If former Buccaneers lineman Chidi Ahanotu owed child support or something that was tangible to his children well being I wouldn’t have any problems with it.
But the money is going to his ex-wife lawyer fees.
They are going through a custody battle and as you can imagine things are getting ugly. Pro Football Talk has the details:
Chidi Ahanotu, a defensive end who spent 12 years in the NFL, was ordered to surrender a ring he received for winning the NFC Championship with the 2001 Rams after a legal action taken by his ex-wife.
“This court system is a farce,” Ahanotu said. “This court wants a man to hand over his once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment to pay some damn attorney’s fees? I could see if it was going to pay something for my children or my ex-wife.”
Ahanotu tried to claim the ring was no longer his because he had given it to his brother, but the judge didn’t buy it. Ahanotu said in September that he couldn’t afford the $130,000 in legal fees that he owes over a custody battle with his ex-wife.
The interesting thing about lawyers, win, lose or draw they get paid and they get paid a lot.
I could see if this was property that Ahanotu purchased on his own. Wasn’t like he was out buying Bishop Don Juan rings, this in essence was a gift for performance on the field.
Legally it is his property, so they can go after it, but morally it is just wrong, not surprisingly the judge is female.