“By the time they have been retired for 2 years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress. Within 5 years of retirement an estimated 60% of former NBA players are BROKE“
Last year Boss and I were asked to appear in a Billy Corben documentary by the name of “Broke”. For those who are not familiar with Billy Corben, he is the mastermind behind the documentary “Cocaine Cowboys” and “ESPN’s 30 for 30: The U”. In “Broke” the focus of the movie is on professional Ballers and their misfortune with….their fortune.
Via Tribeca Film
Sucked into bad investments, stalked by freeloaders, saddled with medical problems, and naturally prone to showing off, most pro athletes get shocked by harsh economic realities after years of living the high life. Drawing surprisingly vulnerable confessions from retired stars like Jamal Mashburn, Bernie Kosar, and Andre Rison, as well as Marvin Miller, the former executive director of the MLB Players Association, this fascinating documentary digs into the psychology of men whose competitive nature carries them to victory on the field and ruin off it.
TFF Alum Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys) paints a complex picture of the many forces that drain athletes’ bank accounts, placing some of the blame on the culture at large while still holding these giants accountable for their own hubris. A story of the dark side of success, Broke is an allegory for the financial woes haunting economies and individuals all over the world.
The movie will be premiering at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival and hopefully will be coming to ESPN shortly thereafter. If you’re in NYC you’ll be able to check it out for yourself! Click HERE for show times.
