Curtis Martin, former Jet and Patriots all-pro running back, is planning on purchasing a part of an NFL team next year. Martin retired before the start of this season, ending his 12 year professional career due to a bone on bone knee injury. Right now, its not looking like its the NY Jets he's planning on buying into...so that leaves 31 other teams he could have a shot at part-owning. That's news, but the real news is his reasons for doing this near unprecedented purchase:"I want to become a new image of what a professional athlete is," Martin said. "I think presently in sports, you have the whole bravado, bling-bling, and it seems that that's the image that most of us look up to, and I don't know who set that image. I want to be a different image. I want to be an image that's positive for you long-term. ... That's one of my true motivations, is to be a different goal to reach versus just having a million homes and a million cars and all the jewelry in the world."
Um...what? Tell me, whats the difference in purchasing a million cars and jewelry and buying into a professional sports team? Is one huge self indulgence better than the other? How is he any different than the other athletes he is putting down while making himself out to be the ultimate role model?
"[It's] a chance to be a businessman, a leader, an innovator and a role model."
Man, Curtis is trying to make himself a saint for buying into a football team! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with an athlete becoming an owner, I think its a great thing. Its his holier than thou reasons that get to me.
He says he wants to have a different image than the "bling bling" generation of role-models, but why is this any different from a gangsta rapper now getting his own glamour label through a big record company after he's "made it"?
It is good that Curtis wants to present a positive image to the kids, but surely there must be a better way than owning part of a football team. If he really wanted to reach people, he'd take that money and give it all to charity instead of indulging himself in a different way than all the other athletes he speaks of. Yes, I realize Curtis does a TON of charity work already...that isn't the point. The point is, he wants to help people by buying a football team, while pretending it is not a massive indulgence on his part and none of that makes sense.
In truth, if he wanted to help people he could take that football team purchasing money and give to the homeless more, build a shelter, buy a school more books, give more scholarships, start a business he can run that can help people, something, because indulging himself in sports entertainment while pretending he is better than his soon to be employees doesn't help anyone but himself. By owning a team, Curtis doesn't create a new role model for people to look up to, he will be nothing more than the sports world's Jay-Z.
From NY Daily News & Canadian Free Press
5 comments:
but that's the point - his point is that spending your money on material thangs rather than investing it in something that has a tangible return is the wrong way to go about money management and this the wrong model for kids.
and he wouldn't do better by just giving his money away. the way you help people is not by giving them money but by showing them or teaching them how to make their own money. you know - teach a man to fish yada yada ...
So anyway I think what Curtis is saying is that by buying a franchise and presenting himself as a black athlete turned professional he's providing a way to show others to do the same.
what's the difference between him buying a franchise and jay-z buying a franchise? Essentially their past, what they represent and how they made their money. I suppose at that point it's up to the individual to decide if one is worse than the other.
Sounds as if someone is a tad bit jealous! Curtis does do all of those things. If he gave and gave and gave it still wouldn't be enough for some folks (ahem, like the one who wrote this article). You cannot compare the two--it's like apples and oranges. Don't hate on Curtis because he wants to help clean up the tarnished image of the NFL and don't pretend that you don't know the images he is speaking of. There are some good guys in the NFL but they don't get applauded and now that one is trying to change things and make things better, you're trying to knock him down...this then, makes you no different than Jason Whitlock!!!!
I totally agree with "Anonymous" in saying that the writer appears to be a bit jealous, but more to me like a "crab in a bucket". Why is it that when someone makes a decision to step outside the box in hopes of attaining the greater good, we will always have one person to voice their negative opinion? I read the article regarding Curtis Martin and I felt nothing less than a sincere sense of pride and admiration for his future endeavor. I'm so disappointed in this article for attempting to turn Mr. Martin's good into evil. Instead of twisting everything he said to make it appear negative, how about applauding him for being a positive role model for our generation? Throughout his entire NFL career, Curtis worked tirelessly to help raise the bar of excellence, not just in sports, but in life PERIOD, for those who are willing to follow his lead. Contrary to what you may believe, Mr. Martin does give (without hesitation) of his time, finances and wisdom to those in need, as I was once a recipient of his generosity. But I guess because he chooses not to broadcast every single act of kindness to the media, you feel you have the right to ASSUME that he should be doing more. I think the author should follow the words of the elders--"If you don't have anything kind to say, then don't say anything at all." Those of us who are proud of Curtis Martin will continue to cheer him on with GREAT joy as he moves into the next phase of his life and awesome career. Your true fans support you Curtis, and no amount of ignorance will ever change that! We thank God for you! BLESSINGS!!!
i can tell who wrote the article is a person who knows nothing about growing up in the black in the urban us.what he is trying to do is start something new...how many black owners are there??? he is trying to teach/show that there is more to life than fast cars,bling-bling he is try to teach/show that there is rich and there is wealthy.dont be made because a black man is trying to teach wealth not rich...YOU THE WRITER NEED A NEW JOB OR ATLEAST WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW...STICK TO THE SPCAUSE YOU MAKE YOUR SELF SEEM LIKE A DUMB ASS!!!!
also there is nothing wrong with jay-z buying a team.yuo say like jay-z like thats a bad thing coming from nothing to be part owner....whats wrong that???
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