Money Players

Quoted in Detroit Free Press article

The Detroit Free Press recently ran yet another sad tale of a professional athlete getting ripped off. Former Detroit Red Wing hockey player Sergei Fedorov claims he was cheated out of $43 million by his financial advisor.

I feel terrible for anyone who gets in business with someone who turns out to be a fraud. Professional athletes are especially susceptible, particularly if they put complete trust in someone without much, if any, oversight. The article states, "The trust between the men was so strong that Fedorov never received any paperwork documenting his investment's performance."

I was quoted in a sidebar on "tips to avoid financial missteps." The information is based on a more comprehensive article I wrote a few years ago for Sports Business Journal, titled, "Pro athletes must use caution to avoid financial runaround."

"Professional athletes are among the most competitive populations around," said Marc Isenberg, author of "Money Players," a financial guide for athletes. "If it comes down to investing in a conservative approach versus something that has far greater appeal -- say, 12% to 15% returns, 'guaranteed' -- it's hard for many to resist."

The lessons in 2006 absolutely apply today...

• Don't fall for "can't-miss" sales pitches: Let steady and consistent returns win the day.

• Don't take an adviser's word for it: Ensure that your investment deal is verified by a reputable CPA firm.

• Hire pros: Your cousin's husband may be a charmer, but many athletes have come to rue hiring family or friends as advisers or managers

• Understand what you're investing in: Walk away if you can't get the answers you seek.

From Money Players to paying it forward

Ryan Nece is an NFL player everyone should know, but yet he still labors in relative obscurity. He was a walk-on at UCLA, who became a valuable member of a highly-ranked UCLA team (back when Pete Carroll was best known as an out-of-work NFL coach.) Undrafted out of college, Ryan signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is now entering his 8th NFL season. 

Of great interest, Ryan wrote the foreword to my book, Money Players. When it came out, we received plenty of kudos. The only drawback, more than few friends pointed out, was that I did not have a "big name" professional athlete writing the book's foreword. Many said, "Ryan who?" I would get slightly defensive, but for very good reason. Ryan Nece is one of the most extraordinary people I know. He's not only a close friend and confidant, but someone who has profoundly impacted my views on sports, business and life. 

Look no further than Sports Illustrated, which featured Ryan Nece in its Point After column. SI's Phil Taylor writes:

"When a pro athlete is carrying that kind of wad [$4,000], there are a few obvious guesses as to where the evening will lead—to a Vegas blackjack table, perhaps, or a nightclub VIP room with bubbly and bimbos. But the 30-year-old Nece had other plans. He stuffed 70 envelopes with $55 each (55 was his jersey number with Detroit last season) and distributed them among the surprised friends and associates he had invited to the restaurant. The money wasn't the gift; the instructions that accompanied it were. Use this cash to help someone, he told them, and encourage those you help to do something kind in turn. Make the gifts multiply. Watch goodness grow."

We'd all benefit from less talk, more action. Thanks, Ryan, for showing that even relatively small amounts of money can speak volumes.

--Marc Isenberg

Alan Stein's Money Player book review

Disclaimer I: I don't like to toot my own horn, but it is important to get the word out about Money Players.

Disclaimer II: Alan Stein and I are part of each other's mutual admiration society.

We were introduced earlier this year, I believe by Jim Tanner and David Bauman, two respectable basketball agents (yes, they exist!). Since that time, we have regularly emailed, tweeted and even engaged in some old-school telephonic communication. I love Alan's passion and depth of knowledge about basketball and training. But, more important, I truly appreciate his interest to help others become more knowledgeable about and empowered through basketball.

Alan wrote a much-appreciated book review on his website.

Some highlights...

It is hard to adequately describe how valuable the book Money Players is to my line of work and how much insight it has provided in helping me see inside the bubble of a pro basketball player’s career off the court. This book is an absolute must read for any aspiring basketball player and anyone involved (or going to be involved) in that person’s life; parents, siblings, AAU and HS coaches, trainers, agents, advisors, lawyers, accountants, and teachers. This book emphasizes so many of the issues discussed this past week at the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp. In fact, I gave out 20 copies of this book to several of the camps top players. I hope they take my advice and read it!

I have read this book, cover to cover, twice now and refer back to it often. It is very well written and very user friendly (short chapters, gets right to the point). I love Mr. Isenberg’s writing style. Money Players provides a game plan and strategy for being successful both on and off the court and gives great insight to the steps necessary for starting and maintaining a long playing career along with sustained financial success and security.

After you read Alan's Money Player review, stick around and check out the rest of his site...there's some terrific information.

Also, follow him on twitter@

twitter.com/AlanStein

Here's Alan's short and sweet presentation at last week's NBA Top 100 Camp...definitely gets me jazzed about the value of competition, opportunity and preparation. 

-- Marc Isenberg

Get your copy of Money Players!

Money Players:  A Guide to Success in Sports, Business & Life for Current and Future Pro Athletes

Written by Marc Isenberg
"Pregame" by Ryan Nece, NFL player
ISBN # 978-0-9666764-1-9
List Price: $29.95

Praise for Money Players

“With great clarity and inescapable logic, Marc Isenberg has produced the definitive ‘game plan’ for pro athletes wishing for financial success and security. If you want to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that have plagued so many young professionals, by all means take a good, hard look at Money Players.”
--Dan Guerrero, Director of Athletics, UCLA

“While this book can prepare a select few for a professional sports career, Money Players provides excellent counsel to all student-athletes pursuing a productive, successful and meaningful life. I encourage every college football coach and anyone else who works with athletes to read—and share—this book.” --Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Assn. (AFCA)

"Money Players is the best book I have read for college and pro athletes in my 30 years in this business. The book is that good. It should be on every athlete's reading list and every parent/advisor should read it, too. I intend to give it out to recruits and their families." --Tony Agnone, football agent

"Marc Isenberg has penned the ultimate game plan for future pro athletes. It is a MUST read for every college athlete thinking about going pro, and even for pro athletes to use, to make sure things are in check. Agents can use this as their reference bible. In fact, if you don't have this book and you advise athletes, I think you may be doing your client a disservice: nobody knows everything, and nobody has perfect recall. A seasoned NFL agent told me recently even he, who has advised athletes for 30 years, picked up a few things from this book." --Sports Review Magazine

DISCOUNT SCHEDULE
1 copy: $25 per copy
2-9 copies: $20 per
10-19 copies: $18 per
20-49 copies, $16 per
50+ copies, $12 per

Shipping information: Price for single copy order includes shipping. Multiple copies: $4 for first book plus $.50 for each additional copy. (e.g. 10 copies = 4 + 9 x .50 = $8.50)

To place single book order:

 

To order multiple copies via PayPal, please e-mail desired quantity.

Or make check payable to
A-Game, LLC
1519 Stanford St., Unit 3
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Book is also available thru amazon.com

Additional information
(1) View Money Players cover
(2)  Read endorsements quotes, Table of Contents and order information
(3) Read Money Players excerpts

Review of Money Players

Attached is a positive review of Money Players published in the American Bar Association's Entertainment & Sports Lawyer newsletter.

In addition to providing a terrific summary of the book, sports agent Bill Robers states:

"Professional and college athletes alike, their families, friends, advisors, coaches, compliance officers, agents, and anyone who works with — or wants to work with — professional athletes will discover something of value in Money Players. Isenberg does not make any guarantees or absolute statements. Instead, he offers a book that serves as an unbiased, informative guide for athletes facing the various issues of a job or career in professional sports. Clearly and concisely written, logically organized, and aided by cartoons and quotes from former and current professional athletes, this book makes even the most complex aspects of being a professional athlete readily comprehensible to athletes and their advisors."

PLEASE NOTE: The attached PDF is posted with permission and courtesy of the American Bar Association.
 

Money Players book available now

A-Game, LLC is pleased to announce the publishing of "Money Players:  A Guide to Success in Sports, Business & Life for Current and Future Pro Athletes."

Written by Marc Isenberg
"Pregame" by Ryan Nece, NFL player
195 pages, 6” x 9”, perfect bound
ISBN # 978-0-9666764-1-9
List Price: $29.95

Praise for Money Players

“With great clarity and inescapable logic, Marc Isenberg has produced the definitive ‘game plan’ for pro athletes wishing for financial success and security. If you want to avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that have plagued so many young professionals, by all means take a good, hard look at Money Players.”
--Dan Guerrero, Director of Athletics, UCLA

“While this book can prepare a select few for a professional sports career, Money Players provides excellent counsel to all student-athletes pursuing a productive, successful and meaningful life. I encourage every college football coach and anyone else who works with athletes to read—and share—this book.” --Grant Teaff, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Assn. (AFCA)

“Marc Isenberg offers practical advice to young athletes that is badly needed but hard to find. Information is the best friend of any individual considering a career in professional athletics. Money Players is a very valuable source of helpful, unbiased information.”
--Tom Hansen, Commissioner, Pacific-10 Conference

"Money Players is the best book I have read for college and pro athletes in my 30 years in this business. The book is that good. It should be on every athlete's reading list and every parent/advisor should read it, too. I intend to give it out to recruits and their families."
--Tony Agnone, football agent

DISCOUNT SCHEDULE (includes free shipping):
1 copy: $25 per
5 copies: $20 per
20 copies, $16 per
50+ copies, $12 per

To place single book order:

 

Or make check payable to
A-Game, LLC
PO Box 34867
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Additional information
(1) View Money Players cover
(2)  Read endorsements quotes, Table of Contents and order information
(3) Read Money Players excerpts

Money Players book reviews

A couple good early reviews of my new book:

From ESPN's True Hoop (one of my favorite hoops websites):

"When you get into the nitty gritty of the basketball business -- agents, managing money, preparing for the draft, and the like -- you often hear things like 'there is no book on that stuff!'

"The message is that athletes have no choice but to stumble around and make some mistakes.

"But I have come to learn that in fact there is a book on that stuff. It's called 'Money Players: A Guide to Success in Sports, Business & Life for Current and Future Pro Athletes.'

"Topics covered include relating to the media, dealing with team owners, nutrition, taxes, deciding whether or not to declare for the draft...it's a lot of common sense put into one place, and it's not hard to read or implement. It's in keeping with a growing trend: empowering athletes to learn how to take control of their own affairs, instead of being forced to trust whichever agent or adviser happens to be around. I think that trend, in the long run, could be a key to reducing the fraud and financial mishaps that have long dogged athletes."

[Note: True Hoop posted a couple book excerpts as well]

From Sports Review Magazine:

"I was amazed at the book...every major college athletic department in America needs to have a copy accessible on bookshelves with a sign saying 'YOU. READ THIS!'"

"Marc Isenberg has penned the ultimate game plan for future pro athletes. It is a MUST read for every college athlete thinking about going pro, and even for pro athletes to use, to make sure things are in check. Agents can use this as their reference bible. In fact, if you don't have this book and you advise athletes, I think you may be doing your client a disservice: nobody knows everything, and nobody has perfect recall. A seasoned NFL agent told me recently even he, who has advised athletes for 30 years, picked up a few things from this book."

New Money Players book cover design

Almost done with book. Going to print next week. No matter what.

Ended up redesigning cover. Also changed subtitle to more properly reflect intended audience: "A Guide to Success in Sports, Business & Life for Current and Future Pro Athletes." Let me know what you think: marc.isenberg@gmail.com

Click here for full-sized image of front and back.

PREPUBLICATION OFFER (includes free shipping):
1 copy: $25 per
2 copies: $20 per
10 copies, $15 per
50 copies, $10 per

Please order by September 30, 2007.

To place single book order:

To place order via PayPal Email, please email quantity and shipping info.

Or make check payable to
A-Game, LLC
PO Box 34867
Los Angeles, CA 90034

To read table of contents and information on bulk discounts, please click here.
To read excerpts, click here.   [Adobe Acrobat required]

Sonny Vaccaro goes Ivy League

Sorry Vaccaro exited shoe business earlier this year. He's focusing on creating a basketball academy, writing a book, and lecturing on college campuses. And Baron Davis, through his production company, is planning a bio pic on Sonny. Sopranos star James Gandolfini has signed on to play Sonny. (Thanks Michael McCann via TrueHoop for the heads up.)

Sonny Vaccaro may be a controversial figure to some, but I've always appreciated the open discourse he fosters. Over ten years ago, I sat down with Sonny for one of the most lively discussions I ever had about basketball, politics and the NCAA and we've been friends ever since.

Some believe Sonny helped create many of the problems we see today in the basketball biz. Shoe companies and also television networks have a simple mission: Generate more and more revenue. If athletic departments have a problem with these corporate activities, then they certainly could just say no. No, we're not going to play games starting at 9pm on school nights. No, we're not going to use our student athletes as shills. Sounds good in theory, but every time an athletic director signs another multimillion dollar coaching contract or agrees to take on more debt to finance construction of new state-of-the-art facilities, the less likely he or she is to walk away from lucrative revenue opportunities. To slightly alter a favorite line from Seinfeld: Not that there's anything wrong with coaches making millions of dollars in college sports and tricked-out practice facilities.

[The rest of this post is me shilling my book, Money Players, which you really should purchase.] While no one ever accused Sonny of being altruistic, I appreciate this charitable quote for my upcoming book, Money Players:

"I truly respect Marc Isenberg for his thoughtful approach to the problems facing big-time sports. He is as honest and tenacious as they come. Marc doesn't just complain about a corrupt system; he offers thoughtful solutions. If you are a college or professional athlete, or if you care about athletes, you have to read Money Players."
—Sonny Vaccaro

Money Players: A Guide for Current and Future Pro Athletes to Succeed in Sports, Business & Life

I am pleased to announce that Money Players: A Guide for Current and Future Pro Athletes to Succeed in Sports, Business & Life is now available for purchase. Money Players is available for a special prepublication price of $25 (retail is $29.95). Offer good through September 20. Book will ship in late September.

Money Players is a comprehensive playbook to help current and prospective professional athletes maximize their financial opportunities, retire wealthy, and avoid mistakes that shorten or terminate careers. It includes "Pregame" written by Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ryan Nece as well as advice from many other current and former professional athletes.

Praise for Money Players

"Issues that have plagued athletes for years are presented and discussed in a straightforward and easy-to-understand format. Money Players should be mandatory reading for every professional athlete and anyone who cares about them!"
--€”Gene Washington, National Football League

“Money Players is a must-read for any athlete wishing to succeed in college or professional sports. The key philosophies and strategies discussed in Money Players ensure that athletes are financially sound when their playing days are over.”
--Jeffrey Moorad, CEO and General Partner, Arizona Diamondbacks, former sports agent

"Marc Isenberg'€™s book Money Players is a must-read for any aspiring professional athlete."
--Jay Bilas, ESPN

"Does Michael Vick go dogfighting if he'd read Money Players? Absolutely not."
--Mike DeCourcy, senior writer, Sporting News 

"Money Players is the best book I have read for college and pro athletes in my 30 years in this business."
--Tony Agnone, football agent 

PREPUBLICATION OFFER (includes free shipping):
1 copy: $25 per
2 copies: $20 per
10 copies, $15 per
50 copies, $10 per

This is a one-time offer. Please order by September 20, 2007.

To place single book order:

To place order via PayPal Email, please email quantity and shipping info.

Or make check payable to
A-Game, LLC
PO Box 34867
Los Angeles, CA 90034

To read table of contents and information on bulk discounts, please click here.
To read excerpts, click here.   [Adobe Acrobat required]

8/15 UPDATE: First book review on Sportsagentblog.com