“It’s a great game, but a crappy business”

“It’s a great game, but it’s a crappy/terrible/tough business” has been said about many sports. “It’s a great game, but it’s a tough business” was said about football in 2003. “What’s the old line about pro hockey being a great game, but a crappy business sometimes?” was cited in 2011.
   
 
20 August 2003, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, “Bettis out to show his career not finished”:
“It didn’t bother me because I tell people all the time, it’s a tough business,” Bettis said. “It’s a great game, but it’s a tough business.”
(Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers football club—ed.)
 
The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, FL)   
Published Sunday, November 19, 2006
NFL CONFIDENTIAL: Texans hoping sweep ignites a turnaround
By The Times-Union
(...)
Quotable
“Football is a great game and a terrible business.”—Washington Redskins veteran quarterback Mark Brunell after being benched last week in favor of second-year pro Jason Campbell, who hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season game.
 
Edmonton (Alberta) Sun
Buhl handed his walking papers
DEREK VAN DIEST, SUN MEDIA
First posted:  Thursday, September 03, 2009 02:50 AM MDT | Updated:  Thursday, September 03, 2009 02:54 AM MDT
Jonte Buhl spent four years with the Edmonton Eskimos, suited up in 44 games and has half of the team’s interceptions this season.
 
But it wasn’t enough for the import cornerback to keep his job.
(...)
“It’s a great game, but a (crappy) business really. That’s the downside of professional sports, but that’s just the reality of it.”
(Head coach Richie Hall—ed.)
 
CFL (Canadian Football League)
Campbell: Great game, crappy business
September 09, 2010 08:00EDT
Dave Campbell
What do they say about professional football, “great game but a crappy business?”  That saying reared its ugly head again this week as the 2-7 Edmonton Eskimos released veteran offensive lineman and their starting left tackle Calvin Armstrong. 
 
London (Ontario) Free Press
Too little, too late for Esks Hall
CON GRIWKOWSKY, QMI Agency
Friday, November 12, 2010 7:51:24 EST PM
On a fan poll that’s been up on riderfans.com most of this week, nearly 75% of Saskatchewan fans would welcome Richie Hall back with open arms.
(...)
“Most important, I want to thank the players for having an opportunity to coach them,” said Hall. “It’s a great game, but it’s a crappy business. We all understand that’s the nature of the game.
 
Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free Press
What, me worry?
NHL coaches can’t dwell on fact they can be unemployed in an instant
By: Ed Tait
Posted: 12/2/2011 1:00 AM
(...)
What’s the old line about pro hockey being a great game, but a crappy business sometimes?