How Much Would You Invest in Ted Ginn's Future?
Michael Lewis has an article in Portfolio magazine about the possibility of trading athletes the way you trade stocks. This isn't fantasy football. This is actually investing your own real money in the real money that athletes earn:
The athlete would sell 20 percent of all future on-field or on-court earnings to a trust, which would, in turn, sell securities to the public.
People familiar with ProTrade, which Lewis mentions, will get the concept. But it got me thinking about the NFL draft, and which players investors would want to buy. And I think of all the prospects in this year's draft, Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr. might be the hardest to decide whether to buy or sell.
Ted Ginn Jr. has great speed, as evidenced by that kickoff return he took for a touchdown against Florida. And you might conclude that his injury after that play and Ohio State's subsequent implosion demonstrated his value to the team. But that injury raises some serious questions, and there are also real questions about his hands and his route running. He might have a little Troy Williamson in him.
The point here is that if Ted Ginn Jr. were a stock, there would be some fans sure they could get rich investing in him, and some planning to short him. Lewis's article is fascinating in the way it shows that we may not be far away from a time when fans really will put their money where their mouths are when it comes time to evaluate NFL prospects.
As for me, I'd buy Ted Ginn Jr.. Watching the Ohio State-Michigan game, I liked Ted Ginn Jr. so much I thought he had a chance of passing Calvin Johnson as the top receiver in the draft. That certainly isn't going to happen now, but he's a unique talent, and I like his future.
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