Another Bad Week....

.... For athletes and money. 

Don't misunderstand me, news from the newspaper industry -- whose money troubles have inspired several entries on this blog -- still stinks,  especially if you live in Boston or the Twin Cities. But at this point nobody expects newspapers to have cash, so reports of layoffs, buyouts and bankruptcies no longer surprise us.

Somehow, though we expect millionaire athletes to learn from the examples of those who squandered fortunes before them, even though a few times each year someone reminds us just how tough it can be to retire rich.

This week we have two examples.

First came news that the non-profit headed by former Olympic heptathlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee is bleeding money, yet somehow managed to pay nearly half a million dollars in "consulting fees" to a for-profit outfit headed by her husband, Bob.

Predictably, the IRS is interested in what the Joyner-Kersees have been doing with all those tax-deductible donations that help fund their charity. And though the story makes clear that the government has been scrutinizing the Joyner-Kersees' tax returns (both charitable and private) for, Bob continues to claim nothing shady is happening, and that all the problems stem from simple ignorance of tax procedure.

Uh, ok.

But what about Floyd (No Money?) Mayweather?

Surely he and his advisers know better than than burn through the mountain of money he earned in the ring, right? Or at least they know to take care of the tax man before blowing seven figures shopping for jewelery..... right?

I mean, it's not like he's Evander Holyfield or something.

I didn't used to think so, but now it looks like The Pretty Boy and The Real Deal have more in common than catchy nicknames and Olympic Bronze medals.

According to this report from Boxingscene.com, the Pretty Boy owes the IRS more than $6 million. This from a man who grossed nearly $40 million in 2007 alone?

Now, I don't know how reliable this story is, partly because no mainstream media (I guess that would include me) have picked it up, and mainly because it lacks any type of attribution. 

Uncle Sam wants to shake the Pretty Boy down?

According to whom?

Did you talk to his lawyer?

His manager?

Did you speak to the IRS, or even a "source close to the story"?

We don't know because the story doesn't say.

But we do know this:

Though Mayweather claims to have become a hip-hop mogul since retiring last year, his rhyme skills wouldn't even pay my grocery bill.

Ouch.

A looming tax lein would explain why the  Pretty Boy announced last month he'd consider unretiring for a Pay Per View superfight with Manny Pacquiao.

It's a shame in a lot of ways.

That our generation's most dominant fighter might be broke.

That he may have to go back to work when he might genuinely want to stay retired.

That he might risk damaging his legacy and brittle hands to keep the taxman happy.

But his tax trouble keeps him out of the recording studio, we all win.