Watching the on-ice and on-field play is one thing. Discovering how professional athletes live their lives is another. It’s fascinating to read stories — especially around a professional athlete’s finances — and discover how alike or how different they are from “normal” folks. Add in the effect of uncovering context — such as a professional athlete’s level of education, culture, and nationality — and it becomes much, much easier to look at these guys like they are actual human beings.