Former Wolverine And Current Blue Jackets Player Jack Johnson Is Bankrupt -- Despite His $30M Deal
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
Most people think being a professional athlete is the easiest gig in the world. Perform at a high level in the sport you love -- What's so hard about that?
But there's lots going on behind the scenes that we don't know about.
For instance: Former Michigan Wolverine and current Blue Jackets player Jack Johnson is bankrupt, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Johnson, who is in the fourth season of his seven-year $30 million deal, is more than $10 million in debt and has less than $50,000 in assets, per the report.
How does this happen to a professional athelete making loads of dough?
According to the dispatch:
But sources close to Johnson have told The Dispatch that his own parents — Jack Sr. and Tina Johnson — are among the "wrong people" who led him astray financially.
In 2008, Johnson parted ways with agent Pat Brisson, who represents some of the National Hockey League's biggest stars, including Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
With no agent and little knowledge of how the financial world works, Johnson turned over control of his money to his parents.
Another part of the story that is quite interesting is former Michigan hoops star, Maurice Taylor, allegedly steered Johnson and his family to Johnson's eventual finacial disaster.
His own parents have bankrupted this poor kid. If you can't trust your own parents, who can you trust?