Who is this Richard Sherman, whose TV interview rant after the NFC championship game has gotten so much media attention?
Is he just a trash-talking football player who can’t keep his trap shut? (He has apologized, by the way.)
No.
Sherman is a thoughtful young man who brings the intellect and intense preparation to football that Peyton Manning, Sherman’s opponent in the Super Bowl, is so famous for.
In fact, stories from Sherman’s life contain important personal finance lessons that can apply to anyone. I gleaned them from a Sports Illustrated profile of Sherman that first appeared in July.
1. Paying your kids for good grades can help motivate them
His mom, Beverly Sherman, paid him $5 for every A on his report card and $3 for B’s. He graduated second in his high school class with a grade point average of 4.2, just a tiny bit behind the valedictorian.
2. Don’t underestimate the importance of a good education
SI says Sherman was very vocal even in high school, with a special motivating message for the other guys on his team: “He was an academic snob who saved his most biting remarks for those who ditched classes or failed exams.”
3. In fact, make education your top priority
University of Southern California football coach Pete Carroll, while recruiting Sherman, “had to wait 2½ hours in the football offices [at Sherman’s high school] because his recruit had refused to duck out of an advanced placement course.” Sherman went to Stanford instead, where he graduated with a degree in communications in 2010.
4. Volunteering broadens your outlook and experience
His mom works for California Children’s Services, and sometimes he’d go with her to work. “There, at the rehabilitation center next to her office in Downey, he spent summer days completing math problems and building block towers with kids suffering from muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy,” SI says.
5. Intense preparation can trump natural ability
Sherman says he’s not the best athlete on the field, so he compensates by being better prepared. His attention to detail is remarkable. You can see that very clearly in this YouTube video.
6. Self-promotion isn’t necessarily a bad thing
“Things I do probably look like madness, like I’m totally out of control, but there’s always a plan,” Sherman told SI. “It’s part of a greater scheme to get some eyes, to grow the market, to grow Seattle. Now people are paying attention, and they’ll probably be disappointed this year because I will be a lot more reserved.”
SI adds, “Time will tell if such restraint is possible.”
What’s your take on the Sherman post-game controversy? Did he misbehave outrageously or is the reaction overblown? Share your thoughts below or on our Facebook page.
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