ACCORDING TO several Internet sites, the average high school graduate makes a little over $1 million in a lifetime. A college diploma bumps that up to $2.1 million and a master's degree adds another half-million.
Chump change to Antonio Cromartie.
The Jets' cornerback recently told Newsday that he plowed through $5 million during his first two seasons in the NFL.
That was in 2006 and '07 after he had been drafted by the Chargers out of Florida State.
"I was out of control," Cromartie said. "I had two Dodge Chargers, probably spent $100,000 just fixing them up. I had a '65 Caprice, which I spent $100,000 on. I had two BMWs, two Escalades. I remember [former Chargers teammate] Quentin Jammer used to tell me to slow down, but I couldn't do it. I just loved spending money."
Not to worry. The 32-year-old Cromartie - who signed a 4-year, $32 million deal with the Jets 2 years ago, has changed his ways.
In fact, the poor guy now drives a Toyota Prius.
"I'll fill it up every 2 1/2 weeks or so, and I'm only spending 33 bucks, while everybody else is spending 80 or 90 bucks a tank," he said. "Right now, I'm all about saving money . . . I try to put away as much money as I possibly can and live on a budget. I learned the hard way."
No thriller
College coaches have been known to make outlandish promises to recruits.
But this beats 'em all:
Da'Shawn Hand, a defensive end from Woodbridge (Va.) Senior High, is rated the nation's top player.
While chatting with Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports, he was asked what was the craziest pitch he's received from a college coach.
Said Hand: "Well, I ain't gonna say any names, but one coach told me that since I'm the No. 1 player, I'm gonna get to meet Michael Jackson. I said, 'Isn't he already dead?' The coach goes, 'Well, all right, you can meet Tito.' I was like, all right. OK, I'm done.' "