Ex-NFL running back Fred Taylor forgives former agent who defrauded him of millions

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Think about your biggest grudge. Maybe it's a friend who let you down. Maybe it's a girlfriend who cheated. Maybe it's a family member who turned his/her back. What would it take for you to forgive that person? 

Now imagine if someone cost you millions of dollars. Imagine if someone deceived you, squandered your fortune, went to prison for his crimes, and nearly ruined your entire life. What are the chances you'd call him out of nowhere and forgive him? 

That's what Fred Taylor recently did. 

Tank Black leaving a federal courthouse in 2002. (AP)The former Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators great said he recently reached out to one of the most notorious scammers in sports history – Tank Black. It was Black who lost a reported $3.6 million of Taylor's money in a series of scams in the late 1990s and went to prison. He is the Bernie Madoff of sports. But this summer, Taylor said, he called Black and spoke with him for the first time in many years.

"I had to forgive him," Taylor said over lunch near his South Florida home. "I was pissed for a while. I was pissed for a long time."

Taylor did more than just forgive him, though. He said, "Thank you for helping make me the man I am."

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Taylor grew up in the money-poor but talent-rich part of Florida known as Muck City – the Everglades region that has produced NFL stars including Anquan Boldin and Santonio Holmes. Taylor was raised primarily by his grandmother, so he went through high school and most of college without a male role model. "I wasn't the most confident person in the world," he said. 

Enter Black, the former South Carolina assistant football coach who became one of the most successful football agents of his time. A large part of his credibility came from his representation of Taylor, who was the Jaguars' first-round pick in 1998. The following year, Black represented five first-round picks. He was worth a reported $100 million at one time. Taylor was so close to Black that he started calling him "Pops."

"I didn't think he could do any wrong," Taylor said.

But he did. Black was charged with money laundering by federal prosecutors in Michigan and charged by Justice Department officials with defrauding millions from several NFL players, including Taylor. At first, Taylor vehemently defended Black. But soon he found himself at a bank, applying for a $100,000 loan just so he could get through the 2001 offseason. He should have been enjoying riches beyond his wildest dreams, but instead he was scraping by. He said the only small reprieve from the constant financial fear came in the weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when teammates watched their stocks plummet and Taylor was temporarily grateful that at least he wasn't losing more money in the market. Taylor later admitted he nearly retired from football because of all the stress. 

"I didn't have mentorship in my life," he said. "I had to learn from my mistakes. But by then it was too late." 

[Michael Silver: Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert out to show critics he's not 'scared']

Fred Taylor spent 11 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Jaguars. (US Presswire)Taylor considers himself lucky. He had a long pro career, rushed for more than 11,000 yards, signed more lucrative contracts, and now owns four houses "free and clear" throughout Florida. "My only debt is my mortgage [on the house I live in now]," he said. But the memory of his financial struggles persisted long after Black was out of his life. He said he was hesitant to invest or enter into any sort of business partnership. "It made me a huge procrastinator," Taylor said. Taylor testified against Black during his trial in 2002, getting emotional when asked about the trust he placed in the agent. 

"I trusted Tank that he would do right with the money," Taylor testified, as reported by the New York Daily News. "Every so often I would ask how it was doing and I got this sheet that said a bunch of money was reinvested and reinvested, but it was make-believe." 

Still, when someone he knew told Taylor this year he had a number for Black – who served a prison term ending in 2008 and now lives in the Dallas area – Taylor decided to call. 

Before dialing, he ran the idea by a couple of other former players. 

"A couple of 'em said, 'You're out of your mind,' " said Taylor, now 36. "But it's something I wanted to do."

So a few weeks ago, Taylor called. His first question was easy:

"What happened?" 

Taylor said Black told him he was "misled into investing into a Ponzi scheme." (Black could not be reached for comment, however he did tell the Daily News in 2009 that he did not knowingly steal money from NFL players.) 

"Whether or not I believe him," Taylor said, "I don't know."

[Michael Silver: Maurice Jones-Drew unlikely to win standoff with Jaguars]

Black apologized profusely, Taylor said. Eventually, the former agent broke down and cried, telling Taylor he was his favorite client, according to the former running back. 

"I just sat and listened," Taylor said. "It didn't do anything for me. It didn't do a thing. I thank God for giving me the courage to do it. Men show up." 

Taylor said he now teaches his sons about investing as often as possible – including his oldest, Kelvin, who is committed to Florida and considered one of the top talents in the prep class of 2013. Taylor said what he went through with Black was "a blessing in disguise." 

He did not agree to talk again with Black, but he is leaving the door open to it. Taylor even said he's willing to see Black in person one day. 

"I'd take that meeting," he said.

Over Night Success?!

Success doesn’t happen overnight…does it? Being aware of “making it” in the music industry is one of the most important things to understand for anyone who is yearning to make a career out of it. Knowing that there is no guarantee of becoming successful as a musician should be one of the first things you make yourself aware of. However, there are things you can do to increase your chances of reaching your desired level of prosperity.

First off, start asking yourself what makes you different then the millions of other people making music every day? Are you versatile? What genre do you play? Can you perform? Do you produce? What other aspects of the music industry can you contribute to your success? In today’s world the best chances of success are often attributed with being multi-faceted and the ability to handle more than just the creation of music, which is an art in itself.

Everyone has heard the saying “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” and most people might not think too much about that statement and the truth of the power it holds. Many people may be waiting for that record deal or some funding to come out of the sky so they can record their big album idea. One thing they might not be considering is the preparation it takes to fully take advantage of an opportunity like that, if and when it comes. There are incredible amounts of smaller, equally valuable opportunities that have a greater probability of being landed by an independent artist and the benefits of pursuing these opportunities could lead to that “one shot” that you are waiting for.

One thing that everyone can control is setting personal goals for yourself musically. Practice learning an instrument, memorizing your songs, investing in the next level of music software/sounds for music producers, enhancing your sound, becoming more vocally diverse, taking vocal lessons, performing locally or even for small groups of family/friends, continue writing/recording songs, and engaging fans on social media sites, and many more things that are controlled by you the artist. These things will make a huge difference in your own personal and artistic development and will definitely begin separating you from the crowd of musicians that are not doing more to stand-out. 

So even though there is no clear path to overnight success, there are plenty of ways to make the dream more of a reality.

'Top Gun' director dies after jumping off bridge

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tony Scott, director of such Hollywood hits as "Top Gun," ''Days of Thunder" and "Beverly Hills Cop II," died Sunday after jumping from a Los Angeles County bridge, authorities said.

The 68-year-old Scott's death was being investigated as a suicide, Los Angeles County Coroner's Lt. Joe Bale said.

"I can confirm that Tony Scott has passed away. The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time," Scott's spokesman, Simon Halls, said in a statement.

Several people called 911 around 12:35 p.m. to report that someone had jumped from the Vincent Thomas Bridge spanning San Pedro and Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor, according to Los Angeles police Lt. Tim Nordquist.

A dive team with Los Angeles Port Police pulled the body from the murky water several hours later, Nordquist said. Scott's body was taken to a dock in Wilmington and turned over to the county coroner's office.

One lane of the eastbound side of the bridge was closed to traffic during the investigation. Cargo vessels moved at reduced speeds through the east side of the port's main channel during the search, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Investigators found a note in Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on the bridge, according to the Los Angeles Times. That note listed contact information. A suicide note was later found at his office.

The British-born Scott, who lived in Beverly Hills, was producer and director Ridley Scott's younger brother. Distinct visual styles mark both siblings' films — Ridley Scott mastering the creation of entire worlds with such films as "Gladiator," ''Blade Runner," ''Alien" and this year's "Prometheus," Tony Scott known for hyper-kinetic action and editing on such films as his most recent, the runaway train thriller "Unstoppable," starring regular collaborator Denzel Washington.

Scott was a thrill-seeker himself in his personal life, an avid rock climber who also liked driving fast cars and motorcycles. Still, filmmaking was his real thrill.
"The biggest edge I live on is directing. That's the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life," Scott said in an interview for his 1995 naval adventure "Crimson Tide." ''The scariest thing in my life is the first morning of production on all my movies. It's the fear of failing, the loss of face and a sense of guilt that everybody puts their faith in you and not coming through."

Tony was the first of the Scott brothers to enjoy blockbuster success with "Top Gun," starring Tom Cruise, the top-grossing film of 1986 at $176 million. Scott teamed with Cruise again four years later on the hit "Days of Thunder." He also had a sequel to "Top Gun" in development.

But Ridley Scott later managed more and bigger hits than his brother and earned a level of critical respect never achieved by Tony Scott. "Gladiator" won the best-picture Academy Award for 2000 and earned Ridley Scott one of his three best-director nominations; Tony Scott never was in the running for an Oscar, and critics often slammed his movies for emphasizing style over substance.

Even Scott admitted that it was a challenge to infuse drama into some of his scenarios — for example, cars racing in circles in "Days of Thunder." In an interview for that 1990 summer hit, Scott was blunt about where some of the ideas came from.

"I went back and I stole from all race movies to date," Scott said. "I took the better elements, then tried to build on them. Really, the speed, the energy and the placement of the audience inside some of the cars came in the editing room. ...

"I'm always pushing for something new and fresh in the way things are shot, and the rest happens in the editing room. ... The real speed comes from the cutters and what they do with the celluloid."

While Ridley Scott had an auspicious start to his film career with 1977's acclaimed period drama "The Duellists" and 1979's "Alien," Tony Scott bombed with his debut, 1983's supernatural romance "The Hunger," with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve.

He vaulted into Hollywood's top ranks the next time out, with "Top Gun," followed a year later by "Beverly Hills Cop II," both with producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The two brothers ran Scott Free Productions and were working jointly on a film called "Killing Lincoln," based on the best seller by Bill O'Reilly. Along with countless commercials, their company produced the CBS dramas "NUMB3RS" and "The Good Wife" as well as a 2011 documentary about the Battle of Gettysburg for the History Channel.

Tony Scott said he gained perspective by mixing things up between film, TV and commercials.
"I like changing the pace of my life, changing my discipline. It gives me ideas for how to see the world differently," Scott said in a 2007 interview.

Besides "Unstoppable," Scott worked with Washington on four other movies: "Crimson Tide," ''Man on Fire," Deja Vu" and "The Taking of Pelham 123."

In a tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard said, "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day."
Director Jon Favreau tweeted, "Such sad news about Tony Scott. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Other Scott films include "True Romance," written by Quentin Tarantino, "The Fan," with Robert De Niro, and "Enemy of the State," starring Will Smith.

Scott was married to actress Donna Scott, who appeared in several of her husband's films. They have twin sons.

Completed in 1963, the 6,060-foot Vincent Thomas Bridge links rises 185 feet at its highest point above the Los Angeles Harbor. Many have taken their lives by jumping from the span.

The bridge has been used in many Hollywood productions, among them "Charlie's Angels," ''Gone in 60 Seconds" and "The Fast and the Furious."

'Welcome Back, Kotter' Star Dies from Heart Attack

Ron Palillo -- the actor who played Horshack on "Welcome Back, Kotter" -- died this morning at his home near Palm Beach, FL from an apparent heart attack ... this according to someone close to the actor.

We're told Palillo was found by his partner of many years Joseph Gramm around 4:00 AM. Gramm called an ambulance and Palillo was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

We're told the heart attack was very unexpected. Palillo was 63.

According to one of Palillo's colleagues at G-Star School of the Arts, Palillo had appeared to be in good health ... but was a heavy smoker. We're told he had been suffering from a bad cough and had even scheduled a doctor's appointment for today.

Palillo was known for calling out, "Ooh ooh ooh, Mr. Kotter" as one of the Sweathogs on the show ... which he appeared on with John Travolta from 1975 to 1979. 

'Sparkle' Has $12 Million Opening Weekend

"Sparkle,"  Whitney Houston's final movie, grossed $12 million at the box office, according to estimates provided by the film's distributor TriStar/Sony. The tally was on the low end of expectations.

'Sparkle' Features Video: Jordin Sparks on Working With Whitney • Op-Ed: Why 'Sparkle' Will Shine for Young Women • 4 Takes on 'Something...' • Whitney & Jordin's 'Celebrate' • THR: 'Sparkle' Film Review

The musical film, which co-stars Jordin Sparks, is expected to be No. 5 at the box office when the final numbers for the weekend are released Monday. It opened on 2,244 screens, grossing $4.5 million on Friday and $200,000 less on Saturday.

Houston's previous theatrical release, 1996's "The Preacher's Wife," pulled in $7.6 million in its opening weekend in December 1996.  It would go on to gross $48 million.

"Waiting to Exhale," the ensemble drama from 1995, made $14.2 million when it opened and 1992's "The Bodyguard gross $16.6 million in its opening stanza. All of Houston's previous films opened between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

August, never a good month for original themes and characters, is typical this year with big budget sequels - "The Expendables 2," "The Bourne Legacy" - family fare ("ParaNorman 3D") and comedies such as "The Campaign." "Sparkle" was a bit of counter-programming, a plan that was in place prior to Houston's death on February.

The film was promoted to women and audiences who would connect with its music and themes of faith and family. The Hollywood Reporter reported that  74 percent of the audience was female and 62 percent over the age of 35.

Houston plays the mother of three girls who form a a singing group in Detroit. The original, featuring the music of Curtis Mayfield and the voice of Aretha Franklin, came out in 1976.

Top 10 Tips For Composers Entering The World of Music For TV

1) When compiling a showreel we think it is very important that you create one which has sound to picture, and not just audio only.  Also try to and be clear if something is a demo or a real job.  We also think it’s a good idea to use Vimeo as it is more professional, and used by most people in the media industry.. You can also back this up with compositions on Soundcloud (or similar)

2) Follow up.  Although it may sound like the basic thing in the world - when contacting Music production companies - don’t just send one email with no follow up :) Over the years we have received so many emails from hopeful composers, who never get beyond the first contact.  It’s always good to call companies and find out what they are looking for and to try and develop a relationship with people.

3) If possible go and work for the kind of company you want to get work from eg advertising agency or production company.  It may mean not starting in music straight away, but it will give you a good customer base to start with.  This is something that will reap many rewards in the following years.

4) Do some market research before you start sending examples of your work around.  Try and find out who you need to send you work to and what kind of thing they are looking for and what format they want to see it on, eg DVD, an internet link or whatever.  

5) We have also found that making a specific showreel for a specific client is a really good idea - it will help you get the most relevant work to the right people.

6) We think it’s really worth while doing some research on your clients or potential clients - looking at their previous jobs and the styles they usually work with.  We find that one good place to start your search is Linked In - which also helps you see where people move to when they change jobs.

7) There are hundreds of other composers out there all trying to get work - what is your unique angle/what will get you remembered?  Did you do a great piece of work? did you send something unsusual in the mail? did you make a funny making of video for one of your tracks - try and stand out.  Marketing yourself should take at least 50% of your time...

8) Try and get as many face to face meetings with people as you can - it’s difficult to strike up any kind of relationship on email.

9)  A lot of work is based on who you know - so, if you have the chance to socialise with people in the media, this could help a lot.  It will always be more difficult for you to start out if you live in the Outer Hebrides rather than a major City like London or Manchester.

10)  Keep practising your craft - even if it means doing low paid music for student films, or low-end TV work - the more you practise the faster you get.  You will always build up a catalogue of material, which you can re-cycle for other paid work.  Also - it’s worth saying that you are busy and working on interesting projects, remixing or recording etc.

It may take a long time before you are financially self sufficient to compose full time.  You may have to supplement your income with other types of musical work.  However if you have talent and determination it can be one of the best jobs in the world.

Tichina Arnold Ties the Knot in Hawaii

Congrats are in order for Tichina Arnold and her new hubby Rico Hines who tied the knot in a dreamy ocean-front ceremony in Hawaii yesterday.

The intimate affair was held at the Oasis Oceanfront Estate in Honolulu and was a dream come true for both Arnold and Hines who announced their engagement this past March.

"Rico and I enjoyed our fist vacation in Hawaii so we knew that we wanted to legalize our love here," Arnold told ESSENCE.com exclusively.  "However, we chose Honolulu instead of the romantic island of Maui as we knew our guests would have so many more entertaining options on this festive island."

Seventy guests were present to witness the couple's intimate ceremony. This is Arnold's second marriage.

Celeb wedding planner extraordinaire, Diann Valentine, was on hand to help the glowing couple execute their dream wedding without a hitch. Despite the busy wedding prep, Arnold found time to tweet a cute photo of her and Valentine prior to the festivities. "My wedding planner @diannvalentine looking fab," the actress wrote.

Here's to a lifetime of wedded bliss for the newlyweds!