Tuesday, November 24, 2009

World of WAGs

According to Wikipedia the definitions of WAGs is:

"WAGs (or Wags) is an acronym used particularly by the British tabloid press to describe the wives and girlfriends of high-profile football players, originally the England national football team."

For the purpose of today's blog and any further conversations, we'll use it like everyone else does and use it to talk about the athletes of American sports. By now, we should have all heard that Shaquille and Shaunie O'Neal are separated - which might lead to divorce. Two years ago, Shaq filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences and then claiming that Shaunie may have been stealing money from. Further gossip began that Shaunie was cheating with a personal trainer. We don't know what's true and what's not but the papers were torn up and they got back together.

But last month, Shaunie dropped the bomb and filed for legal separation from Shaq. Pulled the kids out of school, moved to LA, and has gotten the ball rolling. NOW rumors are running rampant across all industries, all IM conversations and either other corner that you can find that Shaq has been carrying on some affair with fellow NBA brethren, Gilbert Aernas' woman, Laura Govan for YEARS. If you've ever heard any other NBA gossip, then you've heard about Shaq's doing all through Texas and wherever else. But that's not that kind of party on here today.

While using Shaq and Shaunie as the example, there are plenty of other athletes who "do their thing" on the road or at home whenever they get the chance. Some have always been the cheating type and some have never had such open opportunity at many different women and don't know what to do with themselves. Many of these men go on to have long-term girlfriends and some have wives...and many still cheat. The question asked to them is the same that is asked to many of the non professional sports dudes: Why get serious or settle down with someone if you don't intend on being faithful?

Another question and even more of a focus is: WHY do the WAGs get involved knowing the cheating and the rumors are even more likely to happen than with the average Joe Shmoe? Women want their men to be faithful and rightfully so because there's no reason to be in a relationship if that's not going to happen. But some of these women get involved with HIGH profile men having been made of the reputation that precedes them - yet they still get caught up. A lot of the WAGs were very average women (average meaning they were not necessarily trying to make the most of their own lives befofe they met these "wonderful" men) before they met their men so it makes you wonder: did you just want the stature? Let's not forget...the MONEY.

Ahhh, the money and the lifestyle. For sure, it doesn't get past me that this is a way to make some bank and to be "upgraded" from what you used to be. Getting with the right athlete (a lot of times that's actually a baseball player because quiet as kept, that's where the money is) can set you up for quite some time even if you're not together for life...if you're smart. There's bragging involved to friends who haven't been able to "get on their level" because now they hang with stars and people like that. Do the WAGs fall so far in love with the man that they let these things go on? Or is it a little bit of that sprinkled it with a lot of the "life?"

But how many of these women are HAPPY? How many of them are truly cool with knowing (and trust, some of these women KNOW what's going on with their dudes) that their men are doing whomever - wherever and whenever? Names and pictures splattered all over papers and the internet? Family and friends won't stop talking about you and some concerned about your actual being - not just talking sh*t about you. And if you have kids, how long do you keep them involved in the charade who the sake of the "life?" How long does it remain fun?

What about you? Do you honestly think you would have what it takes (I'm talking about mentally) to be a real WAG? Have you put yourselves in the lives of these women and really thought about how far you could go? Would the love keep you there forever?

Discuss.