Former New York Giants superstar
Lawrence Taylor has found himself in a difficult situation.
Taylor has been accused of soliciting sex from a 16-year old girl in a hotel room in Manhattan. This incident is the latest in a long line of problems for the former National Football League MVP, who has a history of drug addiction. It appeared that Taylor was cleaning his life up, so the latest tragedy is sad to witness for those who've learned to love him once again. But then again, he is innocent until proven guilty, so we all must keep this in mind.
This recent string of events is going to have a huge financial cost for Taylor, and I thought it might be interesting to talk about some of the financial hurdles associated with allegedly being caught with your "pants down" (pun intended).
Tiger Woods might also be able to relate to an even greater cost for a sex scandal. Woods started 2009 as the highest paid athlete in the world and has since lost nearly all of his major endorsements. Of course, many would argue that infidelity is not nearly as bad as rape, but when it comes to seeing your brand go up in smoke, both Woods and Taylor have felt the misery up close.
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Blacks in the News
Usher Raymond IV attends the 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards Scholars Lecture at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on May 6, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards - Reception Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Detroit, MI United States May 6, 2010 Photo by Monica Morgan/WireImage.com To license this image (60375984), contact WireImage.com
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Blacks in the News
This May 6, 2010 photo shows note written on the back of a photograph from Yolanda Lancaster to her mother Juray Tucker in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
In this May 6, 2010 photo, Juray Tucker wipes a tear from her eye as she speaks about her missing daughter Yolanda Lancaster in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
In this May 6, 2010 photo, Juray Tucker speaks about her missing daughter Yolanda Lancaster in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
In this May 6, 2010 photo, Juray Tucker speaks about her missing daughter Yolanda Lancaster in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
In this May 6, 2010 photo, Juray Tucker walks to her car where a flier of her missing daughter Yolanda Lancaster is taped in the window, in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
In this May 6, 2010 photo, Juray Tucker holds a photograph of her missing daughter Yolanda Lancaster in Tarboro, N.C. Since 2006, nine African-American women have disappeared near the small central North Carolina city of Rocky Mount. Seven bodies were found along rural roads or in woods outside town, most so decomposed that investigators couldn't tell how they died. At least one of the women was strangled, and all the deaths have been classified as homicides. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Blacks in the News
Usher Raymond IV attends the 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards Scholars Lecture at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on May 6, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards - Reception Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Detroit, MI United States May 6, 2010 Photo by Monica Morgan/WireImage.com To license this image (60375984), contact WireImage.com
Blacks in the News
Usher attends the 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards Scholars Lecture at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on May 6, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. 12th Annual Ford Freedom Awards - Media Roundtable Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Detroit, MI United States May 6, 2010 Photo by Monica Morgan/WireImage.com To license this image (60373904), contact WireImage.com
Blacks in the News
Dozens of gravestones were uncovered at the old Johnson Cemetery, a historic African American cemetery, during a recent cleanup, April 28, 2010, in Camden, New Jersey. (Tom Gralish/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)
Blacks in the News
The tombstone of Private George Lodine was one of those uncovered in the old Johnson Cemetery, a historic African American cemetery, during a recent cleanup, April 28, 2010, in Camden, New Jersey. (Tom Gralish/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)
Blacks in the News
Starting from the simple to the complex, let's lay out the financial costs for Lawrence Taylor's rape allegations:
1) Alleged cost of the prostitute - $300: According to court papers filed in Manhattan, Taylor paid $300 dollars to have sex with the 16-year old girl. For some reason, Taylor allegedly paid double the going rate for a prostitute in Manhattan, which is (according to court documents), $80 for oral sex and $150 for intercourse. Not sure why he might have paid double, perhaps he's just that generous.
2) Attorney's fees - hundreds of thousands: According to Lawyers.com, the national average hourly billing rate for an attorney is $284. But you can bet that Lawrence Taylor is probably not hiring average attorneys for a mess of this magnitude. In addition to this, New York tends to overprice everything, so I wouldn't be surprised if a long legal mess costs Taylor several hundred thousand dollars.
3) Loss of endorsement deals - unspecified: After the charges were filed, Taylor immediately lost his endorsement deal with Nutrisystems. He probably also lost any pending endorsement deals he was working on behind the scenes, as well as any commentator positions or acting jobs (yes, Taylor was working to become an actor). I wouldn't be surprised if the losses are in the millions, since Taylor's name was just starting to mean something again. In some ways, he was an athletic version of Todd Bridges (who played Willis on "Different Strokes").
4) Cost of a possible civil suit - millions: No matter the outcome of a criminal trial, the victim can also sue you in civil court (that's how they brought down the other athlete-turned drug abuser, OJ Simpson). In some cases, the civil trial can be more financially-devastating than the criminal trial. This young girl and/or her parents may try to make Taylor pay an even higher price after all this is over. Where were this girl's parents anyway? Yes, it's sad to see a 16-year old girl out in the streets, having to choose between an abusive pimp and old men who want to sleep with her. It truly breaks my heart.
5) Cost of a divorce - depends on what's left over: I was shocked and amazed at the way Lawrence Taylor's wife vehemently defended her husband on television the other day. While a man can only dream of marrying a woman who is so unquestionably loyal to him, the truth is that I was concerned about her connection to reality. Not to say that Taylor isn't a reformed man, but was this woman actually aware of the fact that she might be mistaken about her husband? We all know that some married folks keep very dark secrets. Either way, if she does decide that her husband actually committed the crimes he is accused of, she may file for divorce. In that case, she will be able to take a huge piece of whatever financial resources Taylor still has in his possession.
6) Price of lost respect from adoring fans and his children - Priceless: Lawrence Taylor was our hero. But then again, for many of us, he always will be a legend, because we only had to tolerate him on the football field. But should it turn out that he is guilty of this latest set of accusations, it will disappoint us all, especially those who love him. Taylor will lose the trust he'd spent years regaining from his children, family and close friends. There's no way to put a dollar figure on that.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, "Black American Money." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (21)
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By: oooozzzzz on 5/09/2010 12:01PM
And the obvious response to this is: So What and who cares?
Who (and why) feel sorry for Lawrance Taylor or any other high profile athletes/businessman/educator/whoever who will lose millions of personal dollars, his endorsements, his family and his public image especially in the case of raping somebody?
Why does money and the fact that's he's famous(or any other pro athlete), always have to be a "main" issue in these cases of pro athletes screwing up?
If Lawrance Taylor did not/does not care about any of those things you mentioned, then why should we care?
And the point you made about "It appeared that Taylor was cleaning his life up, so the latest tragedy is sad to witness for those who've learned to love him once again.".....was just that, an "appearance" to do so in order to get that "love" so that he can cash in and make more money (what I call a hustle) but not change his ways. Famous people do it all the time especially when they are in financial trouble andfor those who don't know, Lawrance Taylor is currently (before this happened) financially broke.
The main issue is the criminal act that he committed, not how much it will cost them personally, in terms of dollars that surrounds all the other points (divorce, endorsements, image etc) that you wrote about.
This is about sexual socilitation and rape, pure and simple. Just do a "double take" second look and examine what you are "focusing on" about the criminal act of sexual socilitation and rape:
Alleged cost of the prostitute - $300
Attorney's fees - hundreds of thousands
Loss of endorsement deals - unspecified
Cost of a possible civil suit - millions
Cost of a divorce - depends on what's left over
Price of lost respect from adoring fans and his children - Priceless
And once again,the answer is "so what" and "who cares" Lawrance Taylor is not the victim here, the underage, 16 year old girl that he paid for sex and raped is so stop trying to make "the BV public" feel sorry for a 51 year old, ex-pro athlete, married man who can't stop living in the past, continues to act like a 20 year old, can't get his shyt together and KEEPS ON FORGETTING that's he's married with wife & responsibilties?
If Black Joe Public takes the exact same approach that Lawrance Taylor did and he faces the same possible fate, Black Joe Public will not get the same emotional benefit nor the same analysis that you gave ex- pro football star, Hall Of Fame Lawrance Taylor eventhough Taylor and Joe Public did the exact same thing. You would instead, go the normal direct route and straight villify Black Joe Public as a deviant criminal cancer in the Black community who should get the max penalityin prison for this crime.
You don't care or give two cents about what Joe Public paid for sex, how much of his hundreds/thousands of dollars that he loses,how much his attorney will cost, his possible law suit, his possible divorce and the lost of respect from his family and friends. No, all Joe Public will get is his picture in the local paper,the outrage and a bus ride to prison.
All this because Joe Public is not rich & famous. If that is not being a hypocrite then I don'tknow what is.
That just begs the question Boyce Watkins, PhD, your publically famous and well known (in some circles), and I'll guess you "got some money" and since you took the time to focus on this........
Are you worried about the things that you are doing?
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By: tabia on 5/09/2010 12:26PM
what the heck was he thinking?
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By: Wilson on 5/09/2010 5:26PM
This guy makes wrong decisions, and thats the bottom line.
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By: joe caprio on 5/09/2010 5:30PM
The law says he is guilty whether he knew the girl was 16 or not, but what the fans want to know is did he know? After prison, he can look forward to a life of emptyness, and worthlessness irregardless of whatever fame he has achieved. No one gravitates to a child rapist in the civilized world,whether he knew it or not. That said,the police say he in no way harmed the girl outside of what he is charged with.I dont think this guy is a rapist but a guy paying for sex and killing time his way, during trips. His way cost him a life sentence in the court of public opinion.This case should be a beacon to athletes and business men alike.When your away on business, you better know the business your getting into.
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By: reginald on 5/10/2010 6:23PM
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS RAPED THOUSANDS OF REAL YOUNG CHILDREN AND I DON'T HEAR OR SEE THE LEVEL OF OUTRAGE THAT L T IS GETTING.THE AGE OF CONSENT IN NY IS 17 THE GIRL TOLD HIM SHE WAS 19.ALL YOU PERFECT PEOPLE LIKE THE ONE WHO MADE THIS STUPID COMMENT OUGHT TO KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE JUDGING A BLACK MAN,ALSO I HAVE NOT HEARD A PEEP OUT OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS WHEN THE WHITE QUARTER BACK WHO JUST RECENTLY WAS NOT CHARGED OF RAPING 3 WOMAN AND GOT OFF WITH A 6 GAME LAYOUT.THERE ARE TWO SETS OF LAWS ON THE BOOKS,ONE FOR WHITE MEN AND ONE FOR BLACKS.REMEMBER KOBE..
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By: EB on 5/09/2010 7:22PM
I hope that this is a final wake up call for everyone regardless of economic or social status, who don't believe that what you do in the cloak of darkness won't come to light.
If he paid $300, then where is the rape? Is the prostitute being charged as well?
I read where a young girl high school girl in the Houston, Texas area was found beaten to death in the back of a car in Mexico. Two affluent Mexican businessmen were killed with her. The girl supposedly had posted on her face book page that she was going to become a human smuggler.
So where is the mindset now among so many people?
However, Guilty or not, rape or not, I do not believe that Lawrence Taylor will ever recover from this incident, and the young lady will eventually end up as a center-fold in some magazine.
Lawrence Taylor now permanently represents the "disrespect" for fame and fortune, and sadly, he is just another among many who has been ccaught, and just think of the number who haven't been. Yet, in some tiny way I feel sorry for him and especially his family because he must have used some kind of new crack that instantly fried each and every brain cell in his head.
But how can we stop this epidemic among these young girls, and boys, who think that prostitution is their only way to live?
The only good thing is the possibility that aspiring young atheletes will learn from the mistakes made not only by Lawrence Taylor and other high profile atheletes, but also from the sex scandals caused by politicians and businessmen as well.
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By: Marsha on 5/09/2010 7:54PM
You know Dr. Boyce I found your first "point" if you want to call it that, very crass and insensitive!! Was it really necessary to mention it in the first place?? The girl is 16 years old for crying out loud!! He' 51. Rather he paid for it or not it's still statutory rape!! I know they say prostitution is "the world's oldest profession" and I know grown women, for the most part are the "employees". But to me it is the world's greatest exploitation of women, whether they are willing participants or not!! You would think a man who has daughters such as yourself would be a little more careful in choosing your words. Please be more careful.
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By: Kelly S. on 5/10/2010 2:23AM
he allowed the little head too do the thinking instead of the bigone on his shoulder
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By: jimydancer on 5/10/2010 9:22AM
But to me it is the world's greatest exploitation of women, whether they are willing participants or not!
this kind of denial has done more to hurt women in recent generations than most issues they confront. "Willing is willing" and not gender specific. There are unmentioned male prostitutes in your analysis of the issue. But women are going to have to take some responsibility for their actions and that young and " old "!
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By: Marsha on 5/10/2010 10:57AM
yes, i agree with you. Just as there are men who are physically abused and it does not make it right that it happens to them either. But while we are eluding to the issue of a double standard how about when men are overlooked and even praised for sleeping around while women who do the same are called sluts?? I am not in any way saying that we all don't need to take responsibility for the decisions we make in our lives. My main goal was to address the fact that I thought the author was a little crass in his commentary. That's all.
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