Money To Blow: 8 Athletes Who Lost Their Fortunes Because Of Dumb Sh-t [PHOTOS] - Page 3

When you’re an athlete (or anyone with more than a little extra pocket change) having a good business manager is of the utmost importance.  Coming into a lot of money can be as much of a gift as a curse, and if you don’t believe us, take Vince Young, for example. The former Tennessee Titan has been economically crippled thanks to some shady advice from people he trusted, and the undeniable power of the Cheesecake Factory.

As previously reported, Young allegedly dropped $5,000 a week on appetizers, strawberry lemonade, and the luscious dessert options offered by the restaurant chain.  With his funds on struggle mode, Young will have lots of time to ponder his bad decisions. Hopefully he won’t make the same mistake twice, if he can climb his way back to the top, and judging by the optimistic disposition on his Twitter page, he  can definitely make it happen.

Rather than completely write him off for his money missteps, we here at Hip-Hop Wired are looking at the positive side of things. Spending his money on nonsense bought Young a membership into an elite club of other athletes who have followed a similar path.

Peep our list of other athletes who drained their bank accounts, behind dumb sh-t.

Additional reporting from Joseph Poakwa

Sound off in the comments section, our Facebook page or hit us up on Twitter to chime in.

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Photo: themarsreel

Travis Henry

Downfall: Overactive sperm

This former Denver Broncos running back effectively drained his bank account because he didn’t “wrap it up.” With nine children by nine different women, Henry forked over $170,000 a year in child support, and defended blowing $250,000 on jewelry. Thinking that his money would never dry up, Henry’s $25 million contract went out the door after he was dropped from the Broncos, receiving less than half in a payout. Mix that with the epic lawyers’ fees (child support court battles are no joke, just ask Usher) and the 33-year-old set himself up to fail.

Antoine Walker

Downfall: Gambling.
Before Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson head-butted his way out of Evelyn Lozada’s life, Antoine Walker was her main squeeze. The one-time Miami Heat & Boston Celtics player has since called the NBA’s D-League home. Earning over $100 million in his career Walker spent most of his money on custom Bentleys, a Ranger Rover, a Hummer, and a jewelry collection, but his love affair with gambling offered up some serious financial strain. Walker racked up an $822,500 debt, and wrote $1 million in bad checks to cover the bill.

He filed a $12.7 million bankruptcy claim, which was denied in 2010.

Raghib “Rocket” Ismail

Downfall: The food industry.

Raghib Ismail found out the hard way that just because you have money to throw into business deals, that doesn’t mean you should. The former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver signed an $18.2 million deal in 1991, but invested in a slew of failed businesses including a record company, cosmetics, nationwide phone-card dispensers, calligraphy proverb kiosks, and a Hard Rock Café knock-off restaurant called the Rock n’ Roll Cafe.

Allen Iverson

Downfall: Having more money than he knew what to do with; too many homies on the staff.

Allen Iverson re-invented the wheel of blowing money fast. With a $160 million fortune to his name, Iverson massacred his bank account balance by copping too many chains, trickin’ off racks upon racks upon racks in nightclub, gambling, and keeping an entourage of more than 50 people on the payroll.

The former Philadelphia 76er was ordered to pay a local jeweler $860,000 or skipping out on his bill. If that wasn’t bad enough his estranged wife, who accused him of cheating, ransacked his house jacking many of his possessions.

Cold game.

Deuce McAllister

Downfall: Nissans.

As a running back for the New Orleans Saints, Deuce McAllister thought he was the star of the show, until Reggie Bush got signed to the team knocking him from first to second place. McAllister retired in 2010, but his real downfall came by way of a Nissan car dealership in Jackson. Miss. Given the depressed state of the economy and the crippled auto industry, Deuce McAllister Nissan was  nothing short of a bust. The dealership filed for bankruptcy in 2009, and was sued by Nissan for $7 million over defaulting on loans, and exceeding their credit limit

Lawrence Taylor

Downfall: Cocaine and hookers.

Lawrence Taylor didn’t let anything stop him from partaking in the illegal cocktail of cocaine and prostitutes. Paying for intercourse, excessive partying, and nose candy ended up costing the linebacker a loss of $50 million.
In 2009, Taylor was busted for bedding a 16-year-old girl, and charged with felony third-degree statutory rape, plus third-degree patronization, for allegedly paying the girl $300 for her services.

Old habits die hard.

Kenny Anderson

Downfall: Paying his friends to hang out with him.

If you’re looking for a lesson in how to make $60 million disappear than Kenny Anderson is the perfect teacher. The retired point guard paid his friends a $10,000 allowance to keep him company, filled up his eight-car garage with a bevy of expensive rides, lost $5.8 million in his divorce, plus paid child support for eight children.

On a positive note, Anderson recently received his college degree.

Sam Hurd

Downfall: Paying too much money for drugs.

Sam Hurd’s struggle was so epic that it’s almost unfair to highlight. The backup Chicago Bears receiver allegedly agreed to pay $25,000 per kilo for powder, and $450 per pound for weed, amounting to a $2.8 million monthly habit. Hurd spilled the beans to an undercover federal agent, saying that he wanted to buy 10 kils of coke and 1,000 pounds of greenery.

Today, Hurd faces charges for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, is looking at up to 40 years in prison, and up to a $5 million fine.