While you’re meditating on the ethics of chewing up football players for three years and spitting them out, all in the name of entertainment, consider the case of another similar story that was turned into a movie, that of Vince Papale — played by Mark Wahlberg in “Invincible.” Of course, Papale — whose flag football prowess in his late 20s overrode his lack of college ball experience — signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s. Modern football has come a long way, critics will argue. But there’s no denying the old-school toughness and tenacity Papale showed in making it to the NFL. NBA player Pablo Prigioni’s career was twice as long as either Morris’ or Papale’s was, with four years in the big leagues starting in 2012 at age 35. But basketball is arguably less demanding on the body than football and even baseball if we look at the potential damage major league pitchers can do to their throwing arm. Their careers may not have been the stuff of dreams, but these three men showed something we all like to see: tough players hanging on long past their “prime.” And they lived the dream — if only for a while. We all love that! THE ROOKIE 3 OLDEST ROOKIES IN SPORTS HISTORY
Have you ever felt that fate meant for you to take a different path than the one you took? In some fields, making that change is possible, or even common — as any law student can tell you, where the “average” age of students is in their 30s. But other worlds, like the world of professional sports, are less welcoming to those over 25.
Which only makes for a better story when it does happen, of course.
That’s what Jim Morris discovered when he signed with a Major League Baseball team in 1999 after his 35th birthday. Morris’ life became the subject of the 2002 Dennis Quaid movie “The Rookie,” filmed just after Morris’ major league career had ended. You might think that two years is a short time in the majors, but hey, you try throwing 98-mph fastballs for hours a week, 104 weeks in a row! Besides, the careers of pro athletes aren’t nearly as long as icons like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would have you believe. The average MLB career may be a few years longer than Morris stuck it out, but in the NFL? Most players make it less than three years and quit, depending on the position.
How Much Should I Gift My Children?
Creating a legally binding and sound estate plan is one of the most responsible and caring actions you can take for your loved ones. However, the way you create your estate plan can have just as much of an impact on your loved ones’ peace of mind. One of the biggest concerns for clients is how to fairly distribute their assets among their children. Should each child get the same amount, should one child receive more, or should a child be cut out entirely?
The answer is that it depends.
Many people choose to divide their assets equally among their children, and this makes sense in a lot of scenarios. In cases where children are independent and earning similar incomes, it’s best to leave children with equal pieces of your estate pie. And this doesn’t have to be done by literally equally splitting everything. If you have one child who lives in town and another who lives across the country, you may leave your home to the local child and give an equal value in other assets to the second child. It’s equitable and logical. However, families are complex, and in some cases, leaving more assets to one child over the others is reasonable. For example, if you have a child who cannot care for themselves, you may leave more of your estate to them through creating a special needs trust. You may also consider leaving more assets to children who provided more care or support to you as you aged.
In other scenarios, you may worry about what your children will do with the assets they have been given. It’s reasonable to be skeptical about leaving these children anything at all, but remember that cutting a child from the will may likely lead to anger and confusion. It may even lead a child to sue the estate. They need a valid, legal reason for the case to progress, but the simple act of doing so could damage family connections. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, your attorney can help you parse what’s best for your family and you. Once a decision is made, be sure to share this information with your children. Greater conflict can arise when what’s left among the siblings is a surprise.
If you would like to learn more about how to best split your assets, or if you have other legal questions, please visit DouglassRunger.com.
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