Guidance – Page 484 – W.A.R. Agency

An athlete has to be very careful about his financial plans. The money he makes within his short playing career has to last him for the rest of his life unless he is smart enough to transition into a second career. It does not matter what league one plays in–NHL, NFL, MLB, MLS, NBA–one’s finances need to last to cover household expenses, trips, health care, college tuition and so forth.

The best strategy an athlete can have is to start transitioning into his second career before he retires or is forced out of the game. I was advised that it is best to have multiple streams of income at all times. Even athlete can accomplish that with a hectic schedule with the right team, aka inner circle.

It is just as important to make sure those in your inner circle are worthy to be there. Ask the hard questions: (a) does that person give as much as they take?; (b) how does that person handle their own money?; (c) is that person growing or stagnant?; (d) does he follow through on what he says?; and so forth. If there are more negative answers than positive ones, it may mean removing that person from your inner circle.

Always double check your finances. Keep your own financial records, and get an independent second opinion at least once a year. There is no shame in asking for help, so if budgeting isn’t your thing ask a financial counselor which is different than a financial planner. Learn about stocks, mutual bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and so forth for yourself. It is hard to trip someone up if he has the knowledge for himself.

Plan for your retirement and life after sports. Remember, knowledge is a power that no one can take away from you. Knowledge can help prevent you from going broke. And if you just have to have some sort of lucrative purchase to reward yourself from all the hard work it took to make into the League, then limit yourself to just 10 percent of your first contract and save the rest. Better yet, make sure that lucrative purchase will appreciate over time instead of depreciate.

Source: Wise Lausanne

#TBT: Handling The Media

“I wanted to ask Boyle about his terrific career a couple of weeks ago, but he was too busy carrying out his classless, planned, pathetic personal attack on a reporter. So, bye. Grade: D.”~Rick Carpiniello The above statement demonstrates the seriousness of how the media perceives an athlete. The media can either become an ally… Continue reading #TBT: Handling The Media

Baylor University has been the center of controversy over the past several months due to its lack institutional control. Now, Baylor is grabbing attention as it finds itself out of the college football playoffs. To be honest, Baylor deserves to be eliminated from participating in all college sports . . . well, at least, participation by male athletes.

Yes, that seems unlikely and harsh. Yet, both the University and the young men it educates seem to have missed one of the most important lessons in life especially for a Christian institution–respect.

Jesus is not a respector of persons but He did, and does, love women. He never treated women as inferior beings, He didn’t strike them, and He would never raped one. Jesus is the ultimate role model for those who profess to be Christian athletes. However, the football players, who sexually assaulted and in four cases, gang raped women, at Baylor as well as the administration which covered up the alleged crimes forgot their Christian duty of mercy and loving their neighbour like themselves.

As Election Day ends today in the United States, it is important for us to reflect on these things. There have been so many commercials regarding respect for women . . . mud being thrown because one presidential candidate past indiscretions of groping and harassing women . . . a son standing by a parent by saying “if women can’t take being harassed in the workforce, then they should be teachers”. . . . All of these comments and actions are examples of how desensitized and callous of others we have become.

So, maybe, Baylor’s football program is just a casualty of the world in which we live. Even for the non-Christian, that may be hard to hear especially if they have daughters. Perhaps, we all have forgotten what it is like to walk in another’s shoes. How would we feel if it was our mother or child or sister or wife that was harassed, stalked or raped? How would we heal their pain and our anguish?

Baylor isn’t the only guilty party on disrespecting women. The NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Kings have all turned a blind eye when one of its own has been accused of sexually assaulting or beating their partner until being forced to deal with the issue. And those who have never stricken their wife or forced themselves on another cannot escape culpability simply because they have not done so. If they care enough to raise their voices, they are part of the problem.

It’s interesting to see how many athletes, and other people, stand by while the male athletes continue to enjoy the notoriety of their on the field feats despite their illegal behavior outside of work–the abuse continuing because fear holds hostage those who know to do better. If school administrations, leagues, teams, conferences and players aren’t fighting for equality of women along with other issues, then perhaps folks are correct in the thought that protests have no place in sports.

But I have digressed. . . . the issue is Baylor University’s failure to make the playoffs. In a weird way maybe it’s God’s way to protest, or set an example, on what He will not tolerate regarding the treatment of His daughters.

Source: Showtime Sports