Mr Cowboy
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http://www.chieftain.com/life/1189321986/2
It's finally here: that glorious Sunday when football matters again.
For gridiron fans, the day will be divided into three-hour increments - 11 to 2, 2 to 5 and 6 to 9 - because that's when the games are played. First up on the schedule: Broncos vs. Bills. Bronco Nation will put on its jerseys and lucky socks, hoping this year's team measures up to the promise it projects on paper.
If, like me, you're one of those Bronco fans, turn on your TV this morning and cheer like crazy for Travis Henry, the star running back the team signed over the summer. Send out your strongest mojo and will that man to run like a freight train.
Why? Because of these numbers: nine, nine and 22.5.
Nine - the number of women impregnated by Henry.
Nine - the number of children born of those pregnancies.
Twenty-two point five million - that's how many dollars Henry is scheduled to earn over the next five years with the Broncos.
It would be easy to get into a discussion about birth control here. I mean, after his third or fourth child was born, shouldn't Henry have figured out that he's really good at this particular activity and taken precautions to be, well, less proficient at it? What-ifs are pointless, though, and for all we know, each child was planned.
But now comes the part about responsibility. This is the area where Henry apparently needs practice because, uh-oh, he's having trouble making child support payments.
A judge in Georgia recently ordered Henry to pay $3,000 a month to support one of his sons. Henry has been directed to support seven of the nine kids, who are scattered across four states. If he's got similar financial arrangements with the mothers of his other children, Henry pays less than $500,000 a year.
He apparently isn't dealing with women who demand outrageous amounts to provide "basic needs" for their children, as some professional athletes have to. If they were making those kinds of requests, it would be well publicized.
So, all things considered, Henry comes out more than OK money-wise, but he's still struggling. Why? Well, let's start with the $100,000 car he bought. And the $146,000 worth of jewelry. His Web site (which still features him in a Tennessee Titans uniform; guess he hasn't been able to afford a redesign) lists his favorite restaurant as Ruth's Chris Steak House and his favorite vacation spot as the Bahamas. Only the best, right?
Henry said his main concern is taking care of his kids. Henry's lawyer says his client has serious financial issues but is a dedicated father.
I'll take both men at their word. That's why I want Henry to have a record-breaking year. I want him to be so amazing that the Broncos tear up the current contract and sign him to one worth a whole lot more.
Then I'd like to see someone please put this guy's financial life under the control of a hands-on adviser. Could be a certified financial planner; could be a thrifty grandma who knows how to stretch a nickel. Heck, it could be my dog. Anyone would be an improvement over what he has now.
The reason I want Travis Henry to make a lot of money - and, more important, save a lot of money - is so he can retire. Then he can start his most important work.
He can buy a home - a big one - in a place that makes it easy for him to get to each of his kids, or for them to come to him. Seeing dad on a TV screen just doesn't cut it.
He can introduce his children to their eight half-siblings. Let them get to be friends. Let them be brothers and sisters. That might not be easy, but it's important.
He can go shopping for school clothes - not at Neiman Marcus, but at J.C. Penney. He can make school lunches. Go to the park. Take the kids trick-or-treating.
Maybe those don't sound like things that should be done by someone who was once named Mr. Football Florida, but they're definitely things that should be done by someone who wants to be called Dad.
Run hard, Travis.
Amy Matthew can be reached at amym@chieftain.com .
It's finally here: that glorious Sunday when football matters again.
For gridiron fans, the day will be divided into three-hour increments - 11 to 2, 2 to 5 and 6 to 9 - because that's when the games are played. First up on the schedule: Broncos vs. Bills. Bronco Nation will put on its jerseys and lucky socks, hoping this year's team measures up to the promise it projects on paper.
If, like me, you're one of those Bronco fans, turn on your TV this morning and cheer like crazy for Travis Henry, the star running back the team signed over the summer. Send out your strongest mojo and will that man to run like a freight train.
Why? Because of these numbers: nine, nine and 22.5.
Nine - the number of women impregnated by Henry.
Nine - the number of children born of those pregnancies.
Twenty-two point five million - that's how many dollars Henry is scheduled to earn over the next five years with the Broncos.
It would be easy to get into a discussion about birth control here. I mean, after his third or fourth child was born, shouldn't Henry have figured out that he's really good at this particular activity and taken precautions to be, well, less proficient at it? What-ifs are pointless, though, and for all we know, each child was planned.
But now comes the part about responsibility. This is the area where Henry apparently needs practice because, uh-oh, he's having trouble making child support payments.
A judge in Georgia recently ordered Henry to pay $3,000 a month to support one of his sons. Henry has been directed to support seven of the nine kids, who are scattered across four states. If he's got similar financial arrangements with the mothers of his other children, Henry pays less than $500,000 a year.
He apparently isn't dealing with women who demand outrageous amounts to provide "basic needs" for their children, as some professional athletes have to. If they were making those kinds of requests, it would be well publicized.
So, all things considered, Henry comes out more than OK money-wise, but he's still struggling. Why? Well, let's start with the $100,000 car he bought. And the $146,000 worth of jewelry. His Web site (which still features him in a Tennessee Titans uniform; guess he hasn't been able to afford a redesign) lists his favorite restaurant as Ruth's Chris Steak House and his favorite vacation spot as the Bahamas. Only the best, right?
Henry said his main concern is taking care of his kids. Henry's lawyer says his client has serious financial issues but is a dedicated father.
I'll take both men at their word. That's why I want Henry to have a record-breaking year. I want him to be so amazing that the Broncos tear up the current contract and sign him to one worth a whole lot more.
Then I'd like to see someone please put this guy's financial life under the control of a hands-on adviser. Could be a certified financial planner; could be a thrifty grandma who knows how to stretch a nickel. Heck, it could be my dog. Anyone would be an improvement over what he has now.
The reason I want Travis Henry to make a lot of money - and, more important, save a lot of money - is so he can retire. Then he can start his most important work.
He can buy a home - a big one - in a place that makes it easy for him to get to each of his kids, or for them to come to him. Seeing dad on a TV screen just doesn't cut it.
He can introduce his children to their eight half-siblings. Let them get to be friends. Let them be brothers and sisters. That might not be easy, but it's important.
He can go shopping for school clothes - not at Neiman Marcus, but at J.C. Penney. He can make school lunches. Go to the park. Take the kids trick-or-treating.
Maybe those don't sound like things that should be done by someone who was once named Mr. Football Florida, but they're definitely things that should be done by someone who wants to be called Dad.
Run hard, Travis.
Amy Matthew can be reached at amym@chieftain.com .