This is sort of the opposite side of the spectrum from the “Professional athletes are normal human beings too.” I don’t think these yacht-folks are normal human beings. Not at all. (That’s not a generalized paintbrush, mind you — these are just some crazy stories.)

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.