Football Raven's 2013 1st rounder now working at sports store ? - Page 2

**Anyong Bluth** · 03-05-2014, 12:37 PM

I guess you could commend him on his work ethic and definitely a wise choice for keeping his nose clean, but couldn't one find a more productive outlet for your time?

He's got some investment capital in the bank. It just seems like he could be using that time in securing some business ventures to set himself up for having some income after his playing days are over?

I guess he views his job as an internship / experience, but there's plenty of ways to get training on running a retail store (since that's what he eventually plans on doing), and the management and finance side is a lot more valuable.

Also, kinda amusing a professional football player had to apply to 5 different places hiring to get a job at a sports store...

Quote:

Matt Elam working sales at mall
Jamison Hensley
ESPN.com
February 27, 2014

Many NFL players will go to malls this offseason. Matt Elam is working in one.

Elam, a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 draft, is spending his offseason as a part-time sales associate at a Finish Line store in Gainesville, Fla., before he returns to the team in April. He says he works about 20 hours per week, helping customers with shoes and occasionally stocking shelves.

His goal is to open his own sports merchandise store.

"I just need to get retail knowledge," Elam told the team's website. "That's basically what I'm doing. I'm getting that knowledge for when it's time."
Elam applied online to five stores before being hired at Finish Line a month ago, raising eyebrows considering he made $3.7 million last season (salary and signing bonus) as the 32nd pick in the draft.

"Everybody was surprised when I started," said Elam, who isn't sure how much he makes per hour. "They were like, 'Why? You got enough money.' But it's not about the money. It's just me building."

The mall is a few miles from the University of Florida, where Elam was a first-team All-American. Fans often recognize him at the store and ask to take pictures, which have circulated on social media.

"People will be buying stuff just for me to sign it," he said. "It's pretty exciting."

As a rookie, Elam was fourth on the Ravens with 76 tackles. He had one interception and two fumble recoveries.

blaise · 03-05-2014, 01:38 PM

Good for him.

Fish · 03-05-2014, 01:45 PM

An NFL athlete planning ahead? WTF?

C-Mac · 03-05-2014, 01:51 PM

I remember as a kid when Art Still worked for Pepsi or Coke in the off season. Delivered cases to my small home town grocer... and that's when they were glass bottles. A different kind off-season training.

**Perineum Ripper** · 03-05-2014, 01:55 PM

I think it is very smart to start at the lowest spot..he will know what it is like and when he owns his own store and if he keeps himself involved he can talk to his employees and if they have complaints he can relate and use his knowledge of that to help fix it faster and better

When I was in the army I always thought that the officers needed to do 4 years of lower enlisted work before going to on to become an officer..so when they lead men they know what they are sending their men to go do..it would make the military better and if used in all aspects of life then everything would be better

Mr. Laz · 03-05-2014, 02:02 PM

good for him

learn and stay grounded

Valiant · 03-05-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Ultimately, yes. Doing anything to plan ahead is smart and too few in the pros think about their future after they retire. I just find it an odd choice, and seems rather limited in gaining valuable knowledge of operating / owning one's own store. At least it's a start.

He has probably never worked in his life.

If he was a football prodigy growing up. His life was probably lifting weights, studying and football. Probably has no experience. Starting from the ground up is quite smart.

Why Not? · 03-05-2014, 02:45 PM

How cool. I agree with the meat of what you guys are saying. Plus great humility on his part.

**Easy 6** · 03-05-2014, 03:02 PM

If he wants to own a chain of these that's a very, very smart way to understand that business from the ground up.

Its like a military officer serving a few years as enlisted before he goes to OCS or West Point.

Discuss Thrower · 03-05-2014, 03:03 PM

Something something JaMarcus Russell

CoMoChief · 03-05-2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Good for him for planning for life after football.

what?

Yeah I guess if he plans on buying the damn store.

Other than that I don't see why he'd do this.

bowener · 03-05-2014, 05:42 PM

Cool. Maybe the NFL should consider something like job shadowing for rookies, rather than just giving them a few classes on how to avoid being an idiot with your money. They could see how real people live, and how they take all their money for advantage.

It sounds stupid, I know, but isn't there a 60% bankruptcy rate for NFL players once they are out of the league?

saphojunkie · 03-05-2014, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

what?

Yeah I guess if he plans on buying the damn store.

Other than that I don't see why he'd do this.

uh... that's exactly what he plans on doing.

WhawhaWhat · 03-05-2014, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

what?

Yeah I guess if he plans on buying the damn store.

Other than that I don't see why he'd do this.

Quote:

His goal is to open his own sports merchandise store.

It's the third sentence of the post, which I am sure is tough for you, but sometimes you just have to push ahead.

Eleazar · 03-05-2014, 06:31 PM

That's pretty cool, working the job before opening your own store. Hard to see how a one-off place could compete with the big chains these days, but I admire him for trying.

CoMoChief · 03-05-2014, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

It's the third sentence of the post, which I am sure is tough for you, but sometimes you just have to push ahead.

90% of the time I don't read the articles people post on CP.

03-05-2014, 01:38 PM	#16
blaise In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $9999900	Good for him.
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03-05-2014, 01:45 PM	#17
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $1898919	An NFL athlete planning ahead? WTF? __________________
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03-05-2014, 01:51 PM	#18
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $1983699	I remember as a kid when Art Still worked for Pepsi or Coke in the off season. Delivered cases to my small home town grocer... and that's when they were glass bottles. A different kind off-season training.
Posts: 5,637

03-05-2014, 01:55 PM	#19
Perineum Ripper Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $1549542	I think it is very smart to start at the lowest spot..he will know what it is like and when he owns his own store and if he keeps himself involved he can talk to his employees and if they have complaints he can relate and use his knowledge of that to help fix it faster and better When I was in the army I always thought that the officers needed to do 4 years of lower enlisted work before going to on to become an officer..so when they lead men they know what they are sending their men to go do..it would make the military better and if used in all aspects of life then everything would be better
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03-05-2014, 02:02 PM	#20
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	good for him learn and stay grounded __________________
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03-05-2014, 02:45 PM	#22
Why Not? In Search of a Life Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kansas Casino cash: $2778994	How cool. I agree with the meat of what you guys are saying. Plus great humility on his part.
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03-05-2014, 03:02 PM	#23
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3347775	If he wants to own a chain of these that's a very, very smart way to understand that business from the ground up. Its like a military officer serving a few years as enlisted before he goes to OCS or West Point.
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03-05-2014, 03:03 PM	#24
Discuss Thrower "You like to drink?" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: "I like to drink." Casino cash: $2876869	Something something JaMarcus Russell __________________ Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South
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03-05-2014, 05:42 PM	#26
bowener BAMF! Join Date: Nov 2007 Casino cash: $9549897	Cool. Maybe the NFL should consider something like job shadowing for rookies, rather than just giving them a few classes on how to avoid being an idiot with your money. They could see how real people live, and how they take all their money for advantage. It sounds stupid, I know, but isn't there a 60% bankruptcy rate for NFL players once they are out of the league? __________________ Main Entry: bowe·ner Pronunciation: \ˈbō-nər\ Function: noun Date: circa 2007
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03-05-2014, 06:31 PM	#29
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	That's pretty cool, working the job before opening your own store. Hard to see how a one-off place could compete with the big chains these days, but I admire him for trying.
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