Sports Lives Professional
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2
Magazine
How to Cope with Life after Sports Drs. Tony Strickland & Paul Longobardi of SCI
Q&A with
CASSIUS
BUTTS U.S. Small Business Administrator Regional Director, on Becoming an Entrepreneur
SPECIAL REPORT: Life after Pro Sports
Your Spouse is
Are You Prepared
NOT
WHEN THE CHEERING STOPS?
your Problem!
18
In this issue
Welcome! xxxx
B xxx
Trade Tips: From the publisher 02 Branding A Better Image FeaTure: relocation Guide 04 Count Down to Moving Day 06 Get Moving with Two Men And A Truck 10 Cash In With a Winning Credit Score 12 Take the Anxiety Out of Auto Shipping special reporT: life after sports 15 You’re Not Crazy! 18 Are You Prepared? 21 22 24 26
Q&A with Cassius Butts Tapout & WWE Join Forces What Are They Doing Now? Q&A with Tim Biakabutuka To Retire or Not to Retire? What if a Star Really Breaks a Leg?
Focus: Healing & Wellness 30 Standing Tall 32 34
Q&A with Eric Wood Discovering your ‘Golf Body’ Fitness Superstar Francisca Dennis
Trade Tips: Tax Benefits 38 Athletes Forming Nonprofit Orgs: Score! iNsiGHT: Family Matters 40 Your Spouse is Not the Problem 44 My Life as a Pro Sports Wife 45 46 48
Establish Your Brand Q&A with Danielle Cherry PLAYBOOK: Products You’ll Love Coming Soon!
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gena James Pitts ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mike Pitts ART DIRECTOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER & GRAPHIC ARTIST
Mary Racila Aaron Grayson
WEB DESIGNER Shaun Danforth CONTRIBUTORS Steven Cohen, Angie Damon, Terri Grunduski, Kathy Peel, Andrew G. Poulos, Michael Stone, Dr. Tina Tessina MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to provide resources to inform and educate wives and families of professional athletes, coaches, sports and entertainment executives. Together with the Professional Sports Wives Association we strive to provide support to enhance the quality of life with longevity and success in careers and personal development. ADVERTISING advertising@prosportslives.com | SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@prosportslives.com
PSWA, Inc. | 13010 Morris Road | Bldg. 1, 6th Floor, Suite 600 | Alpharetta, GA. 30004 www.prosportslives.com PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 1
TRADE TIPS FROM THE PUBLISHER
Branding a Better Image for airing a successful
10 TIPS RADIO INTERVIEW
By gEnA JAMEs pitts, psL puBLishER And on-AiR RAdio pERsonALity roadcast radio personalities are seasoned veterans in their field; but there’s no reason why you can’t be just as good. But can you do it? Of course you can … with a little preparation! Follow these tips and you’ll become a radio talk show MVP.
B 1
sMiLE!
I know it’s weird, but if you’re physically smiling while you’re talking, listeners will feel it. On the other hand, if you’re frowning or have a blank expression on your face, they will feel that too. SMILE! It will radiate through the airwaves!
3
6
BE EnERgEtic
Radio hosts LOVE it when guests show enthusiasm during their show. If a host has to drag info out of you, audiences will be turned off, and you won’t get many interviews. If you’re excited about your message, listeners will be excited too, and will want to learn more about your product and service.
2
interviews. She would scream at the TV and say, “Hell nawl, I don’t know … stop saying ‘you know’ and tell me!” So, practice and state your message clearly, so people will know your purpose and mission statement.
BE pREpAREd
Never do an interview “ice cold,” especially if you aren’t used to doing them. Practice answering questions with family or friends before going on the air … and even prepare a couple of (quick) jokes or quotes ahead of time to ‘break the ice’ and cause a chain of jokes to laugh and have fun.
4
RELAX!
Show your Personality: Listeners love to feel connected to guests who are comfortable with sharing their message without hesitation or reservation. When you’re on the air, this is no time to be shy … unleashed your personality so you and your product will shine!
5
Avoid sAying, “you Know”
I had a godmother who use to cringe every time she heard her son say “you know” during
We all understand it’s a habit for guys to say “man” to the fellas; but female fans want to feel included in the conversation too. If you’re repeatedly saying “man” after each and every question or comment, you’re ignoring a growing audience of female fans (who represent nearly 85% of consumer purchases) who probably will buy your products, so don’t offend them. When the word ‘man’ is about to roll out of your mouth — think dollar signs ($$$), SMILE and just say WOW! Next issue: More tips before and the day of the interview.
GENA JAMES PITTS, publisher of Pro Sports Lives, is a veteran journalist, TV producer and on-air radio personality with over 30 years of experience. Married for over 29 years to Mike Pitts, a former NFL player, together they host the Pro Sports Lives Radio Show on YPR Radio in Atlanta, Georgia. Created in 1984, Gena is Founder and Executive Director of the Professional Sports Wives Association, the national charitable association of wives and families of professional athletes and executives. www.prosportslives.com | www.prosportswives.com
2 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
Avoid sAying, “MAn”
Reserve your tickets or tables today!
Tickets start at just $150 each. Tables available for 4, 6 and 8. Fantastic sponsorship opportunities still available. For more information, contact us at RSVP@prosportswives.com
FEATURE RELOCATION GUIDE
MOVING DAY
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, ...
Count Down to
By gEnA pitts oving day may seem far away right now, but it will be upon you before you know it! Don’t get caught unprepared. The key to a successful move is planning. To help you plan your move, Athletes On The Move, LLC has prepared a checklist of things to do before, during and after to ensure it goes without a hitch. This list has been compiled from years of experience, however, it is not all-inclusive for everyone. Take your special situation or needs into consideration and add steps if necessary.
M 8
Eight wEEKs BEfoRE youR MovE
• Obtain a floor plan of your new residence and decide what household items to keep. • Contact your insurance agent to determine what possessions are covered when moving. • Create a file for moving papers and receipts.
6
siX wEEKs BEfoRE youR MovE
• Begin your search for good healthcare professionals in your new location. • Fill out post-office change of address cards. • Send your new address to anyone who might need it — insurance agents, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, friends, relatives, etc. • Secure copies of family videos and photo negatives as these items are irreplaceable. • Clean out closets and dispose of all items that you will not be taking with you. • If you have antiques, have them appraised for valuation purposes. • Hold an estate/garage sale or donate items to charities (obtain a receipt for tax purposes).
3
thREE wEEKs BEfoRE youR MovE
• Have the utilities (gas, electric, phone, cable, Internet, water, etc.) disconnected in your present home after load day, and connected at your new home on or near the day of delivery. • Arrange for child care on moving day. • Prepare car registration and insurance records for transfer. • Notify State Motor Vehicle Bureau of your new address. • If necessary, reserve apartment elevator for pickup and/or delivery dates.
4 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
2
two wEEKs BEfoRE youR MovE
6 pAcKing dAy/onE dAy BEfoRE thE MovE
• Arrange transfer of jewelry and valuables — most movers will not transport them.
• Empty, defrost and dry your refrigerator and freezer.
• Obtain medical, dental and especially children’s immunization records.
• Be present to answer packing crew’s questions and make sure they have enough people as they stated in their contract.
• Arrange for your children’s school records to be transferred to their new school. • Make travel plans and reservations. • Use up food supplies. • Dispose of all items that are too dangerous to move, including flammable liquids.
1
onE wEEK BEfoRE youR MovE
• Have your car serviced. If it is going to be transported in the van, reduce the gas level to one fourth of a tank prior to moving day. • Confirm delivery address, en-route phone number and your arrival at your destination with your Coordinator. • Close charge accounts, transfer bank accounts and release safe deposit box. • Arrange for the shipment of pets. • Set aside items to take in the car and mark them “Do Not Move”. • Take down curtains, rods, shelves, etc. • Discontinue regular home delivery services (water, milk, newspapers, etc.) •Confirm travel plans, especially hotel reservations. • Have enough medication to last at least two weeks and forward prescriptions to a pharmacy at your new destination.
• Finish the packing that you have decided to do personally. • Remove valuable items including jewelry, vital documents, money, etc. from your residence.
H Moving dAy
• Be present to answer any of the moving crew’s questions. • The driver is always authorized to open, inspect and re-pack (if necessary), any containers packed by you that don’t seem safe for transport — this can result in an additional cost. • Check inventory — be sure everything you want in the van is included. • Exchange cell phone and destination numbers with the driver. • Check the driver’s Bill of Lading to verify: Transit protection, delivery address and/or notification phone number and probable delivery date or spread. • Thoroughly check your entire home — room-to-room, inside and out — before the driver leaves: attic, backyard, shed, basement, closets, cupboards, garage, crawl spaces, medicine cabinet, etc.
FEATURE RELOCATION GUIDE
moving company before signing the document. • Depending on the type of move (local or long distance) and the state, Bill of Ladings may look different and have different requirements based on regulations, however all of them should have the same basic information such as the name of the moving company, location, license number, move from/to locations, date of move, and a place for customer signature signaling the completion of the moving service.
Get moving with
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
Q: Do you handle auto transportation?
®
Professional Sports Lives Magazine goes inside the corporate offices of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® oving to another city is stressful for anyone. It’s even harder for families in professional sports who move often, and sometimes with short notice. We wanted to go inside the corporate office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® to learn more about their services to make relocation less stressful and more efficient.
M Q:
Sports families and athletes often need to move on a moment’s notice; what services do TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® local providers offer that relieves the burden of an a sudden move? A: We’ve completed nearly every move scenario there is, and we fully understand the need for prompt, moving and packing services. • That means you can leave all of the packing stress to our trained teams, or if you choose to, pack certain items and leave the rest up to us. The best part is, the same move team stays with you the whole time, moving you out of your old home and into your new home. • To give you even more peace of mind, the majority of our franchise locations equip their trucks with GPS tracking devices, so you know where your items are at all times. We are proud of our 317 franchises in 39 states across the country. Chances are, once you move to your new location, if you ever need professional moving and packing services again, there’s a franchise right in your backyard. • Prior to booking your move, we also offer free, in-home estimates. This means we send a move consultant to your home for a walk-through in order for us to provide you with an accurate and detailed move estimate. • Additionally, we offer many resources for you to review in order to make your move a seamless transition. These include moving and packing money saving tips, moving checklists, fun ideas on how to move with kids and pets, and ideas for staging your home to sell.
Q:
How many moves have you done? Have you completed any sensitive or high profile moves? A: We are ecstatic about the more than five million
6 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
A: While we don’t transport cars we partner with several auto transportation companies to serve our customers.
Q: How did TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
® start? A: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® started in the early 1980s as a way for two brothers to make extra money while they were in high school. Now, 30 years later, the company has grown to more than 300 locations worldwide. Brothers Brig Sorber and Jon Sorber started moving people in the Lansing area using an old pickup truck. They had their mom, Mary Ellen Sheets, develop a logo to put in a weekly community newspaper. That stickmen logo still rests on every truck, sign, and advertisement. After the brothers left for college, Sheets continued to field calls for moving services while she also worked a full-time data processing job with the State of Michigan. In 1985, she decided to make things official by purchasing a 14-foot truck for $350 and hiring a pair of movers. That $350 is the only capital Sheets has ever invested in the company.
Q:
moves we’ve successfully performed since the company began in 1985. What you may not know, is many of those have been moves for high-profile customers. This may come as a surprise as we don’t publicize these moves — we are fully committed to providing moves in absolute confidentiality. Unless of course, you want to tweet us a photo of your fantastic move team!
Q:
What does TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® consider extra services and do you charge for them? A: As part of our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® services, we offer pad wrapping and stretch wrapping for your furniture and delicate items as part of our hourly rate, at no additional charge. We also offer full-service packing at an hourly rate, plus the cost of packing supplies (depending on state regulations), which is
determined by the individual franchise. Along with packing services, we offer a full line of boxes and packing materials that can be purchased for the do-it-yourselfers. There are certain specialty items that many franchises will move for an additional cost determined by the franchise, such as slate pool tables and hot tubs.
Q:
What is a Bill of Lading and why is it important? A: The Bill of Landing is a document presented to the customer on moving day from the moving company and is extremely important. • It will include move-specific information, customer information, move from/move to address information, inventory, cost/payment information, and other pieces of information the customer will sign off on. If the customer has any questions regarding the content of the Bill of Lading, the customer should speak with the
What are three things that differentiate TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® from other companies? A: Our company core values, which include THE GRANDMA RULE®; to treat everyone the way you would want your grandma to be treated, and Give Back to the Community, which are both set on how we treat our customers and the communities in which we work and live. These aren’t just values we create and post in our marketing materials, our franchises and their teams live these each and every day. The level of training we provide to our teams is just additional assurance our customer’s belongings are going to be well taken care of. Our 96% referral rate is proof. Even better, regardless of the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise you work with, you will receive the same, excellent move experience from any of our locations across the country. We love our team of franchisees! We’re proud of the fact that many of them have moved up the ranks — from starting at the company many years ago as movers, and are now franchisees within our growing system. But we’re also proud of our franchisees who have seen great
success in other businesses, and are now choosing to start a fun, new adventure in partnership with us.
Q:
How are logistics of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® move handled? How are moving contents stored and managed? A: There are many situations where our customers need some additional storage. A number of our locations have secure on site storage for both short and long-term needs. For those locations without storage we work with storage facilities across the country. • Contents are moved by one driver vs. handed off at milestones along the route. • Both local and long distance moves enjoy exclusive use of the truck, which means your belongings are the only belongings on the truck and there are no stops along the way to off load at a terminal or storage and no one else’s belongings are added to the truck! Now that is peace of mind!
Q:
How are special-packaging items treated like electronics, trophy cases and memorabilia? A: Moving your special items safely, is our priority. While some people prefer to handle special items on their own, our movers are trained and well equipped to safely pack and move your most important and delicate items. Some proactive practices we are able to provide may include crating glass, additional padding and stretch wrap, and utilization of specialty boxes.
Q: Do you guarantee pick up and delivery dates? What happens if dates are missed due to weather or otherwise? A: Yes. This is one important feature that sets us apart from our competition. However, we are in constant communication with the customer so in the unlikely event of a weather related delay, there are no surprises.
Q:
How are delivery mishaps solved, missing items or broken furniture? A: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® strives to provide the highest level of care, but we are moving after all, and from time to time situations may arise. In this event, each franchise has a manager committed to resolving these situations and will simply work with you to resolve anything that comes up along the way.
Q:
Tell us about your trucks and do you charge hourly or by weight? Are your TMT trucks climate controlled, padded, insulated, etc? A: Moving is regulated and depending on the type of move, whether local or long distance, determines how the move is charged. Local moves are typically charged hourly, longdistance moves are charged by weight and miles. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 7
Q: What liability coverage do you provide? A: We have lots of options here! For local moves, most franchisees offer full value protection of items at no additional costs. On longer distance moves customers can purchase liability coverage (also known as valuation) for the transportation of their items from most of our locations. Valuation ranges from minimum coverage of your items, to full or replacement value. The extra costs are based on coverage selection and can be regulated based on state and federal regulations depending on if the move is considered local or long distance.
All alcohol-drug testing and other requirements established by state and federal laws for driver-applicants and drivers of commercial vehicles must be completed as required by law. Additionally franchisees must perform the following drug screening (and alcohol when applicable) as permitted and in accordance
Q:
We’ve all heard bad stories of movers that show up on moving day. How are TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® movers vetted? Do you have employees as movers or do you hire temporary workers? A: We understand the critical nature of ensuring the teams who our loyal customers trust to be in their homes are vetted to the fullest extent. We take this very seriously! Prior to employee start date, at a minimum, franchisees must perform all criminal, employment, MVR, and personal background checks necessary to confirm these standards have been met, including but not limited to a review of the national sexual offenders list and any other lists available to the public to identify persons convicted of crime.
“More than 5 MILLION MOVES since 1985!”
with Federal, State, and DOT regulations: PreEmployment Drug Screen, Post-Accident Drug Screen, Random Drug Screening Program and Minimum five panel drug screen.
Q: Is it important to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
®
to give back to the community? A: Absolutely! In fact, it is one of our core values and we take it to heart. One example of our giving back is the national spring campaign we created eight years ago called MOVERS FOR MOMS®. For this program, all of our franchises partner with local businesses and schools to collect essential care items for moms living in local domestic abuse or homeless shelters. The franchises collect these items from their partners and deliver them to local shelters the weekend of Mother’s Day. We’re proud of the more than 220,000 items we deliver annually to moms in need. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® also donates $.10 from move to the American Cancer Society. Since 2001, we have donated more than $450,000 to local ACS affiliates across the country.
for more information or to schedule your move, visit us at twomenandatruck.com/athlete or call 877-263-6444.
Personal ATTENTION • EFFECTIVE MARKETING • Quick RESULTS! For a complimentary property evaluation or buyer consultation, call 469-269-AskG TODAY!
GILLIAN CUNNINGHAM Broker Associate • Accredited Buyer Rep Certified Residential Specialist
QUICK RESULTS! Specializing in the DALLAS METROPLEX AREA.
FEATURE RELOCATION GUIDE
with a
CASH IN winning credit score By stEvEn KAtZ winning credit score allows you to take advantage of the best lending rates and loan programs available. As with all things, knowledge is power. So, let’s first cover the basics of credit scoring and then discuss its effects on the home purchasing process.
A
thE fundAMEntALs The most common credit scoring system was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, and is commonly known as the FICO score. Ranging from 300 to 850, the score takes into account five main variables pertaining to your credit worthiness. As seen in the diagram below, the primary factor in calculating your credit score comes from your payment history. ALWAYS make your payments on time. Just one late payment can reduce your score by 100 points. If you do make a late payment, strive to reestablish a good payment history by making the next 12 months payments promptly. A great strategy to eliminate this risk is to set up all monthly payments on an auto bill-pay system or have your financial planner be responsible for paying your bills. The second biggest factor is how much you owe versus how much credit you have available. If you’re able, try to pay your bills in full each month. Otherwise, keep your credit balances to a minimum. A good rule of thumb is to stay below 30% of your credit limit.
the Katz family The length of your credit history is also important. The longer you are able to manage your revolving debt, the better your credit score will look. Keep accounts such as credit cards open even after you have a zero balance by making small charges and paying them off every month to maintain the length of history you’ve paid on time. There is no penalty for
keeping multiple cards open, as long as there aren’t any missed payments or high balances. If you need to close a card, close the most recently opened one.
cREdit & LoAns Now that we’ve covered the basics, we can discuss the real implications of your credit
WHAT MAKES UP A FICO CREDIT SCORE? “ALWAYS make your
payments on time. Just one late payment can reduce your score by 100 points.”
score. Utilizing the above to get that winning score will help you become a premium borrower. I’m sure you’ve all been inundated by the media with phrases like “subprime mortgage collapse” and “economic crisis.” However you’re not certain what this means to you in a practical sense. Housing prices have started to fall and in some cases, homes are worth less now than when they were initially purchased. From a lending standpoint, the days of putting down 5% towards your purchase or securing 100% financing are long gone. That being said, premium buyers are still valuable to lenders. The combination of historically low interest rates and affordable home values means that if you are in the position to purchase a home — a good credit score and an adequate down-payment — now is an excellent time to make that investment. Remember, a winning credit score helps you take advantage of the best rates. A recent study calculated that the average consumer saves about $1 million over the course of their financial life because of good credit. A high credit score can be the difference between paying 4% on your new home loan versus a rate of 5.5%, which translates into real dollars. For example, on a $300,000 loan, the payment difference would be $270 per month or close to $100,000 over the life of the loan — nearly a third of what you are initially borrowing. If you are able to secure a mortgage approval prior to making an offer on a home, you’ll present stronger offers and, in turn, are more likely to secure the home you want at the rate you want. Buying a home should be one of the financial commitments you make during the early years of your career. Look at your home as an asset. You should build equity in your home while your earnings are strong. As a wellqualified borrower, make sure you negotiate for the best terms and offers. Surround yourself with the proper expertise throughout the home purchasing process. Hire an attorney to negotiate the contract, an inspector that will assess your new home’s condition, and an appraiser to verify your price is at fair market value.
whAt’s nEXt You will save a lot of time and frustration by curing your credit woes prior to looking for a new home. One of the first steps to take after turning professional should be to pull your
credit report. Contrary to popular belief, ordering your own credit report or credit score doesn’t harm your score. Neither do mass inquiries made by credit card lenders, who are deciding whether to pre-approve you for a card — that is unless you accept their offer and apply for credit. Inquiries made when applying for credit, either in terms of a mortgage, car loan or credit card can lower your score. To minimize damage, be sure to make the applications within a one-month period. When pulling your own credit report, note that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows you to a free credit report annually. Make sure that you take advantage and know exactly what is reported. Collections that occurred in college are a sure way to lower your score. Find out what collections you owe and, if legitimate, negotiate a payoff. Most collection agencies will be willing to negotiate a settlement for up to 40 percent of the amount owed as long as you pay it off in one payment right away. Just be certain to keep records of all payments because many times the account isn’t updated with the bureaus appropriately. Also know that mistakes can be made on your credit report. There might be accounts on your credit report that don’t really belong to you. If so, get a letter from the creditor and dispute it with the bureaus. In addition to account errors, be careful to co-sign on family members and friends’ loans because these loans raise your credit balances for credit that is not truly yours to use but is ultimately your responsibility to pay. Another common pitfall for new professional athletes is planning your budget in the off-season. Remember that you are typically not being paid in the off-season of your sport and need to set aside funds to pay those bills. It is a great idea to calculate your monthly budget and set aside an ample amount each paycheck to cover your bills in the off-season and prepare to purchase your home. In the end, know that you are solely responsible for your credit. Make sure you are knowledgeable about what is on your report and are actively maintaining your score. Good credit will always allow you to take advantage of the best credit rates and programs available. Scores and your solid credit performance will stay with you long after your playing days are over and allow for your future success.
STEVEN KATZ has over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry. Closing more than $900 million in loans, Steven proves he has the experience necessary to meet the needs of his clients and referral partners. Whether it is working with first time buyers or seasoned investors, Steven’s experience and knowledge of the industry helps to ensure that he puts his clients in the best possible financial situation. 224.300.1110 CELL | 847.239.7809 WORK | skatz@mteamgroup.com | www.1amllc.com/katz
10 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
MORTGAGE TIPS
Top 7 tips to secure the BEST mortgage: 1
get your paperwork organized and submitted promptly.
2
use someone with Athlete, team Executive and staff lending experience.
3
if your mortgage broker does not return calls or does not explain items to your satisfaction, find another broker.
4
debt balances vs. total available credit influences credit scores.
5
Know your risk tolerance, pertaining to fixed rate vs. Adjustable rate mortgages.
6
use your mortgage pro as a resource, even after closing, between you and your end lender.
7
Ask your mortgage advisor about future refinance options.
STEVEN KATZ KATZ Mortgage Team 1ST ADVANTAGE MORTGAGE A DRAPER & KRAMER CO. 224-300-1110 cell | 847-239-7809 work 2 Northfield Plaza Suite 320 | Northfield, IL 60093 skatz@mteamgroup.com | www.1amllc.com/katz Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. dba 1st Advantage Mortgage, an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. License #MB0004263/NMLS #223791. Regulated by IDFPR. Licensee address: 701 E. 22nd St., Suite 125 Lombard, IL 60148 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 11
FEATURE RELOCATION GUIDE
Take the ANXIETY out of
We transport your dreams with our White Glove Service
AUTO SHIPPING Top-ranked Executive Auto Shippers shares their incomparable expertise to answer all of your questions in a Q&A about vehicle transport. By gEnA pitts with MAtthEw vAn gELdER Q: Sometimes an athlete’s family has to move on a moments notice. Do you have drivers with that type of flexibility? A: Our team at Executive Auto Shippers (EAS) understands how hectic and overwhelming moving can be, especially on a moments notice. That’s why we strive to make transporting your vehicle hassle free by offering services like our 24-Hour Pick Up. Once your order is placed, we are able to schedule a pick up within 24 business hours. For instance, if you place an order at 8 p.m. on Monday, we’ll work to schedule a pick up before 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Q: Can you guarantee a specific day for pick up? A: Thanks to our vast network of trusted partners, both local and national, yes we can. We are able to utilize our partners to guarantee pick up on a specific day.
Q:
What other types of guarantees do you offer and what do they cover? A: One advantage of being in the industry for almost 20 years is I’ve noted what our competitors do well and not so well. It’s helped me shape the service we offer as well as our guarantees. Our One Price Guarantee protects you from hidden and additional fees. Nobody wants to think they’re paying one price and then receive a bill for more than that due to some unforeseen cost. The price we set when you place your order is the price you’ll pay. No surprises. Our other guarantee is our Car Rental Guarantee. Although we do everything possible to have your car there on time, issues can come up delaying delivery. If the carrier doesn’t make it within the agreed upon transit time in your
WHAT’S YOUR DESTINATION? contract, EAS will reimburse you for a rental car from Enterprise. The terms and conditions for this are listed on your order. We’ll make sure you have a vehicle until yours arrives. You can even book your rental directly on our website.
Q: Are there any limits to where you can ship? A: Yes. However, we aren’t limited to just vehicle transporters on land. Currently, we service all of the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Internationally, we service Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean.
Q: How would you handle my high-end vehicle? A: Our carriers offer both open and enclosed trailers. We’d recommend an enclosed trailer with hard sides to offer the highest level of
protection for your exotic, classic or high-end vehicle. This allows your vehicle to be inside of a completely enclosed container, shielded from any outside dangers.
Q: Do you only move cars, trucks and SUVs or can you move other types of vehicles? A: If you can ride on it, we can most likely transport it. Besides cars, trucks and SUVs, we’ve shipped motorcycles, ATVs, PWCs, RVs and even boats! It’s why we keep a vast network of trusted carriers — not just for location purposes, but for all the various types of vehicles. Our network allows us to find carriers who have the specialized equipment and the know how to handle your vehicle safely and properly. There’s no need to leave any of your toys behind!
Q: Is it possible to ship personal items with the vehicle? A: We get this question often. Yes, you can, but there are a few guidelines: • You can’t add more than 100 lbs. to the car. This has to do with the overall transport — if all seven cars on the transporter were packed full, the carrier would be overweight. Also, the carrier may simply refuse to load your vehicle if it is over packed. • Items can only be stored in your vehicle’s cargo area. The industry standard defines the cargo area as, “the area behind the back seat with the back seat in the upright position and below the window level of the vehicle.” • Avoid shipping anything of personal or monetary value, for two reasons — Nothing is inventoried inside of the vehicle, therefore it wouldn’t be covered under the insurance; and traveling on a transporter is different than regularly shipping an item due to the increased vibration from the road. • Absolutely no weapons, ammunition, alcohol or drugs (illegal or prescription). These items are non-negotiable for transporting.
Q:
What are the standards for your carriers and how do you select them? A: We’re very selective in who we trust with our customers’ vehicles. Our well-developed network consists of over 2,600 carriers. We regularly conduct checks and maintain our quality control for each. Before they become a carrier for EAS, we prescreen the carrier for insurance, past performance and safety. Our
standards are some of the highest in the industry and we want our carriers to have the same.
Q: Do your drivers do any sort of inspection before hauling the vehicle? A: Yes! If a carrier doesn’t inspect before loading your vehicle, I wouldn’t use them. We want to make sure your vehicle arrives in the same condition it was shipped. All of our carriers perform a detailed condition report at pick up and you sign off on that report. You will also receive a copy for your records and we highly recommend keeping it until the car has been delivered. You can use your copy to compare and see if there are any issues that may have occurred during the transport.
Specializing in Custom Transports!
Q: How do you keep your customers informed during transport? A: It starts from the beginning. After the initial schedule is set, not only do we provide our customers with the carrier’s information, but make sure they have their dedicated representative’s as well. All communication is personalized to the customer, so if you prefer email, we’ll communicate mostly in emails. Even though we give you the carrier’s information, we’ll be your main point of contact throughout the transport. We also inform you of any issues, even as minimal is the driver is an hour behind. We also make ourselves available 24/7. If it’s outside our office hours, we have a special extension available for emergencies that we give to both truckers and customers. If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a transport, call us at 641-847-0656.
MATTHEW VAN GELDER is the co-owner of Executive Auto Shippers and has been in the auto transport business for almost 20 years. Having worked in every aspect of the auto shipping business, he’s gained the knowledge he needs to run a successful auto shipping company. Matthew believes that Executive Auto Shippers’ excellent communication with their clients is what makes EAS stand out above their competition. He is committed to catering to each client’s specific needs and requests to ensure a successful auto transfer every time. 641.847.0656 | www.executiveautoshippers.com
12 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
We are a family-owned company providing a full range of auto shipping solutions.
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Motorcycles, RVs, Classic, Sports, ATVs, Boats ... Exotics & Imports whether you’ve got an exotic car, an imported motorcycle or just need your luxury suv sent overseas, Executive Auto shippers has got a shipping solution for you. we understand that each transfer is unique — our team will custom design your auto relocation to fit the needs of you and your vehicle. contact us today!
641.847.0656 www.executiveautoshippers.com
SPECIAL REPORT LIFE AFTER SPORTS
‘You’re
NOT CRAZY!’ magine this scenario. John, who worked for ABC Corporation for 17 years, arrives at work to find out his job has been eliminated. John experiences a maelstrom of emotions including shock, anger, embarrassment, betrayal, anxiety, grief, loss of confidence, and worry, frustration and disbelief. He doesn’t know where to go or what to do. Unfortunately, “John’s” situation occurs on a daily basis across America. With increased frequency, this scenario occurs among professional athletes who suffer career threatening injuries, retirement, or who are released from their teams. In the world of professional sports, these are major challenges for individuals who must compete for their jobs on a daily basis. Stress may build to the point where an athlete’s reaction to such life-altering events can include a range of emotions, including grief, devastation, anger, bitterness, alienation, identity loss, loneliness, anxiety and fear, as well as loss of confidence. Moreover, associated feelings of helplessness, depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, domestic violence and even suicide may be considered or, unfortunately occur. Notably, this spectrum of emotional turmoil may be experienced by the athlete’s loved ones who suffer right along with him or her. The above mentioned psychological and behavioral reactions are anticipated responses to highly stressful circumstances in most individuals, including athletes. Anxiety and depression are frequent symptoms when athletes face a life without their sport and the accompanying adulation, camaraderie, sense of mastery/accomplishment, and the attainment of elite professional status with its associated benefits.
Drs. Tony L. Strickland and Paul G. Longobardi of the world-renowned Sports Concussion Institute discuss the anxiety and stress many professional athletes face when dealing with career threatening injuries, retirement or who have been released from their teams. By tony L. stRicKLAnd, M.s., ph.d. And pAuL g. LongoBARdi, ph.d.
I
14 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
“78%
of NFL players were in financial distress within two years of retirement.” (Sports Illustrated)
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences. Many people feel anxious, or nervous, particularly when faced with a work problem or making an important decision such as ending a career. Anxiety “disorders” are different. For people with anxiety disorders, worry, fear, and tension can
cause enough distress to interfere with a person’s ability to lead a normal life. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But when feelings of intense sadness last for days to weeks and keep a person from functioning normally, the emotional dysphoria may be PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 15
ABOUT SCI ... the sports concussion institute (sci) provides stateof-the-art assessment, treatment and prevention services to address the comprehensive concussion care needs of athletes of all ages playing high-velocity sports and provide specialized neurological and neuropsychological care to people with closed head injuries, acute and chronic pain, balance disorders, and memory and learning disorders. sci has successfully served thousands of patients with a focus on individualized treatment and state-ofthe-science care. sci’s Los Angeles site has grown to become the premier concussion care facility west of the Mississippi. sci also has offices in Anaheim, california, and Atlanta, georgia. find out more at concussiontreatment.com.
something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression, a treatable medical condition. If an athlete has thoughts of wanting to harm him/herself (suicide) or other people (homicide), we recommend several immediate steps. First, do not keep the thoughts/feelings to yourself. Share them with someone you trust, and seek professional help. At the same time, promise them not to do anything right away (i.e. give yourself some distance between thoughts and actions). If you cannot honestly assure them that you will not act on your suicide/homicidal thoughts, you must seek professional help immediately. Avoid drugs and alcohol; they only make thoughts of self-harm, or harming another stronger. Make your home safe by removing things you can use to hurt yourself/others, and go somewhere where you feel safe. Final, take hope in the knowledge that the overwhelming majority of people do survive the painful feelings you may be having now. But do get professional help! Anxiety and depression may manifest in being aloof, moody, irritable, sad, tense, edgy, and sometimes explosive. However, there is nothing “crazy” or psychotic about the stress reactions. This is a
common misconception keeping people experiencing stress from seeking help (i.e. “They’ll think I’m crazy”). It’s not true today. But untreated grief, loneliness, depression, and anxiety can lead to unhealthy and adverse outcomes. Think of the job loss transition as a grief reaction, such as when we lose a loved one. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote the five stages of grief and loss to include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. If you think of the end of a playing career as a major loss, which it is, then you will see that most players go through a very normal sequence of stages. And don’t forget that the professional athlete is not retiring at age 60 or 65 but much younger, facing a longer life in retirement. At least until a new career develops for the post-professional athlete. Some themes which have come out of the neurobehavioral research indicate that the professional athlete’s post-sport adjustment may also depend on other factors, including having a range of social support instead of being isolated, the strength of their athlete identity, and the strength of their identity outside of athletics. That means while playing, did they have a life with people outside of sport or were all their friends athletes? Finally, how much pre-retirement planning did the athlete do for life after sport? More planning is healthier and more protective. Having a strong spiritual foundation also has been found to buffer the pain of anxiety and depression. No matter what you experience as an athlete or the loved one of an athlete, there are resources available to assist you. At the Sports Concussion Institute, we specialize in the comprehensive treatment of sportinduced neurobehavioral injuries. We have resources to help with the emotional, cognitive, and neurological consequences of post playing life. There is good life before during, and after sport, it just may look and feel differently at each stage.
DR. TONY L. STRICKLAND, MS, PHD, FNAN, is the founder and Chairman of the Sports Concussion Institute, and Program Director of the Memory Disorders and Concussion Management Clinics, in Los Angeles, California. He is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He received his undergraduate degree at the California State University at Los Angeles, a doctorate in clinical psychology (Behavioral Medicine) from the University of Georgia, and completed a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Strickland also completed postdoctoral residency training in clinical neuropsychology at the Semel Neuropsychiatric Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the American Psychological Association Division 50 (Addictions), and the American College of Professional Neuropsychology. Dr. Strickland has extensive clinical and research experience in the areas of neurobehavioral sequalae of sport-induced concussion, other traumatic brain injury, substance-induced organic brain syndromes, ethnobiologic variations in response to psychoactive compounds, cross-cultural neuropsychology, and forensic neuropsychological evaluations. 310.643.9595 | concussiontreatment.com | sci.losangeles@concussiontreatment.com DR. PAUL LONGOBARDI, MA, PHD, is a licensed psychologist with decades of experience in the assessment and treatment of concussion and a wide range of related disorders. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and a postdoctoral respecialization program in geropsychology at the University of Southern California (USC). He is a sought after speaker recognized in his field, speaking to psychology professional groups and private businesses. 16 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
SPECIAL REPORT LIFE AFTER SPORTS
Are you prepared for when the cheering STOPS? When the deafening sound of thunderous cheers from fans fade into a memory … will you be ready when the cheering stops? If you meet Cassius F. Butts, you’ll notice that, “he is a man with a plan” to help. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the Regional IV Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. By gEnA JAMEs pitts assius Butts has a love for business and sports. Having worked under both the Bush and Obama Administrations, Cassius has the ability to communicate and develop partnerships. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011, he is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. He has managed four record-breaking years for SBA lending in Region IV. Nearly $20 billion in SBA-backed loans were awarded to small businesses within his region. Prior to joining SBA, Cassius was employed with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Presidential Management Fellow/Branch Chief in 2002. Since 1992, Cassius has worked in leadership positions for Bank of America, MBNA Bank America and the City of Atlanta. As a small business owner, he co-founded CB Consulting Group, LLC, which primarily offered entrepreneurial, strategy and community engagement services. Cassius has also been featured on NPR and CNN as well as ESPN. He has received many awards and recognitions including a U.S. House of Representative Proclamation for his achievements. As an advocate for mutual partnerships, Cassius has assisted to forge over 300 strategic alliances with business chambers, associations and foundations. In 2013, he was appointed to the National Partnership Council. Cassius is a graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando, Atlanta’s Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University’s Graduate School of Public Administration, and he obtained his Certificate of Grant Writing from Emory University’s Life Learning Institute. He is also a 2012 graduate of Leadership Atlanta.
Q: What’s the second thing?
C
Cassius F. Butts U.S. Small Business Administration Region IV Administrator 18 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
A: Determine your brand and what sets you apart from the status quo. Have a blueprint to your business is key. It is not just important but it is a necessity to have a business plan or guide; your playbook for you to realize your entrepreneurial dream.
Q:
Should a pro athlete use there own money or borrow? A: A professional athlete just as a typical business person should have some start up funds or injections used to create their business. Financial institutions are more favorable to lending capital when they see perspective business owners self-invest.
Q: Do you recommend buying a franchise? He lectures and writes as a guest columnist, and has co-authored over 50 business and entrepreneurship related columns. Pro Sports Lives Magazine caught up (literally) to get to know the person who could help athletes’ transition from life in pro sports to possibly being an entrepreneur.
Q:
What’s the first thing a person should know before becoming a small business owner? A: I believe that if you follow your passion, that’s your purpose in life. There is nothing more rewarding than working in an environment, which your skills and passion are, used most. I am a firm believer that the same determination, commitment and tenacity that it takes to be star athlete is the same commitment used to be top decision maker, a CEO. You have to be quick on your feet and sharp minded to succeed both during and after the game is played.
A: Absolutely! A franchise if operated efficiently can be a great investment. They key however is to have multiple franchises to maximize your full return on investment. Typically, small business owners can benefit generously by owning multiple units.
Q: We understand you travel constantly. As Regional Administrator for Region IV of the U.S. Small Business Administration, what is your role? A: My role as Regional Administrator is to be the eyes and ears for small businesses typically in the southeastern United States. We provide access to capital, contracting opportunities and one on one confidential counseling. We insure the loan that up to 80% that the financial institutions lend. Our 7a products maximize up to $5 million and our 504 product enables you to purchase real estate while operating your business within the property. I travel frequently, and visit with many entrepreneurs, and their success stories. I also learn PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 19
Small business is dear to my heart as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. At times, it wasn’t easy; but I remember them telling me that it was always rewarding. Though labeled small businesses they are truly the massproducing engine of our economy. Across the country, more than half of employed Americans either own or work for a small business. I believe it is our entrepreneurs and small business owners that drive America’s ability to innovate and stay competitive across the globe.
realize their aspirations. As the great writer Langston Hughes once said, “what is a dream deferred …”
contact cassius Butts through Linkedin at cassius-f-butts and follow him on twitter @cassiusButts.
the challenges that many business owners face. We work together as a team at SBA to assist aspiring and existing small business owners every day to reach their goals; whether it is to start a new small business or grow an existing business.
position with the Obama Administration? A: I have been very fortunate to work in this administration and help hundreds if not thousands of people realize their dream. I have put many hours into laying the foundation to pursue my passion and dreams. It’s possible that I will run a communication/public affairs firm helping others transition and
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST:
Can pro athletes SCORE in retirement? But, thankfully not all pro athletes struggle in the outside world, here’s some huge success stories complied by Forbes: n Basketball legend MICHAEL JORDAN made $90 million last year in endorsements. His main product line is Nike’s Jordan Brand, followed by Gatorade, Hanes, Upper Deck, 2K Sports, Novant Health and Five Star Fragrances. n Golfing great ARNOLD PALMER made $40 million last year in endorsements. His big money makers include a line of drinks for AriZona Beverage Co., and over 400 apparel and leather goods stores in Asia. Other notable golfers raking in the dough are Jack Nicklaus at $30 million, Gary Player at $19 million and Greg Norman at $16 million. n Soccer superstar DAVID BECKHAM brought in a cool $37 million thanks to H&M and Coty. He’s currently brokering a franchise deal for an estimated $75 million. Pictured by row: Former NBA player Michael Jordan for Hanes; Former American heavyweight boxer George Foreman for the Foreman Grill; Former NBA Player Shaquille O’Neal for Icy Hot; Former NFL player Dan Marino for NutriSystem; Former NFL player and coach Mike Ditka for McDonald’s; Former British soccer player David Beckham for H&M.
20 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
he fitness lifestyle brand will be integrated across WWE’s global platforms including TV programming, WWE Network, pay-per-view broadcasts, live events, digital, and social media, according to an announcement by the WWE and Authentic Brands Group, LLC (ABG). “WWE is a media and entertainment force and we are excited to partner with them on Tapout’s future growth,” said Jamie Salter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ABG. “WWE is always looking for new opportunities to partner with best-inclass organizations, develop new products for our fans and drive shareholder value,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “This joint venture aligns with our strategic approach, and we look forward to building the Tapout brand.” As part of this strategic partnership, WWE will create new content featuring its Superstars and Divas in Tapout™ apparel and market the brand
T
Q: What are your goals after you leave your President Barack Obama with Cassius Butts
Joining FORCES
Former President Bill Clinton with Cassius Butts
Sports Illustrated found that 78% of former NFL players were in financial distress within two years of retirement. NBA players, who have the highest average annual salary in sports at $5 million, were not much better with an estimated 60% broke within five years of hanging up their high tops. The main culprits: lousy investments, short earning cycles, big entourages and divorce rates estimated as high as 80%.
Tapout™ is the official fitness & training partner of the WWE
across all platforms. Tapout™ branding will also be featured at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and all performers, trainers, and staff will be outfitted in Tapout™ workout apparel.
said Nick Woodhouse, President and Chief Marketing Officer of ABG. “Tapout was ABG’s first acquisition and it continues to be a global brand with strong sales and blue chip partners all over the world. We have a very strong commitment to the brand’s ongoing success,” said Jamie Salter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ABG. “WWE is a media and entertainment force and we are excited to partner with them on Tapout’s future growth.” The next generation of Tapout™ preserves the original brand essence and drives a hard-body, fitnesscentric message positioned around motivation, discipline and determination. An all new line of men’s and women’s performance apparel and accessories will launch at retail in spring 2016. New Tapout™ branding and packaging will roll out in key categories throughout 2015 starting with beverages, supplements and fitness centers.
“This is a POWERHOUSE pairing ... ” “This is a powerhouse pairing given the synergy between Tapout’s brand promise to be the premiere hard-body fitness brand, and WWE’s commitment to training and fitness,”
Q: Where are you from and where do you cur-
SPECIAL REPORT LIFE AFTER SPORTS
What are they DOING NOW? Once a Franchise Player, Now a Franchise Owner … It’s Bo Time for Tim Biakabutuka! By MichAEL stonE hen the cheering stops, the transition from employment in a sports career to retirement can be lonely. When you’re accustomed to competing and believing that winning means accomplishment, depression can tackle the mind. But a lot of what is coached in sports can be applied to other careers. The key is finding a second career that you can be passionate about like former Carolina Panther and NFL running back, Tim Biakabutuka, who is a Bojangles’ franchisee and President of Three One Corporation. Read Michael Stone’s interview with Tim on the next page.
W
rently reside? A: I was born in Africa and moved to Montreal when I was six years old. From Montreal, I went to school in Michigan, and was drafted to the NFL causing me to relocate to South Carolina, where I currently still live.
Q:
What NFL team did you play for? How many years did you play? A: I was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 1996 and played for six years before a career ending injury to my foot forced me to retire in 2001.
Q: Why football? When did you start playing? A: I didn’t start playing football until I was 16 years old. At first, our school had no football team but they recruited me to play when they decided to start up the program to help racial tensions. Where I come from, football is America’s soccer, so I had no interest in playing a sport I didn’t know how to play … until they told me I would get to tackle those guys I fought against, then I said “sign me up.”
Q: Who was and is your inspiration? A: Growing up, my inspiration was always my dad. Now God is my inspiration and I try to live to please him every day.
Q: What connection have you made with the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative (PAFI)? A: I attended the PAFI convention in Atlanta and listened to the different speakers and found what they were saying about pro athletes going into franchising to be very insightful. PAFI is a great concept for those athletes who want to get into franchising.
nfL Alumni tim Biakabutuka, owner of Bojangles’
Q: What did you plan on doing upon retiring? A: I left school to play for the NFL as a junior in college, but growing up I always wanted to get into business. Retiring allowed me to go after that goal. At first, I got into the real estate industry, then jewelry retail. Those were tough, but through those trial and error processes I learned to establish myself.
Bojangles’ is a Southeast quick-serve chicken and biscuit chain and I had a friend who owned a few locations and I thought it was a great concept that would work for me.
Communication is the key and laughing together is so important.
Q: When did you open your first Bojangles’ and
pro athletes? A: I would definitely suggest scaling down your lifestyle. Find something you like to do and learn as much about it as possible before investing in it. You should be hands on in deciding what to do next … and you should learn accounting if you are going into business; you need to understand the numbers!
where were they? A: I acquired my first Bojangles’ in Augusta, Ga. in 2008. After that, I opened one in 2009 and built from the ground up my most recent location this past June in the Augusta area as well.
Q: What are your franchising goals? A: I am continuously looking for new sites for my Bojangles’ restaurants; I hope to open a new location each year until I can no longer manage all of them. There is really so much that I am continuously learning about the business. Once I get a good grip on how to operate Bojangles’ I hope to expand my entrepreneurship by opening a new business.
Q: What is your favorite menu item and the
Q: What other advice can you offer for retiring
Q:
Best kept secret where you’re from … restaurant or hang out … A: There is a little Indian restaurant called Saffron in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s not in the greatest location, but my wife and I stumbled upon it once and it instantly became our favorite. We used to go there once a week.
Q: What advice can you offer for those trying to
crowd favorite at Bojangles’? A: The Cajun Filet Biscuit is my favorite and it’s what keeps people coming back. Week in and week out the Cajun Filet Biscuit is our top selling item, but the recipe is a Bojangles’ secret.
open their own business? A: If I had to do it all over again, I would work in the business from the bottom before buying into it. The value you will get from working in the business before owning it will help you be successful.
Q:
Q: So if I could tackle you, would you give me
How do you balance your commute, owning a business and your marriage? A: I had to live in Augusta for over a year when I was opening my restaurants. Eventually, I was able to move back into my house in South Carolina and commuted two hours each way everyday until I got married. Now I only commute four days out of the week.
that Bojangles’ secret recipe? A: Good luck … That will be an easy secret to keep then!
Q: What kind of advice can you offer to keep your marriage fun? A: I would say the most important things are to talk, laugh and spend time with each other.
Q: What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and open up a Bojangles’? A: After going through the challenges of operating my real estate and jewelry store, I decided to open up my own business.
ABOUT Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits founded in 1977 in charlotte, n.c., Bojangles’ Restaurants inc. serves such classic menu items as made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits; specially seasoned, never frozen fried chicken; Legendary iced tea™, steeped the old-fashioned way;
and a variety of flavorful fixin’s. Bojangles’ boasts more than 500 locations in 10 states and the district of columbia, primarily in the southeast, as well as two international restaurants.
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 23
SPECIAL REPORT LIFE AFTER SPORTS
BYRD UPDATE
To Retire or Not to Retire?
Where are they now? It’s been over four years since Paul retired. We just celebrated 20 years of marriage. For the most part things have been good. But there were some challenges.
THAT is the Question! The wife of a retired MLB player gives us glimpses of family life after the game is over.
the Byrd family
By KyM ByRd fter 15 years of baseball life, I found myself at the most peculiar location … HOME! After contemplating retirement and negotiating several contract offers, Paul decided to stay home, and spend the spring with us. I was torn. Half of me was throwing this grand party inside. Finally after all of these years we can enjoy “normal life,” dinner at home, and a two-parent household; and my life wouldn’t be dictated by a pocket schedule! But there was another part of me that was sad and concerned. Who would Paul be with out baseball? Would he drive me crazy being around ALL the time? Will we make it? As it turned out we were only temporary retired from February-August, it was like “A Christmas Carol.” But, it gave us a chance to see the following glimpses of retirement and life as an MLB alumnus.
A
gLiMpsE #1: don’t wAit untiL LAtER
gLiMpsE #2: BE invoLvEd in youR EstAtE
All these years issues would arise in my marriage I would struggle with when to deal with them. It was always so appealing to wait until the season was over, wait until the kids got older, and wait until we had the time, wait until
We lived below our means or so I thought. I figured we would be great and live happily ever after. But circumstances changed. We had a good friend steal from us. We had money with an investment firm that’s president ran a Ponzi scheme. Not to mention the economy is not in the best shape. So I decided to start using Quicken. We began to track where our money went. We began to consolidate things and simplify. We had no idea what and where things were. We just trusted that everything was being taken care of. Only YOU can take care of your affairs. Know what and where things are going. Baseball can bring amazing blessings to your life. However, it is short lived so you want to make the most of it. One of my favorite quotes is from Horatio on CSI: Miami, “Trust and then verify.” We have to have people manage things, but we can verify and make sure everything is on the up and up. Live simpler and you’ll enjoy what you have for years to come.
“When it’s time to retire, embrace it. …THERE IS life after sports.” we are retired. After being home, six months together I realized that those issues don’t magically disappear. They fester and fester and then when you do have all this free time it all comes out. Much like when the kids go to college, you experience an empty nest feeling. We needed to learn to sync our lives together, make decisions, raise our kids together and share the same space 24/7.
24 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
gLiMpsE #3: put youR pEopLE fiRst Something that has been really eye opening is that when you are retired it’s just you and your family. We gave so much of our time to all the demands others had on us. Tickets, auction items, speaking engagements, individual time with everyone. But who suffers while all this is going on? For us we finally could see that our kids were playing video games too much and even when we were there we were way too preoccupied. Now I am sure my kids will be in counseling for something we have done. But I would hate for all their memories of us to be holding a cell phone. So we are putting the phones down more, teaching the kids manners and spending quality time together. Racquetball has become a regular family event.
gLiMpsE #4: REMEMBER to BE gRAtEfuL foR BAsEBALL too While we were playing it was so easy to focus on what I hated about the lifestyle. Road trips I didn’t get to go on. Single parenting. A long season. But being away, I was able to see more of the good as well. On those long road trips I got to read and work on me. I truly lived in 50 different places. I made great friends. And so many people along the way were supporting me through the long season. I realized that I got to live this amazing adventure and witness my husband actually live out his boyhood dream. And I would not have the character, heart and growth I have had I not lived this crazy life of baseball. While you are in it, it seems like an eternity. But it goes by faster than you think. All I can do is share my crazy perspective. I don’t know if our money will last till we die. I don’t know if Paul will play in August again. I don’t know if I’ll be cool again to my kids someday. But what I do know is that I see baseball with fresh eyes. And what I see is that I have so much. It inspires me to make the most of it. So whether you are just getting started, been in baseball forever or like me phasing out remember take a good look at where you are and be mindful about your future.
whAt wE Know now: 1. So thankful we worked on our marriage. We had built a good base to talk about feelings and struggles and how to navigate through big changes. We went to counseling and had to work on building a life together. Paul had to learn to be supportive to me as I pursued my dreams. I had to let go of resentment and re-learn how to live everyday life. 2. Still working on finances. Quicken was a lifesaver. We also have a financial planner who holds us to a monthly budget. Still learning but so glad we worked on it. Don’t assume your money will last forever. You can burn through a lot really quick. You cannot live like you are getting a big league check next week. 3. We had to learn to slow down. Baseball life moved so fast and we were missing really special times. We have regrets on how we let baseball ‘play’ us rather than being more intentional with our time and energy. 4. We had to learn to really appreciate each other. Respect each other. Support each other and like each other. Paul is still my best friend but it’s a constant choice to love, surrender, forgive and make each other the priority.
I could see Paul struggling to find his place. He also went through mild bouts of depression. At times he dreams he is still pitching. I think I didn’t really understand the depth of love that he had for the game nor the sacrifice he made to walk away for our family. It makes me sad that he no longer pitches. Certain times of the year are worse. Spring training, the All Star Break and the Post Season. If you ask Paul he will tell you he is both glad and sad he retired. He is incredibly thankful for all the time he had with the boys and still misses baseball. In August we drove our son, Grayson (18) to LSU for college and baseball. Tarez (18), a teammate of Grayson came to live with us to attend high school, and is going to Georgia Southern College on a full academic and athletic scholarship. Our son, Colby (17) is a junior, plays basketball and is starting the college search. Paul went on to run a media company, coached the Georgia Roadrunners Travel baseball team, and is currently a sports analyst for Fox Sports South. It’s a great way for him to teach and stay connected to baseball. I finally got my turn to pursue my dreams as well. I am currently a facilitator with a company called Art Within. I lead modules for the REEL program, teaching people to see themselves, God and others through film.
When it’s time to retire, embrace it. You will find there is life after sports.
KYM BYRD is the wife of Paul Byrd, a former MLB American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher from 1995 to 2009. They live in Georgia and are frequent speakers for media, churches, students and organizations. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 25
SPECIAL REPORT LIFE AFTER SPORTS
What if a star
REALLY BREAKS A LEG?
The old entertainment saying, “Break a leg,” is actually a good luck phrase wished to an actor as he or she is about to step on stage. However, what if this really happened? What if the entertainer really does fall off the stage and becomes disabled? By gLEnn doRR
preliminary amount of insurance a market is willing to quote. This amount is based on receiving a copy of at least 2 to 3 years of individual tax returns. Fact finding is critically important when working with entertainers. Often the necessary underwriting information can be difficult to obtain because of limited availability or access. The majority of the time, all of the information needed to underwrite disability insurance for an entertainer comes from his or her business manager. It is the business manager who may hold the key in terms of quoting this business, gathering the necessary underwriting information and making the decision to purchase the coverage. The business manager can provide further insight into the reason for
policies, like traditional disability policies, typically have waiting periods from 90 to 180 days with benefits payable for up to 5 years. The majority of these types of policies are written under an individual manuscript form to meet the individual needs of the entertainer. The ability to customize these policies is important so the appropriate rate must be applied. Since the definition of disability is defined as their own occupation, it is significant to know what, if any, other activities they do outside of acting or sports. For example, in addition to protecting acting income, they may want further income protection from a hobby or avocation such as scuba diving or rock climbing. This is all achievable in this marketplace, but again it is imperative to gather this up front.
ALL-STAR POLICIES .... n Pittsburgh Steeler’s Troy Polamalu insured his hair for $1 million
n “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen insured his vocal cords for $5.5 million n St. Louis Cardinal’s Mark McGwire insured his ankle for $120 million n LA Galaxy’s David Beckham insured his entire body for $195 million n Singer Mariah Carey insured her legs for $1 billion he old entertainment saying, “Break a leg” actually is a good luck phrase wished to an actor as he or she is about to step on to the stage. However, what if that was to actually happen? What if this entertainer actually breaks a leg and becomes disabled? Disability has no borders and it strikes regardless of occupation or net worth. Today, it is not uncommon for a top entertainer to earn $15 million per picture at the age of 30. There is also a class of entertainers who may not garner top dollar for an individual picture but have relatively steady work. These individuals may not be able to protect their future earnings at significant levels because of what they do for a living. For actors, any eligible benefits that might be paid under the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) will not come close to meeting the potential economic loss of a young actor earning $15 million per film or even a steady working actor. Therefore, what should sports and entertainers do for meaningful disability insurance protection and how can you help in working with? For more than 20 years, specialty insurance markets and underwriters in the United States and at Lloyd’s of London have emerged to address this question with products and insurance solutions. However, these
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products do not mirror core traditional disability insurance. In some cases, unless a broker’s insurance practice is already in the entertainment business, they may be unaware of the available disability products which exist today to meet the needs of entertainers.
Actors, musicians, athletes, directors, TV personalities and producers are a unique occupational class. Therefore, from an insurers’ perspective, they are considered difficult or often unwanted clients. Actors, athletes, musicians, directors, TV personalities and producers are a unique occupational class. Therefore, from the insurers’ perspective, they are difficult or often unwanted clients. This is not because of who they are personally but rather a combination of factors. It begins with the amount of money involved to insure these classes of high earning individuals.
First, the basic assumption insurers must make is the law of large numbers that is required to achieve the necessary spread of risk to determine the initial base price. These underwriting factors combined with perceived lifestyle questions such as travel, stunts, age, income, medical history and piloting an aircraft result in a risk profile that does not fit into most traditional insurance company’s underwriting matrix. Keep in mind the wide spectrum of these unique working individuals and their earnings from year to year puts increased pressure on markets and underwriters on how to begin to determine the correct amount of insurance to even offer. As these specialty markets and niche underwriters began to emerge, meticulous underwriting questions needed to be asked and addressed. These markets and underwriters had to expand their thinking in order to determine the required methodology to price these risks and still be able to earn and maintain underwriting profitability. To begin with, underwriters struggled with how to address the often dramatic swings of income actors received year over year. Underwriters are not looking at level income statements similar to what one would see with an executive. Therefore, the initial key underwriting element is to determine the
purchasing this coverage which will always help in the underwriting process. For example, the entertainer may not only want to insure his or her current and future acting income, but he or she may also want to insure income from other sources such as product endorsement contracts. The product endorsement contract may not be guaranteed money if he or she can no longer perform. Therefore, it is critically important at the fact-finding stage to isolate the main reason for purchasing this coverage. Once the amount of insurance has been determined and the income verified from all sources then an application for insurance is completed. For policies personally owned by an actor, underwriters generally offer up to 50-60% of pre-disability income. These specialty
Once the income and the occupation are defined and an application completed, a medical exam is submitted. These medical exams are done at the time of underwriting. The one constant element in the entertainment and professional sports disability insurance market is that each policy is unique, customized and different from the next. This means that the rates for this coverage vary widely depending on the individual. With the right “in” into the entertainment world, you can offer these actors and actresses disability insurance. So the next time someone says, “Break a leg,” your insurance broker can say, “I have you covered.” For information on disability insurance coverages for entertainers, athletes and executives, contact a Lloyd’s of London Broker.
TESTIMONIAL
“It's nice having someone watch your back.” After purchasing life insurance, Ann and her husband knew they wanted to protect her husband's income from any accident, so they bought an individual disability income (DI) policy. In 2000, their worst fears came true. Ann's husband took a hard hit on the field and had to be air lifted to a local hospital. He sustained multiple injuries, went through five surgeries, and underwent extensive physical therapy. His career was over. Ann says their agent was there every step of the way, even working with them to complete forms and file their claim. The combination their helpful agent and individual disability insurance allowed the Ann to focus on helping her family, rather than worrying about finances. Ann says, "We know first hand how important disability insurance can be and we wouldn't be without it. It's nice to have someone watching your back." Why did Ann tell her story? "This whole experience had a big impact on us and I guess I'm just happy to share our story. Some good things came out of a bad situation. If our story can help convince even one person to buy disability insurance, that's just another good thing to come out of this."
GLENN DORR is the Northeast Regional Director at Lloyd’s. Based in the Boston area, Glenn is responsible for market development activities in an 11-state region stretching from Maryland to Maine, and Washington D.C. Lloyd’s stakeholders in this region include retail, wholesale & reinsurance brokers, program managers, MGA’s, risk managers and the organizations that support them. A member of the Lloyd’s America team,Glenn is a local resource focused on ensuring that Lloyd’s is understood and accessible to everyone with a current or potential future relationship with the Market. The Northeast region is one of four established by Lloyd’s in late 2010. As a leading provider of natural catastrophe capacity in this part of the country, Lloyd’s also writes a wide range of management liability, professional liability and other specialty lines on an open market basis and through binding authorities extended to more than 1,000 coverholders. Among his responsibilities at Lloyd’s include the expansion of market development efforts across the Northeast, participation in regional and national conferences and the development of market intelligence for stakeholders in London. 781.968.5423 | glenn.dorr@lloyds.com | www.lloyds.com PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 27
FOCUS HEALING & WELLNESS
Wood was asked about his faith, he said, ‘I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools from grades 1 through 12, so I was around religion much of my life. The values that I was taught at those schools definitely helped shape the man I have become today.’
Standing
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Q: Leslie, many times, wives say they are lost
on the wings of their dreams NFL Buffalo Bills Center Eric Wood and his wife, Leslie, sit down with Professional Sports Lives Magazine to discuss family life, recovering from injuries and training with Juvent. By gEnA JAMEs pitts
FL Player, Eric Wood stands tall as a Center for the Buffalo Bills. Since 2012, he’s also been standing tall as a husband, side by side with his wife, Leslie. The Ohio native, who was the 28th picked in the first round of 2009 NFL Draft from the University of Louisville as an All-American. Eric recalls “feeling on top of the world” playing in his first 10 games in the NFL. But suddenly, “that came to a crashing halt in November of 2009,” he said. “I was rushed immediately to the hospital from the field, and they performed emergency surgery as quickly as possible,” said Wood. “Coming back from that injury is the hardest thing I ever had to do. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, helped me through it. At the end of it, I knew Leslie would stand by me through anything.” Wood suffered another setback in 2011, when he tore his ACL, and he made a come-back in 2012. “It was hard. It meant another eight months of rehab, but with help from Leslie and my faith, I was able to return to the field and start our first game of the season,” he said. Now Wood is standing on Juvent, a patented Micro-Impact Platform™ that stimulates the muscles and bones, creating a faster and more efficient workout recovery. The Juvent stimulation also improves blood circulation, balance and stability, all need attributes of great athletes. Professional Sports Lives Magazine caught up with Eric and Leslie Wood for a Q&A.
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Q: How have you known about Juvent, and long have you been using it? ERIC: I was introduced to the Juvent 2.5years ago by a friend while playing golf.
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Ever since then, I’ve used Juvent and made it part of my daily routine. ‘Knock on wood,’ I have not missed a game the last two seasons and have spent very little time in the training room on Mondays! Balance, acute pain relief in my knees, performance and recovery has all improved since incorporating Juvent into my daily training program.
“Coming back from that injury is the hardest thing I ever had to do. … At the end of it, I knew Leslie would stand by me through anything.” Q: Is the Juvent easy to use? ERIC: Simple, stand on it 20 minutes a day and that’s it! The benefits are great! I will watch game film, TV, work from my iPad while standing … 20 minutes fly by.
Q:
Do you use the Juvent all year or just during the season? ERIC: I use it all year around. In the off season, I try to use twice a day. During the season, I use it every night.
Q: Do you see yourself using Juvent after you retire from the NFL? ERIC: Absolutely! Our bodies take a pounding on a daily basis in the NFL. Juvent will be key in my post career Health & Wellness. Diet, exercise, and my daily dose of Juvent! There are thousands and thousands of former professional and amateur athletes that could benefit by using the Juvent!
Q: Where are you and Leslie From? ERIC: I am from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Leslie is from Louisville, Kentucky.
for words when he comes to facing difficult challenges, and watching their husband go through difficult days of rehab, playing pro sports, that injury prone. What words of encouragement do you give Eric in difficult and challenging times? LESLIE: My role in our marriage right now is to support Eric. So when he faces a hardship I try to be there for him in any way I can. I remind him how appreciative I am that he sacrifices his body every day to support our family and that I’m proud of him no matter what.
Q: Eric, you were an All-American at the University of Louisville with a record 49 consecutive starts. What is a win or a moment that you’ll never forget? ERIC: My favorite win was the Orange Bowl. That win signified a lot of hard work all coming to fruition.
Q:
How did you and Leslie decide to settle in Louisville? ERIC: I live in Louisville in the offseason and Buffalo during the season. We decided to stay in Louisville because that is home for Leslie. I still train at U of L in the off-season and we both love the city.
Q: What’s ahead for you? ERIC: I am still under contract for one more year in Buffalo, and then after that we’ll see where life takes us. Leslie and I love to travel in the off-season and experience as much as we can.
Q: What are your career goals after football? ERIC: Continue to be a great husband, father and role model. I enjoy doing radio and TV. I see myself involved in sports somehow. Continue to grow my Foundation and make a difference!
Q: Tell us about your Foundation? ERIC: The Eric Wood Foundation was established in 2014. Primary focus is to provide seriously ill, special needs, and physically challenged children throughout the Greater Buffalo, NY, and Louisville, KY, encouragement and life changing experiences.
Q: What are your favorite foods, music and where do you vacation? ERIC: Leslie and I eat very healthy. We love all kinds of food. We are both huge country music fans. We love seeing our good friend Joe Bachman and The Tailgaters whenever we get a chance. We have been blessed to vacation in some amazing tropical places!
Q: Where did you meet? ERIC: We met in Louisville and married on April 14, 2012.
Q: How many children do you have? ERIC: We are very blessed to have our baby daughter, Grace.
Q:
Now that you are married and a ‘veteran’ in pro sports, what do you wish you had known or were told before now? ERIC: There’s not a lot I would change because everything happens for a reason, but I wish I would have took care of my body in college like I do now.
Q: As a man of faith, how do you handle pressure, stress and stay motivated, especially after a season-ending injury? ERIC: I try to stay grounded in my faith and realize I need to make the most of the opportunity while I’m still playing. In an interview with “The Southeast Outlook,” a weekly Christian newspaper,
nfL Buffalo Bills center Eric wood, his wife Leslie and their baby daughter grace
FOCUS HEALING & WELLNESS
Discovering your
‘GOLF BODY’ PGA Tour Strength & Conditioning Coach Chris Noss discusses the correct biomechanical approach for the female athlete. By chRis noss he female athlete in any sport faces unique challenges in training to increase power, speed, agility and balance while staying injury free. As someone who had worked predominately with male golfers this uniqueness came to the forefront when the head coach of a women’s college golf team approached me. Plagued with nagging injuries to many of her players she contacted me so I could see why these problems persisted year after year, player after player. My team and I observed their swings and more importantly how they worked their bodies in the weight room, what became evident was the shear will of these women to keep up with their male counterparts in both distance on the course and intensity in the gym. The fact of the matter is a woman’s body is very different from a man’s in both structure and muscle density, causing biomechanical disadvantages in key joints when the training is not structured to fit the female “Golf Body”. With that in mind we set about designing key exercises to create an environment to challenge their bodies, but maintain stability, control and rhythm throughout the motion. Also, we wanted to focus on developing rotation under load, which is key to activating the correct muscles in the proper sequence. Here are a few you can add into your training routine to help strengthen the muscles that surround the joints that make up your base of control in the swing. For the training sequence this is where to start. Do a reverse (posterior) lunge instead of regular lunge … a forward lunge will put more stress on the knee, especially in the female athlete, and activate loading predominately
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through the quads, glute strength and quad lengthening, not excessive quad activation and shortening is what we’re after. As you become comfortable with this move you can add in a rotational component with dumbbells, bands, weighted bars or a cable column.
Side (lateral) lunges with backswing … this and the next exercise, are basically in the same plane, the later more rotational, but load the muscles in a totally different way. Using a light dumbbell or medicine ball, step into a side lunge keeping your hip stacked over your knee and ankle. As you let your arms turn into your backswing sit back into your heel and feel the load shift into the glute. Return and repeat. Side (lateral) lunges with follow through …
step into a side lunge to the opposite side holding a light dumbbell or medicine ball and on your follow through let your body pivot as you would in your swing, allowing the lead leg to post up as you keep your lead foot planted firmly on the ground (crush the bug with the big toe). Remember to feel the turn through the torso on both moves, keeping the shoulders relaxed. Let your forearms rotate naturally in both movements. Add these into your routine and I’m sure you’ll feel the difference … We are all concerned with joint health no matter what sport we play. Given that I am constantly looking for ways to help my athletes extend their careers and play pain free, a few years ago I discovered a new innovative technology. The technology is called the Juvent Pro, Micro-impact™ platform. I use it in the mornings, as a performance enhancement. In the evenings, as a recovery tool. The rigors of being out on tour, and what they have to go through in terms of keeping their bodies in shape, playing tournament level golf is a whole different animal. These athletes need this type of recuperation to keep their bodies at a high level of peak performance. The technology is called the Juvent Pro, Micro-impact™ platform. View my interview at the PGA show about Juvent at www.juventsports.com.
COACH CHRIS NOSS has worked as a conditioning coach with professional golfers for over 20 years. He came on the PGA Tour full time in 1999 as both a caddie and conditioning coach for Corey Pavin. Picked up Stephen Ames during that time and went full time as a conditioning coach in 2001, working with David Duval before his victory at The British Open. Worked as a caddie in the first two Presidents Cups and has been involved with the 2006, 2008 and 2010 American Ryder Cup Teams as support staff. 410.800.7037 | coachnoss@mac.com
FOCUS HEALING & WELLNESS
Francisca
DENNIS Fitness Superstar is a Super Mom in Charge! By gEnA JAMEs pitts ro sports wife, Francisca Dennis has more than a half dozen excuses to not go to the gym, starting with six children, 3 girls and 3 boys, ages 26, 22, 20, 17, 13, and 11 years old. The busy mom, who has more working titles than kids, is a lifestyle consultant; fitness model; figure competitor; personal trainer; a new author and more. Francisca turned her passion for fitness into a business, and she is an inspiration for those (including this writer) who has followed her career for the past 10 years. Just look at her, you wouldn’t believe that she has SIX children, and a husband to keep up with. Married for nearly 22 years to Mark Dennis, a former CFL player and business advisor, Francisca has found a way to multi-task and squeeze every minute of her day. For starters, she is up at 4:30 a.m. before her youngest school-age children, wake up and get dressed for school. She gets her first workout with Mark by doing sets of weights and cardio. “Then when they go to bed, I squeeze in my second cardio,” said Francisca, who says she holds “the title of Mom Most Likely to Embarrass Her Kids,” named Jess, Trey, Trent, Jade, Cole and Capri. “I had all of my kids before I started competing, and my youngest was 3,” she said. When training for a show, Francisca spends two hours daily in the gym for eight weeks before the event, splitting cardio and weight training evenly. Her love of fitness began when she was a gymnast; but her love for weight training began when she met Mark, her high school sweetheart, who introduced her to the sport while still in high school. “I couldn’t walk for two weeks after that,” Francisca said, about working out with Mark, who earned a full-ride, football scholarship to
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She’s fit, funny, fabulous & having the time of her life balancing all of her jobs!
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Mommy & ‘Wifey’ Tips Central Michigan University, and caught the attention of NFL scouts. He was a late cut from the New York Giants’ roster in 1990, and played for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. “But I stayed (weight training) with him anyway,” said Francisca, “I like feeling strong,” she said. Throughout her pregnancies, Francisca, now 44, has continued to train and land covers of magazines including the popular, Oxygen Magazine FIVE times throughout her career, and her most recent cover, Fit Figures, with world renowned celebrity fitness trainer and heart-throb, Obi Obadike. After un-locking the secret to looking good and feeling great, Francisca has penned her advice in her first book, “Soul Principles: 6 Simple Steps To A Whole New You,” available online at www.fdlifestyle.com. “I look at some of the common stumbling blocks that we as women often put in our own way, and examine strategies to overcome these mind ruts to help us achieve our goals in fitness and in life,” said Francisca. “When I’m not writing, training, meeting with clients, or running one of my kids forgotten assignments or lunches to their school, I’m running my own online business called FDLifestyle,” she said. And, as if she didn’t have anything else to do, Francisca added the title of actress to her resume, and is appearing in “X Species,” a sci-fi film expected to be released this spring. “I’ve been interested in acting for a long time, so landing my first role was very exciting,” said Francisca. “I hope to explore more opportunities in this area, and I have a few exciting projects coming up,” she said. With all of her accomplishments, Francisca said her proudest moment was when, “her youngest child, Capri, said that Mommy was her “favorite toy.” Now, that’s priceless!
follow francisca on facebook, twitter or visit www.fdlifestyle.com
Q: What is your quick, favorite family meal? A: I make a Tofu salad that my kids can’t get enough of believe it or not! Lots of marinated grilled tofu with Romaine/tomatoes/hummus/sprouts with brown rice, balsamic vinaigrette and fresh lemon juice. I serve it with whole grain pita wedges, and it’s devoured in minutes! I always have natural Almonds out and a big fruit bowl. I find if you make the good stuff available to them easily; they WILL eat it!
Q: Words of motivation and inspiration for other moms? A: It can be tough when you’re in the heart of the “Mommy, I neeeeed you” phase. But don’t get discouraged. Here are my mama rules! 1) Throw away your scale 2) It’s ok if you skip a workout once in a while!! 3) No Guilt … and no negative self-talk!! 4) Always make YOU time (and that doesn’t have to mean gym time); take a walk, meditate, take a long bath; read a book; or grab a coffee with a friend. If you’re not looking after yourself, you will have less patience, energy with your family.
Q: How did you get your post-baby body back? A: I had never struggled with losing baby weight. During my pregnancies, I maintained a healthy weight gain of 25 lbs. on average; and I continued to run and train throughout all of them. Because of this, I think my entire pregnancy, labor, delivery and post-partum were all awesome experiences! I guess that’s why I did it 6 times!
Q: How have you and Mark managed to stay married for nearly 22 years? A: I don’t know if there’s a magic formula to a lasting relationship. Things constantly evolve and change, so I think you just have to be open and flexible. There are ups & downs and struggles that we’ve experienced as all couples have. We try to learn and grow from them, and not repeat mistakes of the past. Scheduling time to just be a couple is really important too! So often kids, work, family and outside influences can distract from the relationship; it’s important to just be together as friends- not as parents; weekend get-a ways and date nights are important to longevity in a relationship.
Q: How do you stay fit with a hectic schedule and manage to do it all? A: The only way I can manage is scheduling my training first thing in the morning before anything can get in the way. Planning is essential always! I typically do a bulk cook day once a week to try to maintain my regular clean meals throughout the week (and) when my schedule can get packed.
the dennis family
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 35
TRADE TIPS TAX BENEFITS
Athletes Forming Nonprofit Orgs:
SCORE!
Whether you’re well-versed in the ins and outs of nonprofits or need an updated perspective, Poulos Accounting & Consulting, Inc., in Atlanta, Ga., explains what you need to know about forming a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. By AndREw g. pouLos
hen it comes to charity and nonprofits, we all have a specific passion. Some athletes may want to form a charity to provide programs for educational purposes — to teach, for example, disadvantaged children how to play football, basketball or soccer. Others want to set up a charitable foundation to support a scholarship program, while some want to work with spiritual or religious organizations.
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No matter the cause, a nonprofit organization provides its founder the ability to provide programs for their cause in a tax-exempt manner. Whether you’re well versed in the ins and outs of nonprofits or need an updated perspective, here’s what you need to know about
“ Take advantage of public exposure during your career, and use your ‘name’ to benefit you and others by forming a nonprofit.” forming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nonprofit organizations are known as tax-exempt entities by the general public. However, not all nonprofits are approved 501(c)3 entities under the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, it is important that a nonprofit be formed correctly in order to receive approval from the IRS as a tax-exempt entity. During the 501(c)3 application process, the
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founder(s) must assess the long-term goals of the organization to determine whether it will be formed as a public charity or as a private foundation. If the organization plans to operate with general public support, it should apply for 501(c)3 status as a public charity. On the other hand, if the primary financial support is derived from the organization’s directors, officers and relatives, the organization will be classified as a private foundation exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, nonprofit organizations that are formed as schools, hospitals, churches and governmental units are classified as public charities. There are many benefits for having your nonprofit organization become an approved 501(c)3. Some advantages that other entities are not afforded include the following: • Directors and officers have limited liability for the operations of the organization. • The organization has perpetual existence that allows it to operate after the death of the founder(s). • Donations from donors are tax deductible on the donor’s tax return. Being able to market your organization as an approved 501(c)3 gives donors the comfort of knowing that their tax deductible donations will not be challenged by the IRS. • 501(c)3 organizations have access to private and government grants that are usually only available to nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt. • The organization has protection of property and donated assets that are used for exempt purposes. • The organization can apply for free public services spots on radio and television.
Mission: We believe that dignity and quality of life is not a privilege but a right and we invite everyone to support us in this cause.
visit us at www.yourfreedomtocare.org Freedom to Care is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. • In some cases, nonprofits offer health insurance, group life insurance, payments of medical expenses and approved retirement plans to their employees, directors and officers. In some situations, nonprofits can offer directors and officers benefits such as medical reimbursement of expenses. This is a benefit directors and officers cannot get themselves because they work, for example, in an S corporation versus a C corporation where these types of benefits aren’t available. • Nonprofits may receive discounts on advertising in some publications. • Retailers and other stores sometimes give discounts to nonprofit organizations and its employees. • Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for bulk postage rates. • Once approved as a 501(c)3, the organization does not need to reapply for approval so long as it maintains compliance with the IRS. A nonprofit organization that applies for taxexempt status as a public charity will need to show that it is largely supported by the general public rather than its directors, officers and
their families. To show that the organization is supported by the general public, at least onethird of the funds should be from the general public. Although the initial funding may come from the directors and officers, this does not disqualify the organization from becoming an approved 501(c)3 as a public charity. The application will be submitted as a public charity rather than a private foundation. Once the IRS approves the application, the organization will have 5-7 years to prove that the large part of the funding is derived from general public support. There is something to be said about being able to operate an organization that provides public support for your cause without having to pay corporate taxes. Whether your passion is working with elementary school children or raising money to send a would-be athlete to college, IRS compliance is key to long-term operations. Take advantage of public exposure during your professional career, and use your “name” to benefit you and others by forming a nonprofit organization. Your talent in sports can leave a lasting legacy, and carry far beyond stats and records to benefit generations to come.
ANDREW G. POULOS, EA, is principal of Poulos Accounting & Consulting, Inc., in Atlanta, Ga., where he works with athletes and their families to decrease their tax liability. He also represents clients before the IRS. A selfmade entrepreneur and real estate investor, Andrew is an author and national speaker. He is the producer of the QuickBooks Ultimate Lesson Guide DVD Series selling in the U.S. and abroad. He is also founder of Elite Tax Seminars, a division of Poulos Accounting & Consulting, Inc. www.poulosaccounting.com PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 39
INSIGHT FAMILY MATTERS
Your Spouse
is NOT the problem If you are experiencing problems in your marriage, more than likely, YOU are the problem. By KiM MooRE, Msw Lcct with gEnA JAMEs pitts, psL puBLishER ccording to Kim Moore, Co-Author of the book, “Your Spouse Is Not Your Problem,” marriage is perfectly flawless. It has no problems of its own. But all who enter in it will attest that marriage certainly exposes the imperfections, flaws and problems within us. If you are experiencing problems in your marriage, more than likely, YOU are the problem.
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“It is much easier to see the problems in our spouse, while we are blind to our own.”
More than likely, you are not yet convinced these problems are yours. And those imperfections and flaws of yours are comparatively minor at best, especially in light of your spouse’s, right?! That’s what we think.
EvERyBody hAs pRoBLEMs Problems are indications that growth is needed, and growth only comes by change. According to Kim, a problem is anything or anyone that challenges you, or your way of thinking or doing something. And it’s a major problem when a challenge is posed by your spouse. Sometimes spouses can’t resolve these challenges, and ultimately this can lead to divorce. God said that it was not good for man to be alone. Therefore, in the book of Genesis 18:2, God said of Adam, “I will make him a helper comparable to him.” God makes man “a helper” appropriate to his need, so that man can become all that God intends for him (or her) to become successful. Because God instilled the need to mature in us, humans will be confronted with problems to solve in order to grow. We get married to experience the joy of love, and solve the problem of loneliness, and develop into the maturity of sharing and caring for another. In the Garden of Eden, imagine Adam’s delight before he fell into a deep sleep. God devised a way to awaken a desire to love another. The problem: when Adam was awake, he was satisfied with being alone. How would he be able to love another if he couldn’t even see another? An inner awakening begins. With Adam
asleep, God slipped His hand into his side, removed a rib and shaped female. What a mystery! Eve was inside of Adam all along. God cut her out, gave her form and substance, and then returned her to Adam, which was another person “within himself.” And as you know, Adam called her “Woman,” because she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. As one, they shared God’s Spirit, a free will, something called “humanness” with a longing to love one another. Mankind not only shares God’s Spirit when he (or she) accepts him into their life, but He has also given one of the most loving, remarkably and dangerous gifts one could bestow upon another — a free will. Mankind has the freedom to choose whom he will love. What a risk for God to give someone. What a cliffhanger! Consider loving someone so much that you offer them everything you are and everything you have. And then you give them the freedom not to choose to love you, and be willing to accept their decision. This is what God offered and bestowed upon us. When we say, “I do” or “I will” during our marriage vows, we entered into a covenant relationship with our new spouse and God. It might sound kind of funny when asked if we are married, we replied, “I’m covenanted.” But marriage is a covenant — God’s covenant.
MAnKind’s stREngths And wEAKnEss Unlike Adam, many of us have searched for someone to love us. We prayed and prayed, and presented God with our lists of desired traits, and thanked Him for answering our need and desire to find a mate. Some of us waited more patiently than others. Dating compounds the problem of seeing “our self.” When we date, we are attracted to each other’s strengths, and how well these strengths meet our needs. It feels “really good” when our deepest needs are met. Our strengths are our muscles, developed in the gymnasium of adversity. They are skills we have developed and used to negotiate relationships prior to marriage. Similar to being an athlete or a coach, our skills are what we learn to do — they are not who we are. Our strengths also effectively disguise who we really are and our needs. Marriage is more concerned with who we are, rather than what we do.
We date each other’s strengths, but we marry each other’s weaknesses. Challenges, especially recurring ones, expose our weaknesses and our need to mature. When we date, we touch each other’s wants. When we marry we touch each other’s wounds. Wounds indicate a need for healing and growth. Dating is pleasurable. Marriage is painful — at least temporarily until we learn how to mature. So it was for a couple named Carol and Brian. When they were dating, Carol was attracted to Brian’s cooperative, relaxed and easy-going manner. Brian enjoyed Carol being well organized, attentive to details and successful. Brian’s strength and finesse was in his ability to communicate and relate to others.
“Marriage is intended to change us, it is a difficult concept to accept & understand.” He was charming, inviting and forgiving to a fault. Carol was skillful, resourceful and a high achiever. She was focused, intense and driven. Like pigeons to a homing device, so were Carol and Brian to one another. They dated and experienced what they could be like as a couple. It felt good — so good, they decided to marry. However, shortly after marrying, Carol was convinced Brian was unmotivated, lazy and irresponsible. Brian was certain Carol was impersonal, unaffectionate and uncaring. Together they were the epitome of form and function in marriage. Brian had all the right words and presented himself well, however, he lacked the substance that comes from experience. Carol seldom had the right words — she was blunt and often arrogant. She was more concerned with the functionality and effectiveness of things, rather than the style and appearance of them. Like so many, Brian and Carol dated each other’s strengths. They complimented each other’s weaknesses, and met each other’s needs. Neither thought marriage would ask them to take personal responsibility for their weaknesses, or dare ask them to trust God to
meet their need. This can be considered as God’s plan. In Philippians 4:19, Paul assures us that God will supply all of our need.
MARRiAgE offERs us soLutions To ourselves, we are not a problem. Nor do we think of ourselves as the problem. And comparatively speaking we may not be — until when we make comparisons against one another. When we compare ourselves to one another, we will always feel like we are better or worse than we really are. This causes many to be deceived. It is much easier to see the problems in our spouse. They irritate us, while our own problems generally do not. Often we are blind to limitations and immaturity. While we may rub others the wrong way, we interpret it as “others” rubbing us the wrong way. In the Living Translation of the book of Matthew 7:4-5, the scripture says, How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Often, the problems we see in our spouse are the same problems that lie within us, and they provide vital information about the immaturity within us. For an example, if you are always jealous of your spouse, it could mean you have a problem with self confidence; or if you think your spouse is lazy, it may mean YOU wish you could relax and worry less like them.
MARRiAgE offERs An invitAtion to MAtuRE Marriage challenges the way we think, frustrates the way we respond, offer us opportunities to grow, and employ new or better ways of thinking and responding. It provides daily invitations, which are opportunities from God to help us mature into greatness. The concept, that marriage is intended to change us, is a difficult one to accept and understand. Even more difficult is the notion that marital happiness and personal growth depends on us yielding and changing. And perhaps most difficult is the idea that we even need to change. Sometimes change is good.
Join the discussion on the pro sports Lives Magazine blog at www.prosportslives.com or www.prosportswives.com.
THE REV. KIM MOORE, MSW, LCCT is a writer, speaker, ordained minister and co-owner of FACEIT.org. Kim has authored several published resources, including “Your Spouse Is Not Your Problem!” and marriage courses:” Radical Love for couples” and” True Love - Falling In Love Is Easy: It’s Staying There That’s Hard!” She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Howard University, an MSW from Temple University, and is licensed by Georgia Association of Christian Counselors Board of Examiners as a Christian Counselor, Therapist and Pastoral Counselor. For more information visit www.FACEIT.org. Confidential Appointments available by phone and Skype. GENA JAMES PITTS, Publisher of Professional Sports Lives, has been married to former NFL player Mike Pitts for 30 years. 42 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
INSIGHT FAMILY MATTERS
My Life as a Pro Sports Wife By poRshA JonEs, LAMft y life as a pro sports wife began as a pro sports “girlfriend” at a division 1 college. I lived through the extreme pressure, expectations and politics at the collegiate level and soon realized that this would become a lifestyle that my future husband and I would have to learn to endure. Soon after the professional basketball contract was signed, I became a professional sports wife. This entailed a life of unpredictability, excessive travel to Europe, long separations and daily prayers that my husband would not suffer an injury on the court that could be life changing. Off the court entailed the daily responsibilities of parenting (alone many times), packing and unpacking (sometimes yearly) in not just a different house but a different country, and navigating language barriers to get basic needs met. Attributes of a pro sports wife includes significant strength and courage, which is rarely acknowledged by others. Like myself, many pro
M
sports wives must endure the media coverage on their husband, which can be harsh and critical at times. We must adhere to expectations as a pro sports wife to “act” and “look” the part to be accepted by other pro sports wives. Although there are many blessings and “highs” that come with our role, but behind closed doors I understand the difficulties and “lows” that also come. If you need support, contact me. I understand what it’s like to be a pro sports wife.
PORSHA JONES completed her Masters of Family Therapy degree from Mercer University School of Medicine. Porsha is experienced in working with individuals, couples and families suffering from issues surrounding anxiety, depression, major conflict, infidelity, divorce, and parenting children with ADHD. She has specialized in working with professional athletes and understands the specific lifestyle challenges athletes and their families face. 404.358.6925 | pwilliams@growcounseling.com | www.growcounseling.com
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Keep it Cool Keep cool and look hot with the first fashionable FREEZEABLE pearl necklaces and bracelets! These 28 mm beauties contain nontoxic gel like that an ice pack, and are stored in the freezer! The stylish necklaces start at $58, the bracelet $34. Carry them in the insulated travel purse (ice pad included, $15.00) for hours of cool chic. Hot flashes are now in style! It’s a great gift idea at www.hotgirlspearls.com.
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Energy to Burn
Shake it Up!
Genesis GPS E2 represents the next generation of sports energy drinks. This low-calorie, low-carbohydrate formula is designed for quick release and sustained energy to boost exercise and competition intensity, increase endurance, and heighten physical performance. It’s available in Cherry Blast and Citrus Blast. Order at www.genesispure.com.
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Picture This! Turning Cartwheels You are going to flip for this gym bag with a unique front patch! This lightweight, water repellent gym bag has a front patch to carry bigger items, like your yoga mat. You’ll find oodles of pockets, a ventilated shoe compartment, and a special ring holder for your baubles and bling. There’s a clear-coated bottom for easy cleaning, and a luggage strap. Not since being a kid has a cartwheel been this easy! www.luglife.com 46 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
Treasure your memories and your jewelry collection in this smart picture frame jewelry box holds four-4x6” pictures, two-3.5x5” shots, and four-3.5x3.5” photos. It opens to reveal multiple necklace hangers, earring holders, and handy ring rolls. This crafted wood beauty mounts to any wall, and has a rich espresso finish you’ll love. Find it at www.hayneedle.com. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE 47
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Five Star Awards
PREVIEW!
Sleep Like a Baby The Science of Healthy Sleep
Life after Sports
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REJECTION RESET: Step-By-Step
Branding: How to Create a Better Social Media Image
48 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LIVES MAGAZINE
GUIDE For Restoring Self-Confidence
Making Marriage Simple