WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE MADNESS?

As we complete another coveted March Madness and NCAA Basketball Championship, I thought I'd share some revealing stats about these college players after the final horn. Of the approximately 345 Division I college basketball programs and 17,500 players, only one team and 15 players will finish on a win. Needless to say, the odds of finishing the season on a win are sobering. According to the NCAA, the odds of these players going pro can be just as staggering. Only 1.2% of Division I college basketball players will turn pro. (At least those odds are better than high school basketball players who only possess a 0.3% chance of getting an NBA contract) The chance of a college basketball player playing in the NBA is less than any other major sport (1.6% college baseball players go pro, 1.7% of college football players hit the NFL, and 1.3% of college hockey players go pro). The good news is......according to a NCAA Graduation Success Rate report (GSR), 82% of Division I student-athletes earned a degree, although, that report is for all sports, not simply basketball, and not recently updated. So even if a Division I basketball player does beat the odds and become a pro athlete remember..... 100% of professional athletes ultimately experience job termination and ALL professional athletes eventually lose their jobs, which means they must must find a life after their glory days. As a certified sports counselor and transition consultant to pro and Olympic athletes I've seen many great athletes reach dizzying heights, and sometimes subsequent slippery slopes, and can honestly say that those student-athletes that finish their degree prior to turning pro have an easier transition following their pro sports careers. So as we celebrate college basketball's biggest event - the FINAL FOUR & NCAA Championship - remember that after the final horn has sounded and the trophy has been awarded, numerous student-athletes will NOT make the NBA, and even if they do, they must eventually find their next championship to accomplish. You can find out more about me, my bestselling book, my TV show, and my services at: www.kurtdavid.com

From Super Bowl to Super Now What?

No sports fan is able to ignore the existence of one of the biggest sporting events of the year....THE SUPER BOWL.

But when the six hour pregame hype is over, the last half-time song has been sung, and the final pricey commercial has been aired what happens to the 106 warriors on the field who have just experienced the most intense sporting experience of their lives? Fifty-three privileged men on each roster stand where others can only envy. But when the smoke of the fireworks clear, the final horn has sounded, and the champion is crowned what happens to these select NFL players?

Unfortunately for many, it will be their final competition. Who truly knows what exact percent of Super Bowl players face job termination proceeding this event year in and year out, but there are some stats that are worth paying attention to.

For instance, one statistic indicates 25% of NFL players are bankrupt within their first year out. Another states 50% of divorces occur within the first year after an NFL player's retirement. Some say 78% of NFL players are either divorced, bankrupt, or unemployed two years after departing from the game.

One of the biggest misconceptions for pro football fans is thinking everyone plays 10 to 15 years and makes millions of dollars. Not so, says the reality of an NFL longevity of under 4 years. In addition, many league minimums are paid out and it is only the exceptional athlete who plays for 15 years and makes the millions and millions of dollar we read about.

It's estimated that 320 NFL players must annually face the cold, hard reality of permanent job termination from pro sports, which includes a loss of status, lack of purpose, lack of direction, and needless to say a huge income loss. How would you feel if I told you, you were going to lose 90% of your income for the rest of your life? I don't care how much money you make, losing 90% of your income is a major lifestyle change, no matter how much you started with. Most NFL players are far from being set for the rest of their lives and our society is not set-up to handle those 35 year old retirees who are.

So what is a former Super Bowl athlete to do? Well, perhaps keep working out and spending a significant amount of money attempting to get back into the game for a couple of years or...perhaps find a way to channel the same wherewithal they applied as a pro athlete into the next phase of their lives.

Imagine the focus, the drive, the self-discipline, the ability to work together with others for a common cause all channeled into a new phase, a new focus, a new life. Exciting isn't it?

Imagine, if pro athletes apply the same mental, physical, and emotional energy they applied during pro sports, into the betterment of our society.....this world would be a much better place.

Some have done this and others eventually will.

So whether you've played in a Super Bowl or not remember one thing holds true....."100% of PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE JOB TERMINATION."

Let's hope they're ready.

You can find out more about me, my book, and my services at: www.fromglorydays.com

Why Professional Athletes Lose Their Millions

It's no secret that former NBA All-Star and Champion, Antoine Walker, earned well over $100 million throughout his NBA career. It's also no secret that Antoine lost it all and went broke. Antoine's financial problems began as a 19-year-old rookie with the Boston Celtics in 1996, and although he had a financial adviser plan for his long-term finances, Antoine had other ideas for his new found wealth. A sad story we often hear on our TV show, 'From Glory Days' and a lesson to be learned for anyone looking to gain and maintain their wealth. Why do so many professional athletes go broke? As I analyze the case of Antoine Walker and many others, these are the three reasons I find for professional athletes' financial demise. Reason #1 - Ignoring Financial Wisdom “Through my young arrogance, being ignorant...and being stubborn with my money,” Antoine has said publicly. Pro athlete or not, advice is only as good as it is heeded, especially in an area that is not our expertise. Antoine's expertise was as a professional athlete. That's what paid him well, and he didn't heed the expert's advice and took his business and finance matters into his own hands. Mistake number one. Reason #2 - Skewed Reality on Money “I never really thought about the (financial) severity that I put myself through, but I didn’t really worry about it because the money was constantly coming in,” Antoine shared. Often athletes feel invincible, and as a former professional athlete myself, I get it. You think the playing will never stop and the money will never end. 100% focused on current status, and little to no thought placed on how current decisions will impact the future, especially financially. Did Antoine really need that many designer suits or five luxury vehicles in the driveway of every one of his homes? No more than former boxer Mike Tyson needed white tigers while losing $300 million earned during his boxing career. Reason #3 - Losing Control of Your Money “I could have been on top of it,” Antoine said when talking about what lead to the loss of his wealth and investments. Gambling, blowing wads of money on lavish trips with friends and acquaintances, and not paying attention to important court appearances tied to his 140 investment properties...these were the actions that lead to Antoine's loss of control. Eventually, the reality of $13 million in liabilities and $4 million in assets forced Antoine to declare bankruptcy, and he had to liquidate many of his priceless possessions including an NBA Championship ring. Looking back, Antoine has many regrets, as most former athletes do that find themselves in this position, but the good news is Antoine is trying to turn this tragedy into a triumph by getting the word out to others about his mistakes. Focusing on the importance of financial literacy and hoping others can learn from his mistakes, Antoine has released a documentary titled, "Gone In An Instant" which documents his rise and fall. When asked what his #1 piece of advice would be to young NBA players today, Antoine said, “Get the word ‘No’ in your vocabulary. You’re going to have to say no to a lot of people that are very important to you. Stick to your financial plan and don’t invest until you’re done with your career when you’re able to be hands-on.” Advice too late for Antoine Walker to heed, but great words of wisdom in hopes of sharing the secret to his financial demise. You can find out more about me, my book, my TV show, and the important work I do with former professional athletes at: www.kurtdavid.com

Now What?

No sports fan is able to ignore the existence of our arguably biggest sporting event of the year....THE SUPER BOWL.

But when the six hour pregame hype is over, the last half-time song has been sung, and the final pricey commercial has been aired what happens to the 106 warriors on the field who have just experienced the most intense sporting experience of their lives? Fifty-three privileged men on each roster stand where others can only envy. But when the smoke of the fireworks clear, the final horn has sounded, and the champion is crowned what happens to these select NFL players?

Unfortunately for many, it will be their final competition. Who truly knows what exact percent of Super Bowl players face job termination proceeding this event year in and year out, but there are some stats that are worth paying attention to.

For instance, one statistic indicates 25% of NFL players are bankrupt within their first year out. Another states 50% of divorces occur within the first year after an NFL player's retirement. Some say 78% of NFL players are either divorced, bankrupt, or unemployed two years after departing from the game.

One of the biggest misconceptions for pro football fans is thinking everyone plays 10 to 15 years and makes millions of dollars. Not so, says the reality of an NFL longevity of under 4 years. In addition, many league minimums are paid out and it is only the exceptional athlete who plays for 15 years and makes the millions and millions of dollar we read about.

It's estimated that 320 NFL players must annually face the cold, hard reality of permanent job termination from pro sports, which includes a loss of status, lack of purpose, lack of direction, and needless to say a huge income loss. How would you feel if I told you, you were going to lose 90% of your income for the rest of your life? I don't care how much money you make, losing 90% of your income is a major lifestyle change, no matter how much you started with. Most NFL players are far from being set for the rest of their lives and our society is not set-up to handle those 35 year old retirees who are.

So what is a former Super Bowl athlete to do? Well, perhaps keep working out and spending a significant amount of money attempting to get back into the game for a couple of years or...perhaps find a way to channel the same wherewithal they applied as a pro athlete into the next phase of their lives.

Imagine the focus, the drive, the self-discipline, the ability to work together with others for a common cause all channeled into a new phase, a new focus, a new life. Exciting isn't it?

Imagine, if pro athletes apply the same mental, physical, and emotional energy they applied during pro sports, into the betterment of our society.....this world would be a much better place.

Some have done this and others eventually will.

So whether you've played in a Super Bowl or not remember one thing holds true....."100% of PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE JOB TERMINATION."

Let's hope they're ready.

You can find out more about me, my book, and my services at: www.fromglorydays.com

Final Line Change

It's difficult to know what former Detroit Red Wing Shawn Burr enjoyed more in life.....hockey or hilarity. Coaches, teammates, friends, and family will vouche that he was good at both; often ripping one-liners to anyone that would listen during his 16 seasons of professional hockey. There was nothing funny about the news I received late last night.....Shawn Burr is dead at the age of 47. Not necessarily known for possessing the body of a greek god and often ribbing himself about his own weight Shawn once told me, "I'm not blessed with one of the greatest bodies in the world." In fact, he shared that when he first came to training camp the Red Wings wanted him to gain weight and gave him protein shakes and told him to mix it with ice cream. "It created a monster and I've gained five pounds ever since," he joked. Despite his less-than-beach-body-physique Shawn was know for his physical play as his helped the Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup Finals after a 28 year draught since the club's last Finals appearance. Many years later, while Shawn and I had a signing appearance together at the Gibraltar Trade Center Sports Card Show, it became clear early-on that fans still appreciate his impact on Red Wing hockey. Despite Shawn's success in professional hockey and subsequent post-athletic career as a financial advisor for Smith Barney, he still found time in his busy schedule to give back to the community through numerous appearances with the Red Wing Alumni Association and other charitable events. Shawn's triumph over his serious diagnosis of Leukemia in 2011 proved he was still a champion but no one would have guessed that two years later, while in remission of this disease, he would have an unfortunate fall that would lead to his passing. During a 2007 interview for my book, "FROM GLORY DAYS - Successful Transitions of Professional Detroit Athletes," Shawn told me, "I kind of knew my days in Detroit were numbered." At 47 years of age, little did we know that those days would numbered this low. RIP - Shawn Burr www.fromglorydays.com

Michael Jordan now 50 years old?

Yes, believe it or not the mega-sports icon Michael Jordan turns 50 years of age on February 17th, and WOW has he accomplished much in those fifty years. The infamous tongue, the shaved head before it's time, the iconic 'Jumpman' Logo, Air Jordan tennis shoes, Space Jam the movie, an NCAA Championship, NBA Rookie of the Year, six NBA Championships, five regular season NBA MVP Awards, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, NBA team owner, NBA Hall of Fame, a stint at professional baseball, a stint at professional golf, and the long list goes on. Now ten years since his third (and final) retirement from professional basketball, no other American athlete has come close to matching the cultural impact this man has had on sports. His success became synonymous with sports altogether and his retirement/unretirement only proved that even the most legendary and iconic athlete has difficulty walking away from the game. Despite Michael Jordan's monumental fame, fortune, and success on and off the court, his ability to transition into the next phase of his life has been marred with divorce, gambling scandals, foreclosure, and bankruptcy, which goes to show that even the best of us struggles with this transition. For many years he has brought people on their feet, caused millions to cheer his name, and become an icon for all sports. Now at 50 years old we can only hope he experiences a fraction of that fame and success for his remaining years. You can find out more about me, my best-selling book, my TV show, and services at: www.kurtdavid.com

SUPER What-Now?

No sports fan is able to ignore the existence of our arguably biggest sporting event of the year....THE SUPER BOWL.

But when the six hour pregame hype is over, the last half-time song has been sung, and the final pricey commercial has been aired what happens to the 106 warriors on the field who have just experienced the most intense sporting experience of their lives? Fifty-three privileged men on each roster stand where others can only envy. But when the smoke of the fireworks clear, the final horn has sounded, and the champion is crowned what happens to these select NFL players?

Unfortunately for many, it will be their final competition. Who truly knows what exact percent of Super Bowl players face job termination proceeding this event year in and year out, but there are some stats that are worth paying attention to.

For instance, one statistic indicates 25% of NFL players are bankrupt within their first year out. Another states 50% of divorces occur within the first year after an NFL player's retirement. Some say 78% of NFL players are either divorced, bankrupt, or unemployed two years after departing from the game.

One of the biggest misconceptions for pro football fans is thinking everyone plays 10 to 15 years and makes millions of dollars. Not so, says the reality of an NFL longevity of under 4 years. In addition, many league minimums are paid out and it is only the exceptional athlete who plays for 15 years and makes the millions and millions of dollar we read about.

It's estimated that 320 NFL players must annually face the cold, hard reality of permanent job termination from pro sports, which includes a loss of status, lack of purpose, lack of direction, and needless to say a huge income loss. How would you feel if I told you, you were going to lose 90% of your income for the rest of your life? I don't care how much money you make, losing 90% of your income is a major lifestyle change, no matter how much you started with. Most NFL players are far from being set for the rest of their lives and our society is not set-up to handle those 35 year old retirees who are.

So what is a former Super Bowl athlete to do? Well, perhaps keep working out and spending a significant amount of money attempting to get back into the game for a couple of years or...perhaps find a way to channel the same wherewithal they applied as a pro athlete into the next phase of their lives.

Imagine the focus, the drive, the self-discipline, the ability to work together with others for a common cause all channeled into a new phase, a new focus, a new life. Exciting isn't it?

Imagine, if pro athletes apply the same mental, physical, and emotional energy they applied during pro sports, into the betterment of our society.....this world would be a much better place.

Some have done this and others eventually will.

So whether you've played in a Super Bowl or not remember one thing holds true....."100% of PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCE JOB TERMINATION."

Let's hope they're ready.

You can find out more about me, my book, and my services at: www.fromglorydays.com