Borg to sell precious memories...

dav6789 · Borg to sell precious memories...

Check this out...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4770000.stm

Babzzzzz

I think this is really sad. Are there no other ways to collect money? They should organize a charity tennis event to raise money for him. I believe they did that once for Roscoe Tanner.

I just hope someone buys his trophies and other items that are up for auction and give them back to him (ok, that was wishfull thinking).

J-man

that's too bad. i would to bad he hasn't been able to stick with tennis, like go on the senior tour

Kay-Kay

That is sad, those things are something he earned. They should come up with an alternative way to raise money for him .

J-man

yes i agree. he must really be broke more than goran who actually proably wasted alot of his money

Rattler

wow...that's really sad, and kind of shocking....I know Tilden sold his U.S. Championships (before it was the U.S. Open) trophies.

Too bad...hope things get better for Borg.

Babzzzzz

Yes, plus he has 1 or 2 ex-wives and kids to support financially. I htough he already sold his stake in his Bjorn Borg-brand of clothes and accessories but still receives "royalties" from that.

leftys_rock

goodness, what is wrong with the retired tennis players these days?? do they know what investing is?? next thing we know in 15 years, we see maria going bankrupt after earning 22.5 mil a year when she was playing......

J-man

then again it matters which retired tennis player you look at

leftys_rock

yes, that is a good point....borg retired at 26.....but still....he should have not spent lavishly.....after all, money doesnt grow on trees....

J-man

i think msart thing for retiring pro's to do is to ethier commentate or play on the senior tour

Kay-Kay

I agree that is the way to continue to earn money while they winnings from the regular tour could be invested and some spent and they would still be earning money on the senior tour.

leftys_rock

yes, they should do something like mcenroe...hes doing fine....

Kay-Kay

McEnroe also does commentary, but I bet Sweden broadcasting would love to have Borg commentating tennis matches.

leftys_rock

yes they really should....but how could borg spend money so quickly? i mean, winning GS gives a lot of payout....

x.doublea

That's really too bad....Borg has always struggled with finance, though, so it isn't as big a surprise as it seems to be.

leftys_rock

have other players struggled with finances?? i really havent heard any of the retired women struggling with anything.....

J-man

because there smart Laughing

leftys_rock

haha....yeah, like king, court, evert, martina n(well shes still on tour so i dont know if she counts), and graf just to name a few are doing just fine right now......

beachjm

It was really sad to hear the news about Borg, 'cause he's one of my all-time favorite athletes. He's had a lot of personal/financial problems since he retired. The athletes back then made a fraction of what they made today. But big time exhibitions were still hold in his day and guys like Borg, McEnroe, and Connors, etc. made a killing on those. Hard to believe Borg is in so much financial trouble but he's also had some other problems that the media hasn't talked about much. Plus a couple of divorces and some business flops, and I guess that'll do it do you.
I heard he's coaching juniors in Sweden and imagine he'd be a great draw to do some broadcasting work. Hope the Ice Man turns things around. This should be a lesson to all the athletes around today. The $ can go down the drain quick, especially if you're not careful and get taken in by all the swindlers around. Borg's a great guy but I think he just was too naive/got taken advantage by all the sycophants out there on too many occasions.

leftys_rock

its too bad that he might be sued for 1.4 million....its going to be putting him into a bigger hole....

x.doublea

leftys_rock

for graf, thats an exception...but other tennis players are also doing fine now....

J-man

leftys_rock

a lot of the tennis players still make their money after they retire from their organizations and stuff.....

x.doublea

From Reuters:

Agassi looks at buying Borg's Wimbledon trophies

INDIAN WELLS March 12 (Reuters) - Andre Agassi is attempting to put together a consortium to buy Bjorn Borg's five replica Wimbledon trophies.

Financially-strapped Swede Borg is planning to auction off the five trophies he won between 1976 and 1980 as well as two signed rackets he used.

The sale is due to go ahead on June 21 at Bonham's salerooms in London and the trophies and rackets are collectively expected to bring in between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds ($521,100). "I've discussed it with my own people to find a way of gathering the right people together to buy those trophies and do right by the game to purchase them," Agassi told reporters at the Pacific Life Open.

"I think there's a lot of people who could step up to help for sure -- Wimbledon being one and myself another."

In a statement, the 50-year-old Borg said he had decided to put the items up for auction because he and his family need long-term financial security.

Agassi, who won the 1992 Wimbledon title, was saddened by the news.

"It's not right," he said. "The only way you should have a Wimbledon trophy is if you win it, not buy one. I can't make any judgments on Bjorn, but I can say that the thought of a Wimbledon trophy being in the hands of somebody who has a lot of money is upsetting. Wimbledon is the greatest tournament in the world."

Agassi said he wants to ensure the trophies stay in tennis. The 35-year-old wouldn't reveal who he is working with, but did say he'd like to see them put in a museum.

"I think it would be amazing for the fans of tennis to be able to see them," Agassi said. "But first things first. I'd like to see the sport come together to figure out a way to make sure they don't get into the wrong hands." ($1=.5757 Pound)

leftys_rock

thats great.....i was hoping agassi was going to give them back to borg, but putting them in a museum is also great....

x.doublea

That would sound a bit silly though....you buy something and give it back to the owner. Putting it in a museum is a great idea.

leftys_rock

well i guess.....but u know, theyre borg's right? so wouldnt it make sense to just give it back to him? but yes, a museum is a great idea.....5 pieces of tennis history right there....

x.doublea

That would be a really kind gesture if Agassi did that though.

leftys_rock

i have to say, it was quite in contrast to what he did on court today.... Confused

x.doublea

He's really polite off the court. On the court, he's as competitive as anyone.

leftys_rock

but hes being great for doing that.....i have to say, if i had that much money, i would do that too.... Laughing

.....but it would be pretty bad if somebody who doesnt even know how to hold a racquet bought those....

x.doublea

That would be such a pity. It would basically be a waste.

dav6789

It is very good of Agassi to buy those trophies. I hope many other players can help, because it is a shame that Borg has had to sell them...

leftys_rock

i think all the other players should chip in and put those in a museum....after all, agassi has a lot of money, but other players do too, so he shouldnt be the only one paying the money....but its a great gesture and i hope other players will follow it....

Davia

That is a wanderfull thing that Andre is doin. Other player schoold allso step up and help out one of the grets of the game Bjorn Borg.

J-man

i think they will. tennis players will defentily not let those trophies go to waste

K-Mac

They should have a retired tennis players association like the one they have in the NFL and Major League Baseball to help out there past players when unfortunete things happen to one of there own. It is great to see that Agassi is stepping up and contributing what he can.

x.doublea

They do, though. It's just Borg retired from it a few years back.

leftys_rock

why didnt he keep on with it? he wouldnt have that many money troubles...

x.doublea

I have a feeling he wasn't too successful.

Miel

Aww... it's sad to see him sell his prized trophies. Sad

Good on Agassi for buying them and giving them back!

leftys_rock

borg has actually chosen to keep his wimbledon trophies.... Very Happy

Bel Air-Basher

That is good, With all his Wimbledon wins that would fill up a big trophy case. Very Happy

x.doublea

Yes, he did the 'honourable' thing. Agassi's right: you shouldn't own a Wimbledon trophy is you never won it.