Most Valuable Players (MVPs): Positive Personal Finance and Economics Examples

Most lessons about sports in relationship to personal finance and economics showcase how professional athletes mismanage their millions. However, most students tend to view these same athletes as heroes and are inspired to follow in their footsteps, despite the cautionary tales. In this paper, we identify positive role models for students by showcasing athletes who are our MVPs, our “Most Valuable Players” whose stories can provide our students with constructive lessons in economics and personal finance. Our lessons and teaching tips are connected to the national standards on personal finance and economics and leverage the popularity of sports for student engagement.