Sports. Arena Football League strike: < pa I etc een By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer hen the words “professional athlete” get thrown around, most people are quick to think “really filthy rich.” And why not? In today’s world, it’s common to ’ hear about star players holding out for a new contract because they’re being horribly low-balled by a $5-million deal.'The average person won't even come close to that in their lifetime, but these athletes aren't satisfied with such a figure for one year. Spoiled. Overpaid. Unbelievable. Take your favourite incredulous adjective for athletes The fragile career of an athlete and feel free to add it to the list. These people are getting paid obscene amounts of cash to play a game, a game that they presumably love. While life may often be unfair, sports are just plain nonsensical. But not every athlete falls into the category of outstandingly fortunate brat. While the top leagues in any sport tend to dish out the dough like it’s going out of style, those leagues below the top- tier are often far less generous. Case in point: the Arena Football League. The AFL, for those who are unaware, is essentially football played on a much smaller field with padded boards forming the borders of the playing area. In this league, players are all but forced to hold down a job outside of the game. Monthly earnings typically hover around the $3,000 range. Certainly not living a life of luxury. In the recent strike, players were trying to double their meagre salaries to a more respectable figure. The owners’ response? Sayonara. Replacement players were brought in immediately, and many of the the pro crowds. But they play on for love of the game and that one tiny glimmer of hope every kid holds onto of making it to the top one day. The strike helped illustrate just how fleeting a shot at glory is. In their attempt to make their wages almost half-decent, some players lost their chance altogether. Owners seldom are fans of those who try to reduce their profits, and AFL “While the top leagues in any sport tend to dish out the dough like it’s going out of style, those leagues below the top-tier are often far less generous.’ striking players crossed the picket line before the end of the second quarter. Surprise surprise. Who woulda thunk it? When you're a nobody, you have no leverage. I don’t care to tune into too many AFL games, but at the same time, it is athletes like these who it is far easier to have respect for. At 3k a month, none of them are in it for the money. The chances to jump to the next level are slim. The fan- base is undoubtedly smaller than owners are no different. Several of the key figures in the strike now find themselves without a job anymore, and, unless they want to take another step down, face an end to their career. It is easy to bundle professional ball players into the classification of loaded rich jerks, but keep in mind that many of them are honest, hard- working Joes, just like you and me. Birdies and battles Royals’ Charmagne Yeung wins gold at badminton nationals By Sharon Miki, Assistant Editor ometimes, big winners come S: small packages. At five- foot-four, Charmagne Yeung might appear at first glance to be diminutive in stature—but the badminton champion works hard for her results. Earlier this month, the full-time Print Futures: Professional Writing student's dedication paid off as she earned her fourth CCAA national mixed doubles title for Douglas College. Yeung and her doubles partner, Logan Campbell, dominated at the 2012 CCAA tournament, winning the mixed doubles event in a feat that mirrored the success of their overall season—which they ended with a perfect 53-0 record in matches. The win is part of a larger accomplishment for Yeung, who -points out the achievements of the entire Royals team. “2011/2012 was a building year for Douglas badminton, as there were a lot of first-years,” says Yeung. “We are a very green team, and to come out of nationals with 18 three gold medals, one silver medal, and the team supremacy award was a significant accomplishment.” Yeung’s journey to her current success has been complex. She played for the Royals from 2005 to 2008, earning three CCAA titles before taking a break from playing for Douglas. This year—after earning her diploma in Sports Science and an Associates of Arts degree in Creative Writing in 2010—Yeung returned to Douglas to study writing and to play for the Royals full-force. “Charmagne has worked very hard to re-dedicate herself to the sport of badminton,” Royals badminton coach Al Mawani says of Yeung. “After several months of hard work, she once again finds herself competing with and against the top collegiate players in Canada. I would say [Yeung], going into her fifth and final year of eligibility, still has a lot to give to fulfill her potential.” Yeung, 24, trains five days a week, alternating between conditioning and on-court technical training. While the college season runs from September through March, Yeung and her teammates train year-round. Still, Yeung admits that there are often many misconceptions surrounding her sport. “Lots of people who are not familiar with the sport think that badminton is a recreational sport played in the backyard on a summer day. We get that more often than not! “But when people see us running treadmill sprints in the Chris Johnson Fitness Centre, they are always surprised at our response when they ask us what sport we play. “Badminton in Canada is not as popular as it is in Asia or Europe, so it’s understandable that people just aren’t aware of the extent to which badminton players train.” As the 2011/2012 season concludes, both Yeung and coach Mawani look forward to the future. “T will be back next year to try and win my fifth national title,” says Yeung. Her coach agrees: “Despite all her accomplishments I expect a lot of her next season, now that she’s back playing with the best,” says Mawani.