Newspaper Page Text
What's next
after the NFL?
From rancher to TV show host, pro athletes
are planning for their post-football life with
interesting off-field jobs. Here are five stories:
BY T.J. WALTER AND HANNAH CHARRY
UGary Brackett
TEAM/POSITION:
Indianapolis Colts/
linebacker
HISUTHER'JOB: Branch manager of
Mid Atlantic Capital, a mortgage
brokerage firm
After several questionable mort
gage deals, Brackett took mat
ters into his own hands and
learned how to handle loans him
self. “My dad always told me, ‘lf
you w r ant something done right,
then you need to do it yourself’ ”
he says. Following that advice,
Brackett attended classes at the
University of Pennsylvania’s
Wharton School through an
NFL business program and re
ceived his ceitification as a loan
consultant last year.
In today’s dicey world of 1
collapsing subprime loans,
people turn to Brackett for
answers. Today, he
with more than 20
clients on their molt
gage loans, including
about 10 of his fellow’
NFL players. “I, unfortu-
nately, learned about
mortgages and loans A
through plenty of
trial and error,” he ■
says. “I want peo- ■
pie to avoid those
same pitfalls.”
14
USA WEEKEND • Oct 26-28.2007
©
Charlie Batch
TEAM/POSITION:
Pittsburgh Steelers/
quarterback
HIS "OTHER" JOBS: Franchise owner of
two UPS stores; president/CEO of
Batch Development Company, a
real-estate development company;
and owner of a barbershop/salon
and a restaurant
Batch has three of his four busi
nesses based in Homestead, Pa.,
a suburb of Pittsburgh, and he’s
considered somewhat of a jack
of-all-trades while running them.
“I have even been known to tape
and carry boxes at the UPS
store,” Batch says. There’s one
exception: You won’t find him
cutting hail- at the barbershop.
Batch is
a jack-of
all-trades
at his many
businesses.
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Mike Rosenthal
TEAM/POSITION:
Miami Dolphins/
offensive guard
HIS'OTHER" JOB: Owns and operates
1379, a children's sportswear
store in Austin
At 6 feet, 7 inches, it’s hard for
Mike Rosenthal to find clothes
that fit. Then, he couldn’t find
proper sportswear for his three
kids. That’s why he opened 1379,
a children’s store, with wife
Lindsay in Austin. The store
incorporates Legos, basket
s' ball hoops and other toys
A to make it fun for children.
■ “We wanted kids to be kids
while their parents shopped,”
he says. “As a kid, I was al
ways hiding under the racks.”
The store also encourages fam
ily fitness by organizing Satur
day morning walking groups.
Michael Strahan
TEAM/POSITION:
New York Giants/
defensive end
ny
HIS "OTHER" JOB: Host of DIY
Network's Backyard Stadiums,
a renovation show
Growing up in Germany, Mi
chael Strahan developed an eye
for quality construction. “It’s diffi
cult to find good craftsmanship
today,” he says. “Buildings are
made with cheap materials.” He
took these ideals to heart as he
renovated his century-old resi
dence in New Jersey. As host
of Backyard Stadiums, Stra
han still is involved with design
ing, but now he does it with an
athletic theme. He teaches fami
lies how to build sports facilities,
such as a mini-golf course, soc
cer field or skateboard half-pipe,
for their homes.
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Kerry Collins
TEAM/POSmON:
Tennessee Titans/
quarterback
HIS "OTHER" JOB: Cattle rancher
Come the off-season, this NFL
veteran dons a cowboy hat and
heads out to the Blue Q Ranch,
his 1,600-acre spread situated
south of Greensboro, N.C. Col
lins caught the bug from his
father-in-law, a cattle rancher.
From the early morning wake
up calls to the daily upkeep of
400 cows, Collins now embraces
the cowboy life, and the work
has become a much-needed re
treat for him. “For me, ranch
ing creates the perfect balance
in my life,” Collins says. “The
NFL is 100 mph all the time.
But on the farm, life slows down
a little, and it gives me a chance
to focus.” ca
ROSENTHALS DARREN CARROII FOR USA MEM NO. BATCH MICHAEL FABUS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS