"Game Recognize Game"

"JaMarcus Russell was the king of bling but is now already out of the league!"

I wrote an article entitled "Starting Off On The Wrong Foot" which was simply about pro athletes, specifically the young NFL draft picks, that are shining(wearing expensive jewelry) before the checks come in. This isn't just a problem with professional athletes, we see this behavior within our society as well. Everybody wants to look like they've got money but don't understand the game.

We always hear the phrase "Game Recognize Game" but so few people understand what that really means. Let's peel the onion back to see what it really looks like. When you've got money people with money recognize that. You don't have to put on a watch with diamonds all over it to prove to people with money that you've got it. You look stupid because people that are financially savvy understand how bad of an investment that watch really was.

The only people you are impressing are those that don't have money and that isn't the crowd you're trying to get respect from. People that are on your level understand what expensive things look like without all of the flash. For example, if I pull out a MONTBLANC pen I don't have to explain to folks what it is or how much it costs because people with money already know. Simply because they shop in the same places or perhaps browse in the same stores.

If you go out and buy the Gucci hat, belt and shoes and wear them all at the same time to prove to folks that you've made it, you simply haven't because you don't understand how stupid you look with all of that on. It's not about having those items, it's about understanding how to wear them.

Your goal isn't to impress people that have less money than you. You simply want to be respected by your peers so you don't have to buy the item that has the label plastered all over it. Your peers recognize that the shoes that you may have on are top shelf without seeing the label because they shop in the same stores.

So when I saw the young guys at the NFL draft in April "shining", I simply shook my head because many of them will never become millionaire's at all because they don't understand the game. They'll sign million dollar deals but because they're goal is to impress people with less money, they'll  fail to play on the level of true millionaire's.

When you get to a certain level financially, you should be hanging and living within the same  financial environment. So therefore, you shouldn't feel the need to impress those around you because they've got the same financial means that you do. If you still have the mentality of trying to one up folks, you're not in the same game as the real ballers. A pro basketball player doesn't have to prove to other pro basketball players that he can dunk!

"Ask me too"

 Just ask JaMarcus Russell about trying to impress the wrong crowd. He made $32 million guaranteed and he's out of the league already. Also at the rate he's spending money, he'll be out of that soon. This guy wears $10,000 minks while  playimg in Oakland and he's from Mobile, Alabama. There's no reason for him to even own a mink coat. Bling and money can't occupy the same space! You'll either have one or the other.

How many times has someone just volunteered pricing information to you that you didn't ask for? "Man I paid $400.00 for this shirt" etc. They were simply trying to impress you. However, if you were on the same level, you'd already know how much the shirt costs because you shop in the same stores. Do you follow what I'm saying? It's OK to buy nice things or even expensive items every now and then but only buy the things that YOU truly want or like. Don't buy items with the logo plastered all over it to try to impress your peers because you end up looking like an idiot. Remember, "Game Recognize Game".


Holla At Ya Boy!
Jay Graves
 Twitter: @jaygravesreport