December 26, 2012
10 Former Pro Athletes in Jail
Typically, I attempt to try to spin positive within my posts, but today I found this article which brings the challenges of transitioning pro athletes to light.
(Originally posted by Danny Groner on November 2, 2102)
Former Yankees’ standout pitcher Brien Taylor is widely accepted as one of the biggest disappointments in Major League Baseball history. Now, he’s known as one of the game’s most notorious criminals. Next week, the former number 1 pick will be sentenced to between 5 and 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty this summer to distributing crack cocaine. Now 40, Taylor has been incarcerated since his March arrest.
What was once a promising start to a young career has turned into the latest tragic story of a former pro getting himself involved in the wrong side of the law. Here’s a look back at 10 other players who are now serving time in prison.
1. Ugueth Urbina
The former closer was sentenced in Venezuela in 2007 to 14-plus years in prison for the attempted murder of five workers on his ranch. The attacks by several men were particularly severe—involving machetes and pouring gasoline on their victims. Their crime? Urbina accused them of stealing a gun from him.
2. Dave Meggett
Meggett was sentenced to 30 years in 2010 for criminal sexual conduct and burglary stemming from an encounter he had with a college student the year before. His defense argued that the sex was consensual. The three-time All-Pro and one-time Super Bowl champion’s legacy has been overshadowed by a series of troubling episodes during his playing days and afterward. In 2007, he was convicted of misdemeanor sexual battery and served a two-year probation period.
3. Lawrence Phillips
In 2008, the former running back was sentenced to 10 years (eventually reduced to 7) in prison on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Three years earlier, he had driven onto a field and struck three kids with his car. Reports indicated that he had been upset after losing a pickup football game and then suspected them of stealing his possessions. In 2009, Phillips was sentenced to 25 years in prison on a separate conviction for assault and other charges, for a total term of more than 31 years.
4. Mel Hall
Former outfielder Mel Hall got 45 years in prison in 2009 after he was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl that he coached on a basketball team. During the sentencing, other accusers came forward to say that Hall had carried on inappropriate relationships with them as well. “We believe that the verdict does on some level show that the jury understood,” said the prosecutor after the trial. “They looked in these girls’ eyes and said this is worth 40 years, and we agree with them.” After half of his prison term, he will be eligible for parole.
5. Rae Carruth
The promising young Panthers’ receiver had his career go off the rails in 2001 when he was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for arranging the death of the woman pregnant with his child. Miraculously, the child survived the shooting that took his mother’s life. At the time of her death, the victiim, Cherica Adams, was trailing Carruth’s car in her own vehicle when Carruth suddenly stopped and a shooter emerged alongside her in a third car. Then Carruth drove off. Adams survived long enough to call 911 and describe the events of the evening. Two others were also apprehended and are in prison.
6. Eddie Johnson
Once a prominent player in the NBA, Johnson was kicked out of the league in 1987 after failing to stomp out his drug addiction. “Fast Eddie” Johnson boasted a career average of 15.1 points per game during his career, but his demons ultimately got the best of him. In total, he also posted 100 arrests and several stints in prison. In 2006, Johnson was arrested for burglary and sexual battery and molestation of an 8-year-old girl. He received a life sentence without parole. “I don’t blame anybody for what happened to me but myself. I could make excuses, but there’s no excuse,” Johnson told USA Today in 2006.
7. Robert Rozier
He only played six games as a pro for St. Louis before being released over drug use, but it was Rozier’s off-the-field behavior that earned him attention. After serving a six-month prison sentence in the 1980s, Rozier found God, moved into Yahweh ben Yahweh’s “Temple of Love,” and renamed himself “Neariah Israel”, or child of god. Then, he joined “The Brotherhood,” which carried out some murders, but Rozier testified against Yahweh and received a lighter sentence of 22 years in prison, of which he served 10 before his release in 1996. After being caught several years later for writing bad checks, he wound up back in the slammer, serving 25 years to life.
8. Cecil Collins
In 2003, former Miami Dolphins’ running back Cecil Collins was sent back to prison for 15 years after he admitted to breaking into the apartment of a woman he knew in order to watch her sleep. Sentencing didn’t come without controversy: A state appeals court had thrown out the original 15-year sentence he was given back in 1999 after the judge ruled it unfair that Collins’s relatives didn’t have a chance to testify on his behalf. But after the judge lost her seat, the replacement wasn’t as forgiving and did not change the original sentence.
9. Jay Vincent
Last year, the former NBA player was sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $110,000 to the IRS for his part in a fraud case. Vincent and others scammed 20,000 people by falsely making them certified home inspectors. Vincent apologized in federal court and was ordered to repay the government for what he stole. During Vincent’s trial, Magic Johnson came forward to explain how “incredibly remorseful” his former Michaigan State teammate was over his actions. That message may have been hard to stomach considering Vincent was caught“writing, or causing others to write, bad checks in a different scheme while free on bond.”
10. Darryl Henley
The relatively unknown cornerback was drafted by the Rams in 1989 out of UCLA after being named an All-American. He totaled 12 interceptions in his 76-game career. But after Henley left the game, his life began to fall apart. He’s currently serving a 41-year sentence for cocaine trafficking charges. To make matters worse, Henley hired a hitman to murder his sentencing judge and a witness in the drug case.”A physical move to step away from past relationships that have already proven to be dangerous, and sometimes disastrous, is the only way for you to go,” Henley wrote in a letter in 2008. “It is your life and you alone are responsible for it.”
You can find out more about me, my book, and my TV show at: www.fromglorydays.com
November 18, 2012
Super Bowl Shuffled
September 9, 2012
HOF- Ralph Sampson
April 30, 2012
8 Pro Athletes Who Retired in Their Prime
There's enough drama in professional sports to script a thousand melodramatic films, with retiring in your prime possibly being the most dramatic. Sports fans never want to see their heroes, be they male or female, age and lose their game and drive. With that in mind, many athletes have retired at the just the right time, and gone on to enjoy successful careers outside of professional sports. Still others have retired in their prime, only to experience unexpected surprises and setbacks. The reasons for retiring can be complex. Consider these 8 athletes and their stories.
1. Michael Jordan
Now former professional basketball player Michael Jordan holds the distinction of retiring not once, not twice, but three times over the course of his career. Each time, fans were surprised. Jordan first retired in 1993, after the murder of his father, with whom he was close, earlier that year. He returned to the Chicago Bulls, leading them to three championships. But with teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman preparing to depart, Jordan chose to retire again in 1999. He returned to the game in 2001 to play with the Wizards, with the intention of donating his salary as a player to victims of the September 11 attacks. He retired for a final time in 2003. At his final game on his old home court in Chicago, Jordan received a four-minute standing ovation.
2. Rocky Marciano
Legendary boxer Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight champion to hold his title and remain untied and undefeated for his entire career. In fact, 43 of his 49 victories came from knocking out his opponent. Marciano retired at the age of 32 in 1955, and only briefly considered returning to the sport. He was able to avoid chronic and debilitating injuries as a result of bowing out of the sport when he did.
3. Jim Brown
Hall of Fame member Jim Brown played from 1957-1965 for the Cleveland Browns before retiring, and enjoying a second career as an actor. Brown helped pave the way for other African-American athletes who faced discrimination and rejection in the 1950s era of professional sports. He is considered the best running back ever to play football, and his retirement took fans by surprise. Brown went on to break new ground in the movies, filming the first interracial sex scene with Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles.
4. Barry Sanders
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders retired, not without some controversy, in 1998, healthy and having come extremely close to Walter Payton's career rushing mark of 16,726 yards, second only to Emmit Smith's record. After news of his retirement reached his hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, Sanders was later quoted as saying he left the Lions because he felt the front office wasn't committed to building a winning team. Sanders entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
5. Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman was a linebacker for Arizona State University before debuting with the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. He distinguished himself with the Cardinals, with a record totaling 238 tackles, 2.8 sacks, and three interceptions. In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, Tillman turned down a $3.6 million dollar contract to instead enlist in the U.S. army and fight the war in Afghanistan. He was killed by what the Pentagon ultimately ruled as "friendly fire" in 2004.
6. Annika Sorenstam
Annika Sorenstam is one of the most successful golfers in history, having won 72 official LPGA tournaments, including 10 majors and 18 other international tournaments. She retired in 2008, choosing to focus on her family and her own ANNIKA brand, which combines her passions for golf, fitness, and charitable work into ventures that include designing golf courses, and partnering with other businesses to produce a clothing line, wine label, and fragrance.
7. Lorena Ochoa
Mexico-born Lorena Ochoa took up golf as the age of five, and left college in her sophomore year to pursue a career as a professional golfer. Over the course of eight years, she finished in the top-10 in her 2003 rookie season, and eventually surpassed fellow golfer Annika Sorenstam as the No. 1 female golfer. By then, Ochoa had compiled 27 wins and two majors in seven seasons on tour, and was earning more than $4 million in a season. In 2010, she retired in her prime.
8. Bjorn Borg
Disregarding a brief and unsuccessful post-retirement comeback, tennis rock star and fashion label owner Bjorn Borg left the sport at the age of 26, mentally and physically exhausted from annexing 11 Grand Slam singles, six French and five Wimbledon, in the space of just eight years. After spinning out of control shortly after his retirement, Borg somehow got it together and debuted his own fashion label that has gone on to outsell Calvin Klein in Borg's home country of Sweden.
This blog article provided courtesy: www.toponlinecolleges.com
1. Michael Jordan
Now former professional basketball player Michael Jordan holds the distinction of retiring not once, not twice, but three times over the course of his career. Each time, fans were surprised. Jordan first retired in 1993, after the murder of his father, with whom he was close, earlier that year. He returned to the Chicago Bulls, leading them to three championships. But with teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman preparing to depart, Jordan chose to retire again in 1999. He returned to the game in 2001 to play with the Wizards, with the intention of donating his salary as a player to victims of the September 11 attacks. He retired for a final time in 2003. At his final game on his old home court in Chicago, Jordan received a four-minute standing ovation.
2. Rocky Marciano
Legendary boxer Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight champion to hold his title and remain untied and undefeated for his entire career. In fact, 43 of his 49 victories came from knocking out his opponent. Marciano retired at the age of 32 in 1955, and only briefly considered returning to the sport. He was able to avoid chronic and debilitating injuries as a result of bowing out of the sport when he did.
3. Jim Brown
Hall of Fame member Jim Brown played from 1957-1965 for the Cleveland Browns before retiring, and enjoying a second career as an actor. Brown helped pave the way for other African-American athletes who faced discrimination and rejection in the 1950s era of professional sports. He is considered the best running back ever to play football, and his retirement took fans by surprise. Brown went on to break new ground in the movies, filming the first interracial sex scene with Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles.
4. Barry Sanders
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders retired, not without some controversy, in 1998, healthy and having come extremely close to Walter Payton's career rushing mark of 16,726 yards, second only to Emmit Smith's record. After news of his retirement reached his hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, Sanders was later quoted as saying he left the Lions because he felt the front office wasn't committed to building a winning team. Sanders entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
5. Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman was a linebacker for Arizona State University before debuting with the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. He distinguished himself with the Cardinals, with a record totaling 238 tackles, 2.8 sacks, and three interceptions. In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, Tillman turned down a $3.6 million dollar contract to instead enlist in the U.S. army and fight the war in Afghanistan. He was killed by what the Pentagon ultimately ruled as "friendly fire" in 2004.
6. Annika Sorenstam
Annika Sorenstam is one of the most successful golfers in history, having won 72 official LPGA tournaments, including 10 majors and 18 other international tournaments. She retired in 2008, choosing to focus on her family and her own ANNIKA brand, which combines her passions for golf, fitness, and charitable work into ventures that include designing golf courses, and partnering with other businesses to produce a clothing line, wine label, and fragrance.
7. Lorena Ochoa
Mexico-born Lorena Ochoa took up golf as the age of five, and left college in her sophomore year to pursue a career as a professional golfer. Over the course of eight years, she finished in the top-10 in her 2003 rookie season, and eventually surpassed fellow golfer Annika Sorenstam as the No. 1 female golfer. By then, Ochoa had compiled 27 wins and two majors in seven seasons on tour, and was earning more than $4 million in a season. In 2010, she retired in her prime.
8. Bjorn Borg
Disregarding a brief and unsuccessful post-retirement comeback, tennis rock star and fashion label owner Bjorn Borg left the sport at the age of 26, mentally and physically exhausted from annexing 11 Grand Slam singles, six French and five Wimbledon, in the space of just eight years. After spinning out of control shortly after his retirement, Borg somehow got it together and debuted his own fashion label that has gone on to outsell Calvin Klein in Borg's home country of Sweden.
This blog article provided courtesy: www.toponlinecolleges.com
March 31, 2012
"ROAMING THE SIDELINES" by PJ Brown
I was recently interviewed by PJ Brown of San Jose, California. Below is her Blog post of our discussion.
Kurt David...Helping Transitioning Athletes Refocus and Reinvent
After my blog post on Mychal Johnson and his transition from Division 1 college football player to high school football and baseball coach, I was fortunate to connect with Kurt David on LinkedIn.
Kurt has gone through a transition of his own…playing professional basketball in Germany…and now is a transition consultant for professional and Olympic athletes, an author, a TV host, and a speaker.
Kurt David
His book From Glory Days…Successful Transitions of Professional Detroit Athletes spawned the TV show of the same name [From Glory Days]. Currently, it can be found on your local PBS station in Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and throughout Michigan. And, they are working on expanding the viewership into other states. On the TV show, Kurt interviews former athletes.
I read his book a few nights ago and learned about Detroit athletes Greg Kelser, Kelly Tripucka, Dave Bing, Allan Houston, Frank Tanana, and Rick Leach, among others. It is a fascinating and quick read on the ups and downs of their transitions. It’s something that stays with you…and days later I am still thinking about the challenges these men faced.
Recently I sat down with Kurt to learn more about transitions and his work with world-class athletes.
PJ: Tell me a little about your background. You played professional basketball in Europe, right?
Kurt: My background was really athletic. I was one of six children and the tone was set early for us. We competed inside and outside the house…including brushing our teeth! I played as a freshman in college [at Saginaw Valley State University] and had an up and down career.
Germany was a great experience. I say it was a paid vacation! There was another player from the United States, from Clemson, and he and I scored 55 points per game. I came back for a free agent tryout for the NBA in San Francisco. It was by invite-only and there were 18 of us. I knew I knew something wasn’t right. But, it wasn’t until I went to the doctor and he told me that if I kept playing I wouldn’t be walking at 40. I needed knee surgery. My knee was worn down to the bone where some cartilage should have been.
I took a year off to regroup and decided to go back to grad school to get my masters in counseling. I got a chunk of that out of the way. The rest is history. My undergrad degree was in elementary education, so I taught math and science and coached varsity basketball. Then I finished my masters.
PJ: How did you have the idea for your book on Detroit athletes and their transitions?
Kurt: I had the idea about the whole transition thing at 3am. I woke up in the middle of the night and had the outline. I didn’t touch this for a few years as my dad had Alzheimer’s and my sister and I took care of him. I went back to the book after he passed away. It took three years to write. I interviewed 20 Hall of Famers and champions who were struggling and successful.
The book came out in 2007 and the second edition came out in 2008…and made the best sellers list. Then, I had the idea to have a TV or radio show, interviewing the guys. The TV show took first.
When I did research for the book, there wasn’t a lot of help with transition for high-caliber athletes. I sit down with a lot of great guys who are lost or have lost focus. It’s sad to see that they are not sure what to do with the rest of their lives. My motive for the book was if one person picked up the book and it helped them…that’s great
PJ: It’s hard for many athletes to think about what’s next after their career is over. Their entire focus is on today and their performance.
Kurt: Very few guys do this…thinking about what’s next.
It’s almost like the grim reaper. They are starting to plant the seed with the current guys…that this will not last forever. 100 percent will face job termination…at some point this is over. The ones who are successful know this in the back of their mind. If it’s in the front, doubt creeps in and they just can’t compete at the highest level.
This is an interesting topic. One of the guys did not know how to write a resume until he was 35. It was a new experience…he didn’t need to write one before. It’s the simple things we take for granted.
Some guys just want to keep playing…even if it’s in the minor leagues. They could get paid $35,000 in the minors and they don’t care, they just want to keep playing.
Look at Brett Favre. He retired…what…three times…and kept coming back. I understand it. In his heart he thought he was done. Then a few months later he realized he still had gas in the tank.
Look at Lance Armstrong…what causes people to do that? Letting go is no doubt the most difficult aspect for high-caliber athletes.
PJ: In your consulting work, what do you focus on?
Kurt: In my research and through my own experiences, I’ve learned that there are five keys to having success again. I like to keep things simple, so I took them and put them in an acronym... RULES. It’s easy to remember. We have rules in games, rules of life, and team rules.
R: Refocus. Guys have to refocus, evaluate, and set new goals. They have to have a new passion and purpose in life. It’s about how as athletes we need to develop new passion in life…soul searching, creating new goals. or just keeping old goals. We do skill inventories, etc. We set short-term and long-term goals. It’s about reinventing a new focus and new goals.
U: Use your network. Athletes have a vast network around them. It’s one of the things that help focus, and help set the goals. What part of the network should you tap into to help? For example, a few guys wanted to go into broadcasting and they asked who can they tap into? I emphasize utilize people. Why not call them and tell them this is what I’m thinking of doing and ask what they think.
L: Letting go. Letting go of the fact that I’m a high-caliber athlete. It’s the opposite of what we are wired to do—getting knocked down and get up and try again. Never give up. This is the most difficult part…determining what you need to let go of.
E: Execute. Knowing what to do isn’t good enough, you need to know what to do with it. This is a quote from one of my coaches. And, it’s true. Here’s an example of success. He was a high school All-American, a college All-American, and an NBA Hall of Famer. He built a $500 million business after the NBA. Then, he decided that he wanted to help out the local community and became the Mayor of Detroit. This man is Dave Bing. He executed over and over. He kept building success. He continues to push the envelope. He could’ve coasted, but he didn’t. It’s amazing what he’s accomplished.
S: Someone. People in transition found someone to attach to…to mentor them. It’s good to get a mentor, especially in your line of focus. I know an NBA player who liked TV. He liked being interviewed, etc. He found a local guy in TV and hung out with him in the studio and learned so much from him. And, he was ready when an opportunity came along. Now he’s been in NBA broadcasting for 25 years.
PJ: Besides not having a plan for the transition ahead of time, what are the other hurdles a world-class athletes faces?
Kurt: These guys take a 90 percent pay cut…or more. That is, unless, you are an outlier like Michael Jordan or Tiger, which is rare. The focus is on the money part.
I always ask…what is it like to lose 90 percent of your income? Mateen Cleaves [who played on the 2000 Michigan State NCAA basketball championship team, as well as six years in the NBA], was the most candid. He said…I hate it. Before I could buy anything and not think about it. Then, I had to go on a budget and watch where the dollars go.
He just shared his reality and why it stinks. Even if they save, they may still have to work when it’s over. The general public doesn’t have a lot of empathy for them. However, they have a small earning window…it’s just that they earn more than most people ever make. It’s whatever the market bears.
Did you know that up to 25 percent of players are bankrupt during the first year out of the game? Up to 60 percent of the NBA players are bankrupt 5 years out. And, up to 75 percent of NFL players are bankrupt within 2 years.
Another fact: Up to 80 percent experience divorce. So, that’s what they face. Those are hard apples to chew on.
Some of this is due to poor choices. Mike Tyson made $300 million over his career…did he really need what tigers? And, bad people were robbing him blind.
Some is generosity. An example of this is a pitcher who pitched in four out of six games in the World Series. Two years later he is working in a rural factory in Michigan. Why? He fixed up his parents’ house and he bought his wife’s parents a house…all when he was in the World Series. He was thinking he had four to five years left in his career. Then, he got injured during the strike and never recovered and he had no money coming in.
These are real issues, not just poor decisions and poor money management.
PJ: You’ve made a successful transition. What makes this the right thing for you?
Kurt: This is my passion…helping these athletes, showing they are human…real people. They are just like you and me and have to deal with the same things we do. There is still reality for them to face.
Every story is different, every athlete is different. Ask the same questions and get different answers.
What really excites me is if high-caliber athletes can apply the same wherewithall during their transition as they did to get to that top level in sports. If they can, then stand back….they are blazing a trail in the real world. How exciting is that?
I interviewed someone on my program and a week later I saw him at a charity event. He was a world champion. He told me it was so refreshing to talk to someone who understands [all aspects of the transition]. That’s a level of trust. I want the word to get out to other athletes as well…get to talking and help them. It’s a passion for me…my purpose, other than my family, that is.
Over the next few posts I will be focusing on two athletes that Kurt has worked with: Earl Cureton, two-time NBA Champion and Raj Bhavsar, 2008 Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist.
This Blog post provided courtesy: Pj Brown www.roamingthesidelineswithpj.blogspot.com
Kurt David...Helping Transitioning Athletes Refocus and Reinvent
After my blog post on Mychal Johnson and his transition from Division 1 college football player to high school football and baseball coach, I was fortunate to connect with Kurt David on LinkedIn.
Kurt has gone through a transition of his own…playing professional basketball in Germany…and now is a transition consultant for professional and Olympic athletes, an author, a TV host, and a speaker.
Kurt David
His book From Glory Days…Successful Transitions of Professional Detroit Athletes spawned the TV show of the same name [From Glory Days]. Currently, it can be found on your local PBS station in Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and throughout Michigan. And, they are working on expanding the viewership into other states. On the TV show, Kurt interviews former athletes.
I read his book a few nights ago and learned about Detroit athletes Greg Kelser, Kelly Tripucka, Dave Bing, Allan Houston, Frank Tanana, and Rick Leach, among others. It is a fascinating and quick read on the ups and downs of their transitions. It’s something that stays with you…and days later I am still thinking about the challenges these men faced.
Recently I sat down with Kurt to learn more about transitions and his work with world-class athletes.
PJ: Tell me a little about your background. You played professional basketball in Europe, right?
Kurt: My background was really athletic. I was one of six children and the tone was set early for us. We competed inside and outside the house…including brushing our teeth! I played as a freshman in college [at Saginaw Valley State University] and had an up and down career.
Germany was a great experience. I say it was a paid vacation! There was another player from the United States, from Clemson, and he and I scored 55 points per game. I came back for a free agent tryout for the NBA in San Francisco. It was by invite-only and there were 18 of us. I knew I knew something wasn’t right. But, it wasn’t until I went to the doctor and he told me that if I kept playing I wouldn’t be walking at 40. I needed knee surgery. My knee was worn down to the bone where some cartilage should have been.
I took a year off to regroup and decided to go back to grad school to get my masters in counseling. I got a chunk of that out of the way. The rest is history. My undergrad degree was in elementary education, so I taught math and science and coached varsity basketball. Then I finished my masters.
PJ: How did you have the idea for your book on Detroit athletes and their transitions?
Kurt: I had the idea about the whole transition thing at 3am. I woke up in the middle of the night and had the outline. I didn’t touch this for a few years as my dad had Alzheimer’s and my sister and I took care of him. I went back to the book after he passed away. It took three years to write. I interviewed 20 Hall of Famers and champions who were struggling and successful.
The book came out in 2007 and the second edition came out in 2008…and made the best sellers list. Then, I had the idea to have a TV or radio show, interviewing the guys. The TV show took first.
When I did research for the book, there wasn’t a lot of help with transition for high-caliber athletes. I sit down with a lot of great guys who are lost or have lost focus. It’s sad to see that they are not sure what to do with the rest of their lives. My motive for the book was if one person picked up the book and it helped them…that’s great
PJ: It’s hard for many athletes to think about what’s next after their career is over. Their entire focus is on today and their performance.
Kurt: Very few guys do this…thinking about what’s next.
It’s almost like the grim reaper. They are starting to plant the seed with the current guys…that this will not last forever. 100 percent will face job termination…at some point this is over. The ones who are successful know this in the back of their mind. If it’s in the front, doubt creeps in and they just can’t compete at the highest level.
This is an interesting topic. One of the guys did not know how to write a resume until he was 35. It was a new experience…he didn’t need to write one before. It’s the simple things we take for granted.
Some guys just want to keep playing…even if it’s in the minor leagues. They could get paid $35,000 in the minors and they don’t care, they just want to keep playing.
Look at Brett Favre. He retired…what…three times…and kept coming back. I understand it. In his heart he thought he was done. Then a few months later he realized he still had gas in the tank.
Look at Lance Armstrong…what causes people to do that? Letting go is no doubt the most difficult aspect for high-caliber athletes.
PJ: In your consulting work, what do you focus on?
Kurt: In my research and through my own experiences, I’ve learned that there are five keys to having success again. I like to keep things simple, so I took them and put them in an acronym... RULES. It’s easy to remember. We have rules in games, rules of life, and team rules.
R: Refocus. Guys have to refocus, evaluate, and set new goals. They have to have a new passion and purpose in life. It’s about how as athletes we need to develop new passion in life…soul searching, creating new goals. or just keeping old goals. We do skill inventories, etc. We set short-term and long-term goals. It’s about reinventing a new focus and new goals.
U: Use your network. Athletes have a vast network around them. It’s one of the things that help focus, and help set the goals. What part of the network should you tap into to help? For example, a few guys wanted to go into broadcasting and they asked who can they tap into? I emphasize utilize people. Why not call them and tell them this is what I’m thinking of doing and ask what they think.
L: Letting go. Letting go of the fact that I’m a high-caliber athlete. It’s the opposite of what we are wired to do—getting knocked down and get up and try again. Never give up. This is the most difficult part…determining what you need to let go of.
E: Execute. Knowing what to do isn’t good enough, you need to know what to do with it. This is a quote from one of my coaches. And, it’s true. Here’s an example of success. He was a high school All-American, a college All-American, and an NBA Hall of Famer. He built a $500 million business after the NBA. Then, he decided that he wanted to help out the local community and became the Mayor of Detroit. This man is Dave Bing. He executed over and over. He kept building success. He continues to push the envelope. He could’ve coasted, but he didn’t. It’s amazing what he’s accomplished.
S: Someone. People in transition found someone to attach to…to mentor them. It’s good to get a mentor, especially in your line of focus. I know an NBA player who liked TV. He liked being interviewed, etc. He found a local guy in TV and hung out with him in the studio and learned so much from him. And, he was ready when an opportunity came along. Now he’s been in NBA broadcasting for 25 years.
PJ: Besides not having a plan for the transition ahead of time, what are the other hurdles a world-class athletes faces?
Kurt: These guys take a 90 percent pay cut…or more. That is, unless, you are an outlier like Michael Jordan or Tiger, which is rare. The focus is on the money part.
I always ask…what is it like to lose 90 percent of your income? Mateen Cleaves [who played on the 2000 Michigan State NCAA basketball championship team, as well as six years in the NBA], was the most candid. He said…I hate it. Before I could buy anything and not think about it. Then, I had to go on a budget and watch where the dollars go.
He just shared his reality and why it stinks. Even if they save, they may still have to work when it’s over. The general public doesn’t have a lot of empathy for them. However, they have a small earning window…it’s just that they earn more than most people ever make. It’s whatever the market bears.
Did you know that up to 25 percent of players are bankrupt during the first year out of the game? Up to 60 percent of the NBA players are bankrupt 5 years out. And, up to 75 percent of NFL players are bankrupt within 2 years.
Another fact: Up to 80 percent experience divorce. So, that’s what they face. Those are hard apples to chew on.
Some of this is due to poor choices. Mike Tyson made $300 million over his career…did he really need what tigers? And, bad people were robbing him blind.
Some is generosity. An example of this is a pitcher who pitched in four out of six games in the World Series. Two years later he is working in a rural factory in Michigan. Why? He fixed up his parents’ house and he bought his wife’s parents a house…all when he was in the World Series. He was thinking he had four to five years left in his career. Then, he got injured during the strike and never recovered and he had no money coming in.
These are real issues, not just poor decisions and poor money management.
PJ: You’ve made a successful transition. What makes this the right thing for you?
Kurt: This is my passion…helping these athletes, showing they are human…real people. They are just like you and me and have to deal with the same things we do. There is still reality for them to face.
Every story is different, every athlete is different. Ask the same questions and get different answers.
What really excites me is if high-caliber athletes can apply the same wherewithall during their transition as they did to get to that top level in sports. If they can, then stand back….they are blazing a trail in the real world. How exciting is that?
I interviewed someone on my program and a week later I saw him at a charity event. He was a world champion. He told me it was so refreshing to talk to someone who understands [all aspects of the transition]. That’s a level of trust. I want the word to get out to other athletes as well…get to talking and help them. It’s a passion for me…my purpose, other than my family, that is.
Over the next few posts I will be focusing on two athletes that Kurt has worked with: Earl Cureton, two-time NBA Champion and Raj Bhavsar, 2008 Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist.
This Blog post provided courtesy: Pj Brown www.roamingthesidelineswithpj.blogspot.com
February 12, 2012
'From Glory Days' TV series now broadcast on PBS
The TV series 'From Glory Days' is now being aired on PBS. Watch the stories unfold as Hall of Fame, All-Star, and World Champion former professional athletes share their personal stories of struggle and success as they've transitioned from the pinnacle of their pro sports careers back into normal, everyday lives.
You won't find another TV series like 'From Glory Days' that captures this transition as told directly by the athletes themselves.
Guests this season include: Derrick Coleman - former #1 NBA Draft pick, Rick Mahorn - NBA Champion, Mateen Cleaves - NCAA Champion, Willie Horton - World Series Champion, Manon Rheaume - First & Only Female NHL Player, and many more.
Please check your local PBS listing for airtime.
Find out more at: www.fromglorydays.com
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