Morgan Stanley Managing Dir & Head of Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment DREW HAWKINS and his team have been at the Senior Bowl festivities this week in Mobile, Ala., meeting with prospective NFL Draft prospects on how to best prepare for the road ahead. Hawkins stresses that his team's approach to the week is different from the typical financial talking heads lecturing players about horror stories they have seen. Hawkins takes an approach aimed at letting the players individually learn meaningful practices to sustain their financial stability. Hawkins: "We need to make the conversation around financial management fun and interactive. Historically, financial education for Senior Bowl players had been being put into a room in a seminar format with a couple guys in suits and ties talking abut financial strategy. But for us, we need to talk about things that are relevant for where they are now."
ALL ABOUT ORGANIZATION: Thursday we did a session for the North Team in the morning, then a session for the South Team in the afternoon. Two 75-minute sessions in the format of a simulated practice where each of the head coaches, HUE JACKSON and JOHN FOX, kick things off to give the players the lay of the land. Then we have four different quadrants in the room, and we break each of the teams into four different groups. They spend 12 minutes at each of the different areas in terms of a different subject matter that we’re going to talk about. So BART SCOTT for example is focusing on how to say no, while ANTOINE WALKER will be speaking on the pitfalls regarding spending habits and enabling yourself to save money. Both are consultants with our team. We also have a section on how to develop an investment plan. And another on being able to select your professional team as it relates to the people who you surround yourself with.
FRIDAY NIGHT FINANCIALS: Friday night we host a dinner for players and their family members, giving them an opportunity to mix and mingle while we reiterate some of the messages we’ve discussed throughout the course of the week. Scott and Walker had very diverse stories. Walker had his challenges with money in terms of having to declare bankruptcy as he was coming out of the league. Scott on the other hand, did not make the amount of money that Walker did but was smart with both managing his money and leveraging and managing his brand.
MAMA KNOWS BEST: Saturday we do a session for the parents built around a moderated discussion. A parent of a Senior Bowl player from last year will talk about their family's NFL experience so far having just gone through this process. It gives the parents food for thought on their role in this equation. The discussion points to how the parents have an opportunity around the fact that they have to play gatekeeper to a degree regarding other family members who may potentially reach out. Unfortunately, talking about financials can be intimidating. It’s a subject that people just don’t like to talk about at times.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: I enjoy playing golf, although my handicap is no longer in the single digits. It was about four or five years ago! I'm also an avid fisherman and, being from Baltimore, a big Ravens and Orioles fan. I love to travel, read and cook as well. Recently I read RANDY ROBERTS' "Blood Brothers: The Fatal Relationship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X." Terrific read. Now I’m reading a book called “Not In My Neighborhood" by ANTERO PIETILA, which traces the history and makings of the city of Baltimore. TV-wise, I’m a huge “SNL” fan. I’ve also been know to watch a few “SANFORD & SON” reruns if I’m around the house on a Saturday afternoon.
