black athletes from humble backgrounds). There is nothing like that for moto- just pinning it, and knowing you're the best. And that is what is amazing about Bubba's story.

stremme12 wrote:

Regardless off all that it's still a sport than can take you from poverty to a millionaire which is the question you did indeed ask.

stremme12 wrote:

Regardless off all that it's still a sport than can take you from poverty to a millionaire which is the question you did indeed ask.

KX500 wrote:

I would argue the exact opposite - nobody near poverty can race motocross. Football/Basketball/Baseball & others have school sponsored programs that you can participate in for...

I would argue the exact opposite - nobody near poverty can race motocross.

Football/Basketball/Baseball & others have school sponsored programs that you can participate in for free or next to it.

The biggest hurdle with these is having the right body size and the talent (I had neither) - but not extra money.

But no one (outside of family) is going to help you start racing motocross. You have to prove you're worth being sponsored before getting financial backing.

And how would someone near poverty, who can't afford the costs, go about doing that?

Sierra Ranger wrote:

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated...

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated and well-developed recruiting system focused on just this type of individual in particular (black athletes from humble backgrounds). There is nothing like that for moto- just pinning it, and knowing you're the best. And that is what is amazing about Bubba's story.

Looby321 wrote:

Gov’t sanctioned path? Explain Lebron James then.

visser62 wrote:

Deshaun Watson didn't have a bed and had to sleep on the floor every night before he went to Clemson.

Sierra Ranger wrote:

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated...

I expected that response- but if you take basketball, for instance, there is a government-sanctioned path to success through school programs, college scholarships and a sophisticated and well-developed recruiting system focused on just this type of individual in particular (black athletes from humble backgrounds). There is nothing like that for moto- just pinning it, and knowing you're the best. And that is what is amazing about Bubba's story.

Looby321 wrote:

Gov’t sanctioned path? Explain Lebron James then.

RadDadChad wrote:

I dont believe players can skip college anymore but yes Leneon is an exception to any rule lol

TbonesPop wrote:

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry...

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry are so low, and the amount of high paying opportunities are greater. There's simply a lower cost of entry and a much higher GDP in each sport, which results in more higher paying opportunities. The rags to riches stories in those sports are exponential. I get the OPs point, and think that it was absolutely great that James (and Mookie) were able to make it in our sport. But thinking that the barrier to entry in motocross is low financially and the amount of high earning potential, is a complete farce. This sport has a very high cost of entry with limited opportunities, and the number of talented riders that end up making millions is very few. Seriously, there are some insanely talented riders in our sport that never earn a nickel of positive income (make more money than their expenses) from it. I actually find it more remarkable that the Stewarts were able to make it, which is a testament to their talent, family commitment, and frankly just good old fashioned hard work.

TbonesPop wrote:

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry...

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry are so low, and the amount of high paying opportunities are greater. There's simply a lower cost of entry and a much higher GDP in each sport, which results in more higher paying opportunities. The rags to riches stories in those sports are exponential. I get the OPs point, and think that it was absolutely great that James (and Mookie) were able to make it in our sport. But thinking that the barrier to entry in motocross is low financially and the amount of high earning potential, is a complete farce. This sport has a very high cost of entry with limited opportunities, and the number of talented riders that end up making millions is very few. Seriously, there are some insanely talented riders in our sport that never earn a nickel of positive income (make more money than their expenses) from it. I actually find it more remarkable that the Stewarts were able to make it, which is a testament to their talent, family commitment, and frankly just good old fashioned hard work.

SEEMEFIRST wrote:

Put 2 kids through Academy then select. Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors. Then...

Put 2 kids through Academy then select.
Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors.
Then look at how many pro teams are out there, and they don't have 53 man rosters. There are 690 players currently.
Then look at the salaries. The average base is about $345k. Very few are millionaires.

TbonesPop wrote:

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry...

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry are so low, and the amount of high paying opportunities are greater. There's simply a lower cost of entry and a much higher GDP in each sport, which results in more higher paying opportunities. The rags to riches stories in those sports are exponential. I get the OPs point, and think that it was absolutely great that James (and Mookie) were able to make it in our sport. But thinking that the barrier to entry in motocross is low financially and the amount of high earning potential, is a complete farce. This sport has a very high cost of entry with limited opportunities, and the number of talented riders that end up making millions is very few. Seriously, there are some insanely talented riders in our sport that never earn a nickel of positive income (make more money than their expenses) from it. I actually find it more remarkable that the Stewarts were able to make it, which is a testament to their talent, family commitment, and frankly just good old fashioned hard work.

SEEMEFIRST wrote:

Put 2 kids through Academy then select. Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors. Then...

Put 2 kids through Academy then select.
Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors.
Then look at how many pro teams are out there, and they don't have 53 man rosters. There are 690 players currently.
Then look at the salaries. The average base is about $345k. Very few are millionaires.

TbonesPop wrote:

You're thinking is based on what you see here in the USA or in prominent European countries. Go spend some time in Africa, or Central America...

You're thinking is based on what you see here in the USA or in prominent European countries. Go spend some time in Africa, or Central America, or South America and tell me how that sport doesn't elevate a talented but poor kids standard of living. Sports in the US have not always be what it is today with traveling all over the US for tournaments, etc (nor does it need to be). It got that way because it turned into a business. You will have more millionaires playing in an international soccer game (two teams combined on the field) than you will have in all of the MX at any one time. I'm not really a soccer fan either, I played rugby growing up and through college. But I fully acknowledge its a low cost of barrier of entry. Hell, half the kids playing soccer in poor African countries don't even wear shoes.

Spudnut wrote:

“ How many sports can take people from near-poverty to multi-millionaire?” About 85% of them

visser62 wrote:

Deshaun Watson didn't have a bed and had to sleep on the floor every night before he went to Clemson.

Skuzzy29 wrote:

Josh Jacobs was homeless, sleeping in a car with his Dad. Now he's the starting running back for the Raiders!

Spudnut wrote:

“ How many sports can take people from near-poverty to multi-millionaire?” About 85% of them

BobbyM wrote:

Yes or more But, very few sports can make you a millionaire before you're 18 years old like MX/SX can.

Sierra Ranger wrote:

This is an older video, but around the 7 minute mark they start talking about where Bubba came from. His mom worked at a gas station...

This is an older video, but around the 7 minute mark they start talking about where Bubba came from. His mom worked at a gas station and Big James at a Coca Cola bottling plant.
How many sports can take people from near-poverty to multi-millionaire? When they show his background, it explains so much about this man's drive to win (win or die trying). It's truly an amazing story, when you think about it. Inspiring.

TbonesPop wrote:

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry...

Soccer (aka football), Rugby, American Football, Basketball, and baseball are all inherently easier to make it from extreme poverty to millionaire because the barriers to entry are so low, and the amount of high paying opportunities are greater. There's simply a lower cost of entry and a much higher GDP in each sport, which results in more higher paying opportunities. The rags to riches stories in those sports are exponential. I get the OPs point, and think that it was absolutely great that James (and Mookie) were able to make it in our sport. But thinking that the barrier to entry in motocross is low financially and the amount of high earning potential, is a complete farce. This sport has a very high cost of entry with limited opportunities, and the number of talented riders that end up making millions is very few. Seriously, there are some insanely talented riders in our sport that never earn a nickel of positive income (make more money than their expenses) from it. I actually find it more remarkable that the Stewarts were able to make it, which is a testament to their talent, family commitment, and frankly just good old fashioned hard work.

SEEMEFIRST wrote:

Put 2 kids through Academy then select. Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors. Then...

Put 2 kids through Academy then select.
Soccer isn't cheap, maybe not moto money, but you aren't going to do it being impoverished without sponsors.
Then look at how many pro teams are out there, and they don't have 53 man rosters. There are 690 players currently.
Then look at the salaries. The average base is about $345k. Very few are millionaires.

TbonesPop wrote:

You're thinking is based on what you see here in the USA or in prominent European countries. Go spend some time in Africa, or Central America...

You're thinking is based on what you see here in the USA or in prominent European countries. Go spend some time in Africa, or Central America, or South America and tell me how that sport doesn't elevate a talented but poor kids standard of living. Sports in the US have not always be what it is today with traveling all over the US for tournaments, etc (nor does it need to be). It got that way because it turned into a business. You will have more millionaires playing in an international soccer game (two teams combined on the field) than you will have in all of the MX at any one time. I'm not really a soccer fan either, I played rugby growing up and through college. But I fully acknowledge its a low cost of barrier of entry. Hell, half the kids playing soccer in poor African countries don't even wear shoes.