Priceless advice
from the pro

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

Everybody dreams at one time or another about raking in the kind of salary commanded by pro sports stars. The fantasy generally revolves around how they’d spend all of that loot.
But for even the brightest National Football League prospects, the realization of that dream sometimes turns into a nightmare, when their problem becomes over-spending. And then quicker than a guy can say "torn anterior cruciate ligament," the gravy train leaves the station without him.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Reggie Brown has witnessed scenarios like that firsthand during his two-plus seasons in the NFL. But he also knows that it doesn’t take a multimillion-dollar salary to live beyond one’s means.
That’s why Brown visited Northeast Philadelphia’s Abraham Lincoln High School last week, to encourage students to learn how to manage their personal finances before they land their first full-time job or sign on the dotted line of an NFL contract.
Brown joined Pennsylvania Secretary of Banking Steve Kaplan and Visa U.S.A. Financial Education Director Jason Alderman at the school on Oct. 2 to introduce a football theme computer game designed to test kids’ knowledge of personal finance.
Copies of Financial Football will be made available for free to every high school across the state in hopes that teachers will incorporate the interactive trivia games and accompanying lesson plans into their curricula.
The game can also be played online at www.practicalmoneyskills.com
Visa funded the development of the game, and the Department of Banking’s Office of Financial Education is handling the distribution.
Sadly for some NFL players, the game wasn’t around a few years earlier.
"People have problems managing their money," Brown told the students. "It’s hard when you get out of college. You get a lot of money, and there are things you want to buy that you’ve never had before.
"There are a lot of cats who are broke one or two years after they get out of the league."
The University of Georgia product recalled one recent draft pick who, shortly after signing his first contract, bought a new Escalade and a house in town.
"He didn’t even make the team," Brown said.
In his own life, Brown seems to have adopted more of a conservative approach. For example, he wore no multi-karat diamonds to Lincoln. His black shirt and pants combo was about as casual and understated as they come.
Were he not the guest of honor, he might have been confused for a phys ed teacher.
That modest coolness, combined with his sincere concern for the youths, made a big impression on them.
"(He was) very impressive," said junior Rocque Traylor. "It’s the fact that he is an honest person and cares about other people."
"He’s cute, and he’s not flashy," said sophomore Tatiana Felder. "And he liked me the most."
Students also appreciated the player’s message.
"I learned a lot about saving money," said sophomore Keziah White. She plans to use her savings "when I finish high school and go off to college and if I want to buy myself a house."
Senior Haoxiang Ruan also learned a lot about planning his college budget.
"Maybe I’m going to rent a house near college, and I’ll have to deal with financial aid," Ruan said.
Another senior, Brickita Towns, is looking forward to a rewarding and profitable career after graduation and wants to be smart with her earnings.
"I’m going to be a registered nurse," said Towns, who also thinks that Brown’s visit was important to show a positive side of her school.
The football star gladly took time out to do it because he knows how much athletes can influence young people.
"It’s a pleasure," he said. "I’m speaking from my heart and from experience."
Kaplan, the secretary of banking, hopes Financial Football will similarly capture the interest of Pennsylvania students, even if it’s just a starting point for more direct instruction.
"It’s a wonderful format to engage kids," he said. "It gives teachers a lot to talk about and kids a lot to think about."
"I incorporate it into my course," said Richard Raynes, who teaches in Lincoln’s Business Academy.
There are no state curriculum requirements in personal financial management, but teachers recognize the importance of the topic, anyway.
"Sometimes kids will come in with a question or something will be on the news," Raynes said. "You have to see an opportunity (to teach) and jump at it."
"It’s such a vital life skill," said Visa’s Alderman. "Long after you’ll forget how to dissect a frog, you’ll need to balance a checkbook." ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com