NHL player declares bankruptcy after being robbed by his parents!

Every once in a while a story like this comes out and you can't help but feel enraged by proxy. It's being widely reported that Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson has just filled for Bankruptcy after making $15.5 million over the past four seasons. You would think that would be more than enough to live a comfortable life, unfortunately for Johnson, some terrible loans taken out by his parents have ruined him financially. Johnson spoke to the Columbus Dispatch regarding his current predicament:

“I’d say I picked the wrong people who led me down the wrong path,” said Johnson. “I’ve got people in place who are going to fix everything now. It’s something I should have done a long time ago.”

Those people according to the Columbus Dispatch are his parents, specifically the Dispatch named Tina Johnson, his mother, as the primary reason Jack finds himself in this situation. Again from the Columbus Dispatch:  

Sources close to Johnson have told The Dispatch that his own parents — Jack Sr. and Tina Johnson — are among the “wrong people” who led him astray financially. In 2008, Johnson parted ways with agent Pat Brisson, who represents some of the National Hockey League’s biggest stars, including Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. With no agent and little knowledge of how the financial world works, Johnson turned over control of his money to his parents. … Tina Johnson borrowed at least $15 million in her son’s name against his future earnings, sources told The Dispatch, taking out a series of high-interest loans — perhaps as many as 18 — from nonconventional lenders that resulted in a series of defaults. Johnson has cut off all contact with his family, a source said.

One NHL executive familiar with the Johnson case spoke about the situation and his comments will likely reflect the disgust you're feeling after reading this:

“I’ve seen lots of instances of parents riding their kid’s coattails around, I’ve never seen a case as ugly as this one, where the parents took such advantage of their kid.”

You can't help but feel sorry for Johnson in this situation, despite having played in the NHL for 8 years he's still only 27 years, and made the very understandable mistake of trusting the people who should have been protecting him, not destroying everything he has worked so hard for. Image courtesy Keystonepress.