Most of the main players do a good job at providing guidance & assistance in purchases.  

A big player is the Intel plant coming to central Ohio.

Is he a retired hockey player ?

I wouldn't get the license unless you want to spend significant energy as an agent to learn your market and the players in your market. 

Isn't there something akin to a player's union in professional sports in the investment world?

The basketball player Antoine Walker for one.

However, for many newbies the need to be perceived upfront as a "player" is just too irresistible to avoid getting sucked in.

No wonder they don’t have any Big Players on here.

Don't do that.There are several factors at play here, the tax brackets of the players involved, the ability for getting financing, was it a personal residence of the person who has the loan, inheritance issues, who applied what funds in the purchase, mortgage and maintenance, how much money dad wants back, does it need to be cash, and a bunch of other questions.  

A 200lb NFL player is likely fitter than myself at 190lbs.