the price of fame

I didn't ask for this. 

None of it. 

Don't get me wrong...I'm thankful for it ALL but I never asked for any of it. The road of life has many twists and turns. I'm glad that it turned in the right direction. But I didn't ask for this.

Things have changed overnight. One day you go from being a regular Joe on the street to being somebody that the whole world knows. It happened fast. Maybe too fast. I can't be regular anymore. I don't know if I'll ever get used to this "fishbowl life". Who wants to live a life where ever move that they make is tracked? I'm constantly watched and talked about it. Do I like the attention? I do...sometimes. But I miss my privacy.

I don't trust women. When I meet women, I am on the defensive. I don't know if she wants me or if she wants what I can give her. Some just want sex. Others want to have your kid so that they can sit on their ass and live off you. Naw man. That's not me and that's not how I get down. I enjoy the company of women but I keep them from getting too close. I've never been good at long term relationships so maybe it's best that I stay that way. And kids are not going to happen right now. I have a hard enough time with my dog. 

Most of the people that I meet have some type of agenda. They want something from you. It's usually money. I went from being dead broke to being a multi millionaire very fast. I've learned to tell people "no". Does that make me an asshole? I don't think so. I like to spend money but I'm trying to be smart about it. It seems like everybody has their hands in my pocket, though. My lawyers, agents, accountants, publicists...etc. I really feel like I was born to do what I do. God gave me these gifts to give to the world. I was put here to entertain. But I didn't know it'd be like this.

One day I want to...go to dinner without being photographed...go to the movies in the middle of the day...go to the club and sit in the VIP section without the stares from the haters...chill and not have my cell phone blowing up. One day I want to walk down the street and people not recognize me. 

I didn't ask for any of it. I grow tired it. Most people would chop off their arm to be in my shoes. I never thought I'd have to give up ME for this. I'm thankful but I'm tired. Really tired.

The price of fame...

memo to the ballaz

Money is relative.

You can have it. Or not have it.

I've seen it come and go for some. I've spent more than the past 10 yrs in the financial industry. I'd like to think that I have an idea of how money works.

There has been a disturbing trend of the separation of money and athletes. I will be the first to say that athletes are paid a LOT more money that I make (and probably you too). Yet, there's a trend of prominent athletes (Lenny Dykstra, Antoine Walker, Allen Iverson, & Terrell Owens...just to name a few) who are going broke. How does someone who has made MILLIONS lose their money? It's a lot easier than you may think. We live in a culture where it's celebrated to be BALLIN. I'm all for BALLIN...but I'd advise any athlete to ball on a budget. Allow me to impart some wisdom on you ballers...

1. DON'T BUY A BUNCH OF CARS
This may be hard for some people to understand but you don't need a fleet a cars. Two...maybe 3. Cars have no appreciation value. The value decreases even more when you "trick" the cars out. If I had millions, I'd have 3 cars...that's it. At the end of the day, you can only drive ONE at time.

2. DON'T INVEST IN A BUNCH OF HOUSES
It's ok to buy a house for your mama. There's nothing wrong with having a house or 2 for yourself. But that can be tricky. The housing market is still unstable. Don't buy a house today that you can't resale in 3-5 yrs and make a profit

3. UNDERSTAND HOW BUSINESS WORKS
You have to understand how YOUR money works. Make your money work for you. Not the other way around. Ignorance can never be an excuse. If your financial adviser and accountant can count your money...and you can't...guess who's gonna be broke????

4. SLASH YOUR PAYROLL
I'm amazed at how many athletes have friends and family members who are on their payroll and they do nothing. Personal chef, barber, event planner...are all some of the pseudo titles that you'll hear from time to time. You can't pay for everybody. I understand the feeling of not wanting to disappoint your "posse" or "click" but you have to be practical about how you spend your money.

5. GROUPIE LOVE
If you have money, the groupies will come. Athletes are quick to talk bad about groupies but they are just as guilty. Some chicks are looking for a good time. Others are looking for a meal ticket. They know if you get them pregnant, they'll be "set for life." I remember an old head told me when I was young that "a child is a million dollar investment." Guess that means ole 12kyle is worth 4M! LOL. Seriously, child support is no joke. It's hard to fathom why an athlete would have to pay 10k per month for a baby who can barely walk. But that's the rules. Before you lay down, think about the consequences.

6. TEMP GIG
This is the golden rule that all athletes must remember...As a professional athlete, you have the best TEMP JOB in America! Nobody plays forever. It doesn't matter how great you are, one day you won't be able to play. And when that day comes, you can't earn that check. It doesn't matter if you make 20M a year. There will come a time that you won't earn that. If you don't take care of your money, you're gonna be in trouble. Money is relative. Most people spend/or save as much as they make make. If you make 5M a year, you'll live the lifestyle of a person who makes that kinda money. The same goes for someone who makes 40k a yr. If you don't adjust your spending habits before you retire, you will struggle financially. That goes for millionaires and us hundredaires. LOL

Always remember what most of us were told when we were young..."A fool and his money shall soon part."

silence is golden...

Sometimes we have to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves...

Am I selling myself short?

Am I just selling myself?

I've always been a firm believer that you have to keep SOME of your personal business to yourself. Case in point...last week's episode of HBO's Hard Knock series that chronicles a behind the scenes look that the New York Jets. There was a segment that featured the Jets new cornerback, Antonio Cromartie. He just joined the team a few months ago after spending his first few years in the NFL with the team that drafted him, San Diego Chargers. Despite being only 26 yrs old, Cromartie has fathered 8 children from 7 different women.

During last week's episode, Cromartie made an attempt to name all of his kids by name and age. (SEE VIDEO BELOW). And he stumbled. I felt uncomfortable watching it. I wasn't sure what was worse...1) he had somewhat of a difficult time naming all of his kids 2) having fathered 8 kids at 26






As a former athlete (and that's what I call myself), I think that Cromartie fits the stereotype that most of us try to shed. Nobody wants to be viewed as a dumb jock. I'm not a jock and I'm far from dumb. I remember when I was in college at South Carolina State University, people would be surprised when they heard me speak or do a presentation. One chick said..."You're a smart football player." Huh? Are we all supposed to be dumb? That's not me. The School of Business was the hardest curriculum on campus. I guess she didn't expect a football player to walk away with a marketing degree. LOL

Cromartie also fits the stereotype of a young black man. Promiscuous lifestyle with kids out of wedlock. It was rumored that the Jets gave him a 500k advance to "assist" him with some past due child support.

He's a great athlete and I think he's gonna help the Jets win this year. However, maybe he should stick with the old saying...."Somethings are better left unsaid."

it's in the game

I didn't ask for this shit.

I really didn't. I mean...I never thought it'd be like this.

When I was in college, I just had to worry about going to class and playing ball. Hell...I didn't NEED to go to class. Once the professor found out who I was and that I played ball, I knew I could pass that class. But I'm no dummy.

I went to class. I'm no dumb jock. I didn't major in Basket Weaving 101 like some of my teammates. I majored in marine bology.

People looked at me and thought that I wasn't smart until I opened my mouth and blew them away.

I handled college well...I dealt with the chicks and autograph seekers. Never had a steady girlfriend. Why should I? I could have any woman...any color...on our campus. I was the big man on campus. Everybody knew me. As my game became better on the court...more attention came. Then came the calls, emails, and text msgs from the agents. That was annoying.

I hate doing interviews but my college coach told me that I had to "play the game" with the media. They can make or break you.

Things are different now. I'm in the pros now. This ain't what I thought it'd be. Don't get me wrong...it's fun but not lilke I thought it'd be. College was the time of my life when i was playing ball. This is just a business.

I have to deal with agents, marketing reps, lawyers. I also have to deal with groupies and hanger on dudes. The groupies are unreal. They are everywhere. They are in every city and at every party that I go to. Most of them are willing to "do whatever it takes" to snag a baller like me. I don't need that baby drama in my life. I want to have kids one day. But I also want to be married and committed to one woman.

I've slept with more women than I'd care to admit to. I always protect myself but I need to stop doing what I'm doing.

Sometimes I feel like I'm caught in the middle of some "social pyramid." I mean, I'd like to hang at clubs and listen to hip hop with people who are my age but I don't want to have to fear for my life in that type of scene. I have the income and the "status" to party with the "suits" but I don't feel comfortable around those people for long periods of time. Some of them respect me more for my athletic prowess than my intelligence. So, I feel like I'm in the middle sometimes.

Y'all just don't understand. You only see what I do athletically. You see the fame and the millions that I make. You don't see me for who I am. Some of you see me as a piece of meat. I'm here to entertain you. I'm not. I'm here to play a sport b/c that's what I love to do...well...what I used to love to do. It's just a business now.

What if your salary was published in a newspaper where everybody knew how much money you made?

What if your successes and failures at work were publicly scrutinized on a daily basis?

What if you didn't want the spotlight because you knew it'd burn the hell outta you?

My life is your entertainment.

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

I didn't ask for this shit.

thoughts from your favorite pro athlete

know your role...

I am an athlete.

Always will be.

Although I no longer play football for South Carolina State University, I am still an athlete at heart.

I will, for the most part, see things through the eyes and perspective of an athlete. That is not to say that I will defend my brethren but I view them from a different perspective. In other words...I understand them. However, there are SOME things that I just don't understand.

I don't understand getting caught with weed, cocaine, or guns in your car...
I don't understand getting a DUI when you can afford to pay someone to drive you around...
I don't understand getting robbed for 100k in jewelry...
I don't understand beating up or spitting on a woman...
I don't understand blowing millions because you wanna win thousands on a dogfight...
I don't understand steroids...
I don't understand paternity suits for thousands of dollars to random women...
I don't understand rape charges...
I don't understand fighting or shooting at a club or the shoe show (aka strip club)...
I don't understand testing positive for drugs when you know that you're gonna be tested...

I don't understand what some athletes do. However, we all must understand that sports are a microcosm of society. If you have drugs and crime in society, then you will certainly find them in sports. No matter how dumb you think some athletes are, there will be another one to come right behind the first one who will do something even more crazier than the first guy.

There were times when I was in college when people would say..."you don't sound or act like most football players. you're smart, articulate...blah, blah, blah". Is that a compliment? Did you expect me to stand in front of the class and say..."I be a good football player." I was one of the few who came out of our vaunted School of Business (Marketing). There were times when I'd do class presentations and leave em speechless. Yeah...I guess you could say that I still do that to this day. (snickering).

Nevertheless, when athletes do wrong...you'll always hear the term role model come up. Are athletes role models? Yes...we are. But so are you. Even if you don't think that you're a role model, you are. There is somebody who watches and admires what you do right now. They may never tell you but you are their role model. I think we'd be foolish to think that athletes like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Alex Rodriguez should be the images of what is truly a role model. Athletes are role models but most are not concerned with being a role model because they are disconnected to from the people who put them on a pedestal. Do you think that LeBron James is concerned about my 3 sons? No, he has 2 sons of his own that he's responsible for. I have more influence on my 3 than he ever would. Athletes are to be admired but not idolized.

When an athlete gets into trouble, you'll hear people say..."How do I explain this to my kids?" You just do it! Explain to them that we all make choices...good or bad...that all have consequences that come with each decision that we make. You be the living example how to live right. Don't leave that up to your favorite athlete who may or may not do the right thing. We are all human. And no human is mistake-free.

i don't wanna dream about gettin paid

Somehow...i think i got into the wrong profession. I should've played golf for a living...


Five years ago, Sports Illustrated first set out to find the 50 top-earning American athletes (taking into account on- and off-the-field income). We discovered a few basic facts, and as the Fortunate 50 turns five, some things have remained dead-on consistent:

No one can touch Tiger Woods, the runaway No. 1 for the fifth year in a row. Tiger's near $128 million haul is more than double his closest pursuer, Phil Mickelson at $62.4 million. As usual, hoops dominates the 50: More than half this year's list is made up of NBA players. There are 10 baseball players, seven football players, three NASCAR drivers, three golfers and one boxer -- and yet zero women.

Meanwhile, our International 20 list has seen a huge bump in average paycheck, thanks to the weak American dollar: 12 of the athletes earn their bread in foreign currencies from leagues outside the U.S. In the futures department, we tab the likes of Danica Patrick, Chris Paul and Joba Chamberlain to someday soon make the 50 in our Future Fortunates photo gallery.

As always, we limited our estimates to salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearances. Candidates for the 50 had to be American citizens. For an in-depth analysis of who's on the fifth annual Fortunate 50 and why, click here.

1. Tiger Woods...(Pro Golf)

Last Year's Rank: 1

$22,902,706 - Salary/Winnings
$105,000,000 - Endorsements
$127,902,706 - TOTAL

With close to $800 million in total earnings on and off the course over his 13-year career, Tiger should become the first billion-dollar athlete in the next two years -- and he's still only 32.

2. Phil Mickelson...(Pro Golf)

Last Year's Rank: 3

$9,372,685 - Salary/Winnings
$53,000,000 - Endorsements
$62,372,685 - TOTAL

Lefty's numbers jump thanks to an extra $2 million in FedEx Cup points in '07 and lucrative appearance fees for his first participation on the Asian Tour in Singapore and Shanghai.
3. LeBron James...Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Last Year's Rank: 6

$12,455,000 - Salary/Winnings
$28,000,000 - Endorsements
$40,455,000 - TOTAL

King James has earned $167 million during his five seasons in the NBA, and has his eyes on serious entrepreneurship: He counts billionaire Warren Buffett as a role model and friend.

4. Floyd Mayweather Jr... (Boxing)

Last Year's Rank: 22

$20,000,000 - Salary/Winnings
$20,250,000 - Endorsements
$40,250,000 - TOTAL

It's been a monster year for Pretty Boy, who made $20 million in purse and pay-per-view shares for his fight with Ricky Hatton and another $20 million for his foray into professional wrestling.

5. Kobe Bryant...Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

Last Year's Rank: 5

$19,490,625 - Salary/Winnings
$16,000,000 - Endorsements
$35,490,625 - TOTAL

How's that for a change of tune? He once criticized his teammates; last month Bryant bought each of them $9,000 Swiss watches as a thank you for helping him win his first MVP award.

6. Shaquille O'Neal...Phoenix Suns (NBA)

Last Year's Rank: 4

$20,000,000 - Salary/Winnings
$15,000,000 - Endorsements
$35,000,000 - TOTAL

Shaq finally unloaded his 2.5-acre Miami estate last fall after having it on the market for more than two years. The buyer? Miami-native (and No. 7) A-Rod, for a reported $27 million.

7. Alex Rodriguez...New York Yankees (MLB)

Last Year's Rank: 11

$29,000,000 -Salary/Winnings
$6,000,000 - Endorsements
$35,000,000 - TOTAL

Assuming A-Rod plays out his new mammoth 10-year, $275 million deal, he'll have earned $445 million in base salary alone over the course of what would be a 24-year career.

8. Kevin Garnett...Boston Celtics (NBA)

Last Year's Rank: 7

$22,000,000 - Salary/Winnings
$9,000,000 - Endorsements
$31,000,000 - TOTAL

KG is the highest-paid of the Celtics' Big Three; at a total of $56.1 million in salary this season, the trio makes up 74 percent of the Eastern Conference champs' entire payroll in '07-08.

9. Peyton Manning...Indianapolis Colts (NFL)

Last Year's Rank: 12

$17,500,000 - Salary/Winnings
$13,000,000 - Endorsements
$30,500,000 - TOTAL

Hide the Lombardi Trophy. Football's leading endorser is still king of NFL pitchmen, but little bro Eli -- with whom he now regularly shares screen time in TV ads -- is creeping up fast.

10. Derek Jeter...New York Yankees (MLB)

Last Year's Rank: 8

$22,000,000 - Salary/Winnings
$8,000,000 - Endorsements
$30,000,000 - TOTAL

The Yankee captain cut a deal with the tax man in February that allowed him to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes on his $13 million Trump World Tower condo.

to view the rest of the athletes who made the list go to this link...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/

cut tha check

Today is Wednesday. Let's talk about sports today. In particular, the NBA. Check this out below...

Top NBA Salaries

1. Kevin Garnett Boston $23,750,000

2. Michael Finley Dallas / San Antonio $21,696,750

3. Stephon Marbury New York $20,109,375

-. Allen Iverson Denver $20,109,375

5. Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix $20,000,000

6. Jason Kidd Dallas $19,728,000

7. Jermaine O'Neal Indiana $19,710,000

8. Chris Webber Golden State $19,596,244

9. Kobe Bryant LA Lakers $19,490,625

10. Tim Duncan San Antonio $19,014,187

-. Tracy McGrady Houston $19,014,187

12. Baron Davis Golden State $16,440,000

-. Shawn Marion Phoenix $16,440,000

-. Steve Francis Portland / Houston $16,440,000

15. Antawn Jamison Washington $16,360,095

-. Dirk Nowitzki Dallas $16,360,095

-. Paul Pierce Boston $16,360,095

18. Ray Allen Boston $16,000,000

19. Rashard Lewis Orlando $15,600,000

20. Ben Wallace Cleveland $15,500,000

As you can see, these dudes are BALLLLLIIIN'!!! But let's look deeper than that.

When you see the mountains of ice on guys' necks, the designer clothing, the cars, the Cribs-worthy … uh, cribs, and all the rest of it, you don't think it would be possible for NBA ballers to run out of money. But it very much is. According to the Players' Association, it is estimated that about 60% of players go broke just five years after leaving the League.

"Sixty per cent is a ballpark. But we've seen a lot of guys who've really come into hard times five years after they leave the league," said Roy Hinson, the former NBA forward who's a representative for the players' association. "The problems are, for a lot of guys, they have a lot of cars, they have multiple houses, they're taking care of their parents. They're taking care of a whole host of issues. And the checks aren't coming in anymore."

"I've seen (an NBA player) having two cars a day to drive. You know, 14 cars," said Raptors sharpshooter Jason Kapono. "Think about how absurd it is. You say 14 cars. All right, you may have some kids, a family of nine. But a single guy having 14 cars? It's one thing if Bill Gates wants to do that. But when you're 22 years old and you don't even have kids yet, it's not good."

Kapono, then, wasn't the least bit surprised when a representative of the NBA Players' Association addressed the Raptors recently on matters of financial prudence. A statistic was cited during the meeting that startled some of the hoopsters. It was said that 60 per cent of retired NBA players go broke five years after their NBA paychecks stop arriving.

"How could that be?" said Jamario Moon, the Raptors rookie. "I don't want to believe that stat."

But that stat, used by the players' association to get the attention of young millionaires, is thought to be an educated estimate.

Public stories of NBAers in financial trouble occasionally make headlines. Back in October, Jason Caffey, who made an estimated $29 million during his eight-year NBA career, was in bankruptcy court seeking protection from his creditors, among them the seven women with whom he fathered eight children. And late last year Latrell Sprewell, who famously turned up his nose at a $21 million contract offer – "I've got to feed my family," was the money quote – had a yacht worth more than $1 million repossessed.

Hinson said the problems go far deeper than the headlines. The players' association has long recommended a financial firm that offers players free second opinions on their financial particulars, but getting players to act is a challenge.

"Sometimes you can stop the bleeding, and other times you can't stop the bleeding," said Hinson, who added that many players associate with "too many `yes' people."

"Sometimes you need someone to say, `No, you can't buy that.' I fell prey to that myself, and I know a lot of people I played with who had the same problem," said Hinson, whose 10-year career ended in the early 1990s.

"It takes a strong constitution and a good team of advisors around you to make sure you're doing the right things."

Ballin on a budget? Shopping with coupons? Probably not. In reality, some of these NBA dudes live just like most of us do...in/around/above our means. Keep in mind that an NBA contract is GUARANTEED!!! So if a bum...i mean player like Chris Webber signs a contract with a team that will pay him 60 million in 3 years...then that is the money that he will get. But Uncle Sam is gonna take his cut first! With the average player's salary having approximately doubled in a decade to $5.36 million, they have a huge start over people like us. What's your take? Do you feel for them? Do that make too much money? What can be done to prevent this from happening to others?

Holla!