[VLM]

Stepping back and having a non-emotional discussion about sportsball might help. Consider that the default plan for the stereotypical high school football player is to play college ball, of course. Also, of course, they know the odds of a successful pro career are very low. Its just something to do until you have something else to do, and there's really nothing wrong with that.

Maybe another way to put it is the most interesting cultural change is the death of the career and the rise of the gig or job as the default. Once you know you're very unlikely to have a career, you're free to have a fun job or a fun gig or fun life while doing work you like, or at least like the most out of your options.

So the article boils down to the career path is dead, and that's had little short term effect on the workers, like every other job in the country.