This will probably not be the last time that I write about this subject, as a matter of fact I can guarantee that it won’t be the last. As long as athletes continue to make the wrong decisions, I will always have a business. I think that every professional athlete needs a life coach because their decision making skills are horrible. I will provide examples as I continue. Let’s look at the facts. Every athlete is coddled and told they are going to be the greatest in their respective sport. The athlete begins to believe his/her own press clippings. Once they get to the pros, they believe they are invincible. The psyche of an athlete is something that I study on a regular basis because I found that it is this belief of invincibility that skews their ability to make decisions.

Let me explain what I am talking about, does everyone remember Michael Vick. He probably never thought he would get arrested and convicted for dog fighting. What about Donte Stallworth? He was driving drunk in Miami and killed a pedestrian. Yes, it was an accident, but he made the decision to drive while under the influence. Michael Irvin in 2005 was arrested and charged for possession of cocaine. The late Steve McNair was arrested in 2003 for driving under the influence in Tennessee. Carmelo Anthony was arrested in April 2008 for driving drunk. Ron Artest was arrested and charged with domestic violence and using force to keep a victim from reporting a crime. I know your saying, but Ron Artest is crazy, that still does not excuse him from making bonehead decisions. In 2004, Kobe Bryant was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman in Colorado. Ray Lewis was charged with murder for the death of two men at the Super Bowl in 2000. Jason Kidd was arrested for domestic abuse in 2001 and there other countless examples of professional athletes in trouble. Most recently, Big Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexually assaulting a woman. Where does it end?

If athletes had accountability in their life, I think it would make a difference in the decisions that they make on a daily basis. Most of these guys have never been taught life skills. By life skills, I mean decision making, organization, time management, or how to avoid the pitfalls of life. I am tired of seeing athletes be exposed because of lack of judgement. As a life coach my desire is to work with these men and women to help them succeed outside of their particular sport. They have a god given talent to do well in their respective sport, but everybody needs help in certain areas of their life. I understand the lifestyle of a pro athlete, but I don’t think the athlete understands the ramifications of life.

I think the leagues are starting to get the picture and they are making strides to help these athletes make better decisions. For example, the NFL uses the rookie symposium to give the rookies an up close view of some of the things they are going to face as a star athlete in the pros. They bring in speakers that have an expertise in certain areas to provide wisdom on how to manage and avoid situations. One life coach in particular is Zach Minor. Zach, like me is a life coach trying to provide life skills to men that desperately need our help. I think it may take time, but there is hope.

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