What would you do if you received three million dollars? Oh yeah, here’s the catch. Everyone in the world knows about it. Your name and picture are plastered over all social media outlets 24/7. Did I forget to mention that you’re 21 years old when this happens? Knowing all the information now to this question does that change your response? I know for me it definitely changed my answer. I went from putting up money to hanging out in all the hot spots in the world with my boys! Yes, I would have spent a lot of bucks on kicking it with my boys.
I know you’re wondering how I came up with this scenario. I thought of this question after watching ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, Broke. This documentary may be the new blue print of “what not to do” when you receive a windfall of money. Directed by Billy Corben, this documentary explored the dark side of instantaneous fame & fortune of several well known professional athletes. Believe me when I say that “lady luck” was not on their side and she was definitely an equal opportunity employer when it came to helping these athletes create insurmountable debt to the point of bankruptcy for some.
But as I watched this film and listened to each athlete’s story I began to see the pattern(s) or theme(s) among all of them. The most noticeable reoccurring theme was the impact their family and friends had on the fleeting of their wealth; from excessive splurges to manipulative, deceitful financial dealings. Their loyalty to their disloyal family and friends was the biggest cause of their loss of wealth. Most of the interviewed athletes’ first major purchases were houses for their mothers. I can understand wanting to take care of the woman that birth and raised you. I get that, but the spending for other family members and friends that ensued was shocking; from paying for 60 cell phones to paying rent for more than six different families. Now, I can’t go for that! I believe in the Chinese proverb: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. That’s way too many fish, but I understand how that can happen.
Although the documentary was brilliantly made it left me feeling heavyhearted for the athletes, unlike the other viewers that watched and made derogatory and insensitive comments about these athletes on Twitter and sport chat rooms. I get how they went from rags to riches to rags. I’m not too proud to say that I would have blown a lot of dough at 21 years old if I was blessed with that kind of cash. My vice at that time was women, which probably would have led me to a “Baby Mama” or two. Who knows, but it would have been a high probability. A lot of money only makes you more of what you currently are; it doesn’t make you financially literate and that was and still is the downfall of not only professional athletes, but everyday people like you and me.
By no means am I knocking these athletes for squandering their riches, because I would have bought my Mom a house and gave my siblings and friends money as well. I wish these women and men well and I hope they’re able to restore their wealth. In conclusion, I would like to thank them for telling their stories and being so transparent with us all. Hopefully now, we can learn from their stories and make those tough decisions they were unable to at the time. And the overarching decision was to “Just Say No!”
I know you’re wondering how I came up with this scenario. I thought of this question after watching ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, Broke. This documentary may be the new blue print of “what not to do” when you receive a windfall of money. Directed by Billy Corben, this documentary explored the dark side of instantaneous fame & fortune of several well known professional athletes. Believe me when I say that “lady luck” was not on their side and she was definitely an equal opportunity employer when it came to helping these athletes create insurmountable debt to the point of bankruptcy for some.
But as I watched this film and listened to each athlete’s story I began to see the pattern(s) or theme(s) among all of them. The most noticeable reoccurring theme was the impact their family and friends had on the fleeting of their wealth; from excessive splurges to manipulative, deceitful financial dealings. Their loyalty to their disloyal family and friends was the biggest cause of their loss of wealth. Most of the interviewed athletes’ first major purchases were houses for their mothers. I can understand wanting to take care of the woman that birth and raised you. I get that, but the spending for other family members and friends that ensued was shocking; from paying for 60 cell phones to paying rent for more than six different families. Now, I can’t go for that! I believe in the Chinese proverb: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. That’s way too many fish, but I understand how that can happen.
Although the documentary was brilliantly made it left me feeling heavyhearted for the athletes, unlike the other viewers that watched and made derogatory and insensitive comments about these athletes on Twitter and sport chat rooms. I get how they went from rags to riches to rags. I’m not too proud to say that I would have blown a lot of dough at 21 years old if I was blessed with that kind of cash. My vice at that time was women, which probably would have led me to a “Baby Mama” or two. Who knows, but it would have been a high probability. A lot of money only makes you more of what you currently are; it doesn’t make you financially literate and that was and still is the downfall of not only professional athletes, but everyday people like you and me.
By no means am I knocking these athletes for squandering their riches, because I would have bought my Mom a house and gave my siblings and friends money as well. I wish these women and men well and I hope they’re able to restore their wealth. In conclusion, I would like to thank them for telling their stories and being so transparent with us all. Hopefully now, we can learn from their stories and make those tough decisions they were unable to at the time. And the overarching decision was to “Just Say No!”
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