Chapter One

TIP #1:
Do Not Trust Anyone
Let’s Play Ball!

PROS: If you are a ballplayer for a major professional ball team here in the U.S., then you are considered a celebrity and a hero.

CONS: People always try to take advantage of major league baseball players – and use them for their own personal interests – because they think they have a lot of money. It becomes almost impossible to know who to trust.

Read further to understand the pros and cons of being a professional ballplayer in the U.S.

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Congratulations! You’ve been signed to play ball for a major league baseball team here in the U.S. You’re on Home Plate, ready to play ball. You are ready to live a wonderful life in the U.S. You are from any one of these countries: Argentina, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the rest of the Caribbean, and Mexico. Like you, thousands of boys grow up playing sandlot ball and planning for a big-league career. Inspired by Latino greats who paved the way, young men head north to the U.S. in hopes of baseball success, but often find themselves in far different situations. Just like you. And now I’m telling you to trust no one. Not right now. Let me explain further.

Esteban

The reason it is so critical that you baseball players understand why it is so important not to trust anyone is a perfect example of what I am going through right now with a high profile celebrity! This is a true story. To protect his identity, I’ll call him Esteban.

Estaban is a famous celebrity. He is a Latino that came to America to play ball and enjoy the celebrity lifestyle. He recently became ill. Keep in mind that he has had a huge entourage of individuals who have been following him for a long time. They were always there for him to take Esteban shopping or to special events and parties; always there to travel with him, and of course, women were always there to hook up with him. All these girls made him feel important. They made him feel wanted. Because of this lifestyle, his marriage is currently in the process of going through a divorce.

Esteban recently lost his job as an American ballplayer due to stress and illness. No one knows much about this because he doesn’t want it disclosed to the media. However, since he hasn’t been working, his entourage has disappeared! They’re GONE! Everyone who was so eager to help him when he was in the media’s eye and was famous is now gone. His friends have simply disappeared. Sadly, there is no one to help him with his business because – as we all know – no matter what is happening in your personal life, your debts – your bills – are still due every month.

In addition, Esteban’s new girlfriend has disappeared and his so-called friends are gone. And, that wonderful, attentive private banker no longer returns his calls or if calls are returned, the answer is, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

So now he has his ex-wife helping by having him stay at her house. She takes him to the doctors, who are mostly in Mexico, and this puts a burden on her because she is trying to build her own business. However, she makes sure he takes his meds and handles his affairs, all temporarily.

Recently, I received a call from one of the insurance companies I do business with informing me that my client had requested to cancel his life insurance because he wants the “cash out.” I immediately called my client’s wife and asked her if she was aware of this. Keep in mind that he only has this one life insurance policy and in the event of his premature death, his daughters will be taken care of.

His ex-wife discussed this with Esteban and he claimed that his CPA informed him of having some cash in this account and that he could withdraw at any time. Esteban said he didn’t know that it was the life insurance policy he put away for his family. The CPA’s intention was to have him get this money so the CPA could collect from it. He didn’t even consider that this client might have a good reason for keeping this policy intact. Obviously, this CPA is a crook and how he even has his license is unknown to me. The fact that he is still practicing under these circumstances is what bothers me most.

If my client lost this policy he would never qualify for another policy again due to his illness, and if he cancelled this policy his family would definitely lose their home.

We were fortunate to be able to have this request to close this policy revised, but there are so many times that it is too late to help someone because of some attorney, accountant or financial advisor who has been able to do damage to a ballplayer before actions can be reversed. The consequences of any transaction done by some jerk with his own motive only affects the baseball player, his family, and their future.

Sadly, this story is true and happens to many, many Latino ballplayers. I don’t want this to happen to you.

I Can Help You

Since it’s hard to trust anyone right now, I am writing this book to help you. I bring you experience based on my work with many athletes. I provided help for them to overcome their many challenges. In fact, this book is for all the professional athletes who have come to the U.S. to play sports and have no clue about how much they are being taken advantage of by EVERY professional organization out there, starting with banks! Every single commission or non-commission organization out in the industry is not to be trusted. I want you to have your eyes wide open just like when the ball is hit into the field and you are eagle-eyed on it. I want you to understand that absolutely NO ONE is your friend – not even your parents! Not right now. Everyone thinks you have a lot of money and they will want to get some of it. Trust no one!

This book is to guide and help you so you can be that baseball success and have a wonderful life. It’s to help you avoid all the things that can ruin your life. Since baseball is so popular, many people will get to know you and many will want something from you.