Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Admirable Thrift

One grows sad and weary, hearing about football players and other athletes who earn big money, huge money, all right...
YUUUUUGE money, for two or three years toting a football or hitting a baseball and then, a torn ACL or two and they are out of the game, and their earning power is significantly diminished.

You can't pick up the newspaper without reading about some erstwhile "superstar" who is now selling his Super Bowl ring or working night crew at the BuySumMor to feed his family.

And where did all the money go?  Good heavens, ask M.C. Hammer, who had one hit record in his short career, and the next thing you know he's buying mansions and racehorses and stables, and for all I know now, he's working at a racetrack.  Athletes, too, go through the money like salt pork through a goose, and then, they often find themselves in bankruptcy court at age 26.

So it's good to hear that Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has played in the NFL for 9 seasons and has earned $49.7 million  - and he says he's got it all in the bank! 

On the "The Ian & Puck Show" on KJR Radio in Seattle, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said that there is talk that Lynch might retire now...and that he can afford to do so because he "has a lot of money.He hasn't spent a dime of his actual playing money ... ever."

The word among the advertising people is that Lynch has made around $5 million a year off endorsements for firms such as Nike, Pepsi, Skittles, Progressive, and Activision, according to Forbes.

You and I could do well on five million a year, especially if we clip coupons and use my senior discount at KFC.

Lynch was drafted in 2007 and made $19 million for five years with the Buffalo Bills, before being traded to Seattle and signing a $30 million deal.  He earned $12 million for 2015, and is not expected to return for the second year of the deal, on the grounds that at age 29, he is set for life.

Imagine. All that money AND he won't have to wear that hideous Seattle uniform any longer.  Pretty sweet deal.

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