http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-10/nfl-to-teach-players-about-p...
Looks like the bootcamp in question will be hosted in the Ross School of Business this April.
I think this is a great idea (although more general skills outside of franchising would be ideal) and hope similar bootcamps will be available for our student athletes!
I hear Nelson Mandela will be
I'm not sure... but I think
I'm not sure... but I think Mr. Mandela smoked my drugs
This is home...
I hear Nelson Mandela will be taking part in this.
WTF? What does Nelson Mandela have to do with this issue?
I still maintain there should
I still maintain there should be a revenue sports minor (if not a major). It can cover how to handle your money, an agent, establish a charity, endorsement deals, etc. Designed so those who go pro can handle their millions in an intellingent manner and those who don't go pro can go on to be agents, run charities, and money managers for the pros.
A nice thought, but I'm not
A nice thought, but I'm not sure if the University should be designing its curriculum around athletics... indicating that the education is only "in addition" to playing sports. For one, the thought that "those who go pro can handle their millions," doesn't apply to many athletes at all. The majority of athletes participate in non-revenue sports, and even those who play football, for instance, have only a slight chance to make it in the professional league. And the University already has programs to teach students how to be agents, run charities, and be money managers... the business school, organizational studies majors, accounting, education, etc. You name it and there is a major, or I'd imagine, at least some classes tailored to that sector.
It may be nice for the Athletic Department to run a sort of boot camp for those who know they are going to turn professional, but I don't think it would be a smart thing to have all 25 new football recruits majoring in "How to Manage Your Millions," though I'm sure we wish that was the case.
~Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
There is a decent argument
There is a decent argument that football players should be allowed to major in football. Basically it would help propel football played into actual careers coaching at the high school, college, and pro levels. Like any major, it would still require more substantive coursework beyond athletics, and would take a more realistic approach to the careers of some compared to the bs majors at OSU (I'm thinking of that OSU scandal a few years ago when transfers from OSU couldn't get any credits transferred because the classes were such jokes).
New Orleans-based Wolverine fan.
It'd be nice if high schools
It'd be nice if high schools and colleges nationwide covered things everybody does like balancing your checkbook, paying your taxes, smart auto loans and mortgages, and the basics of investing. Many Pros unfortunately lack basic common sense education about their money, on top of being blinded by gigantic egos. The NFL and NBA players could use "25 years old and about to retire: 101" with a required "how not to go to strip clubs" course, while minoring in "not impregnating multiple women besides your wife." The alimony and child support these guys pay is insane.
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon
people still
balance their checkbooks?
I don't care who wins, as long as it's Michigan.....
Only with a scale.
Only with a scale.
Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.
So none of the fun stuff?
So none of the fun stuff?
Schools are too busy trying
Schools are too busy trying get kids to pass the tests so the admins can go on vacation.
How about a Business minor?
How about a Business minor?
Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.
Does such a thing exist?
Does such a thing exist?
The problem is...
...that regardless of what the subject matter of teh coursework is, you'll always have some athletes sleeping through it either because their tired from the physical drain of sports or they just don't care.
Maybe it'll help some, but for every kid that sucks up that kind of information there's inevitablly another 20 year old who'd rather daydream about girls, weed or video games.
This is great to see. But is
This is great to see. But is there also a segement of the camp called "Tell your entourage to F off - you don't owe them anything"?
Agree. You hear about
Agree. You hear about stories of all the cash guys who end up 'making' it hand out to distant relatives, shady friends, etc.
Once the career is over, amazing how quickly the entourage ditches the athlete/pop star/etc.
Guilt trip
Any player with a poor background who makes it as a multi-million dollar athlete is accused of "forgetting where he came from" by anyone who ever knew him that doesn't receive handouts on a regular basis.
Then, when the money dries out, they abandon the player and say he "forgot where he came from" anyway. If I was in their position, I would tell most of them to fuck off, keep my money, and never go back to the old neighborhood.
Agreed.
What's the point of making it out of the hood if the hood keeps pulling you back in?
Some people like the people
Some people like the people they grew up with?
Go Blue!
I agree that a boot camp type
I agree that a boot camp type of program would be good for any athlete at UM who may turn pro in their designated sport. Another thing I think would be good would be a personal finance class for all students enrolling to help them make educated financial decisions when they're on their own for the first time in their lives. I know the Marine Corps requires everyone take a personal finance and leadership correspondence course prior to be being eligible for promotion to NCO.
"The goal, the expectation of this program is the Big Ten Championship"
The Marine Corps' programs
The Marine Corps' programs aren't going to give anyone the tools required to manage day-to-day finances. The programming is pretty pathetic and the system incentivizes cheating.
That said, every college student should have to take a personal finance course during their Freshman year and again during their Senior year. Too few students have the life skills necessary to manage their money after school and cannot understand the implications of things like student loans. Some well designed seminars could be the most useful courses many students take as undergraduates.
^^^^^this
Not just athletes, but so MANY people are highly inefficient at best or wildly destructive at worst in managing their money. This is not really an investment issue its so often a cash flow decision-making issue. Good for M for trying to help in some way.
Tell your entourage to F off - you don't owe them anything"
I couldn't agree more in principle, but the problem is that the entourages frequently include immediate family members. It's one thing to tell a friend from down the block to fuck off, but it's entirely different to tell a brother or cousin or step-father to do the same.
In this thread
There are some really good thoughts on this thread and some people who have maybe been listening to the sensational media a bit too much. Lets be careful speculating about athletes from the 'hood as opposed to say, anyone else from the 'hood. Smacks of stereotypes.
the hood and entourages
Nice to see all the advice about what these athletes should do, but I'm wondering how many posters can truly relate to the situation. I know I can't but I also choose not to give advice on the matter.
True enough about not relating...
but whether people posting might do the same thing doesn't really have any bearing on whether the advice is good.
If I was in Vince Young's position, I might be tempted to have a dozen of my friends living off cash I throw their way, but it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Ditto for dropping fifty thousand at a strip club or anything else people have mentioned.
Go Blue!
good point
good point. I was just trying to bring some perspective so we consider the situation before criticizing the poor judgement of some of these young men
I hear Nelson Mandela will be taking part in this.
"Are you an official here?Because you've officially given me a boner."