In July of 2013, we learned that Alex Morgan was a child of privilege. It doesn’t diminish her achievements on the field in any way. Whether you’re a 1%er or from a low income background, or anything in between, it won’t or win or lose an athletic event for you.
However, it is a major determinant of whether or not you win in life. America certainly has plenty of social mobility. It’s just that America has WAY LESS social mobility than advertised. Remember that when we have a Clinton vs Bush Presidential election in 2016.
“If you work hard and play by the rules, you can be anything you want in America.” That was Bill Clinton’s signature campaign line. It’s a great soundbite by Slick Willie, but it doesn’t always come to fruition in real life. If your parents are among the socioeconomically elite however, well that helps a lot.
Alex Morgan had it pretty good as a teenager too. Or at least it seems that way according to a story in Sports Illustrated. Morgan had a pretty sweet, difficult to acquire luxury ride before she even graduated high school.
The face of U.S. Soccer was handed the keys to a brand new silver Lexus IS 350 by her parents. Apparently she “earned it” by doing well in school, and exceeding in extra-curricular activities. Alex Morgan was essentially a good kid, we’re told in the story “Alex in Wonderland,” written by Grant Wahl.
Of course, lots of kids make the national honor society and exceed in prep school varsity sports.
They don’t all get the keys to premium luxury sedans, with an MSPR of $41-$44,000, handed to them.
“The 250 is the standard, but she wasn’t having that,” the father of Alex Morgan is quoted on page 54 of the June 24th 2013 SI. They could only find two 350s available on the West Coast (SHE grew up in Diamond Bar, California) so Alex and her father flew to Phoenix and then drove one back to Los Angeles. So Alex Morgan didn’t just get the Lexus model which sets “the standard” as a teen; she had a Lexus model that surpassed the vehicle with an MSRP of about $36,000.
The article goes on to say that Morgan earns more than a million per year (mostly from endorsements) today.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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