T-mac in court for Child support

[DaMan]

NBA star in Sarasota court over child support


http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070816/NEWS/708160533


Lawyers for both sides want to close court and its record to the public
By TODD RUGER

todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- Basketball star Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets spent the past two days in a Sarasota County courtroom battling a Bradenton woman over how much child support he should give her.

Attorneys for Pearl Vega, 35, say McGrady should pay child support for their daughter in line with his NBA lifestyle and $21.6 million annual income.

McGrady's attorneys say in court records that the claim is more about the mother's "desire for a high lifestyle rather than any reasonable needs of a minor child."

Attempts to settle the dispute have failed.

But both sides agreed on one thing Wednesday -- the trial should be held in secret and the court records for the case should be sealed.

They made the joint request to Circuit Judge Donna Berlin after a Herald-Tribune reporter entered the courtroom to watch the testimony.

McGrady's attorney, Mark Sessums, said in court that the case should be kept secret because it includes "extraneous matters" that if released would be "injurious to both parties."

Sessums said the issues include possible trade secrets buried in McGrady's endorsement contracts, and the privacy of the child, who was born out of wedlock in November 2005.

Berlin stopped the trial until she rules on the motion to close the courtroom and the case files.

McGrady's attorneys warn in court documents that even Vega's attorneys said the case could become a media circus. Their requests led a judge to grant a confidentiality order to protect some of his financial information from public view.

McGrady, of Texas, made $21.6 million in 2005 while Vega made $32,971, according to McGrady's financial affidavit filed in the case.

McGrady, 28, a six-time NBA All-Star who twice led the league in season scoring, also has a daughter and son with his wife, CleRenda. He married her in Mexico in September after dating for 10 years, People magazine reported.

He was born in Bartow and once played for the Orlando Magic. He was on the cover of the NBA Live '07 video game and his jersey is among the top sellers in the league.

 

[DaMan]

I just laugh at this because i remember during the kobe case, T-Mac said something like nba players need to keep the peace at home and be honest to their wives. Look at T-mac now i think that Kobe is laughing at him from Vegas.

And now we know what was causing the drama in T-mac's life during the 2005 all-star game, BABY MAMA DRAMA, lol.

 

[kennadog]

I think the child is entitled to the same lifestyle as any other Tracy McGrady children have. His other children should get the benefits of his wealth growing up, but this child should only get "the reasonable needs of a minor child?"

If that means baby's mom lives a better lifestyle, too, it's the result of what he chose to do. No one to blame for this predicament he finds himself in, but T-Mac.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think the child is entitled to the same lifestyle as any other Tracy McGrady children have. His other children should get the benefits of his wealth growing up, but this child should only get "the reasonable needs of a minor child?"

If that means baby's mom lives a better lifestyle, too, it's the result of what he chose to do. No one to blame for this predicament he finds himself in, but T-Mac.

I doubt TMac worries about the child's lifestyle. Probably more worried that mama driving around her Mercedes on her way to her $1000 spa day isn't actually contributing much to the child's welfare. Alwyas a tough issue.

 

[tyrant]

ive always felt that men who dont have full custodoy of the child should pay the child support faithfully. and if anything extra is given, it should be given to the child and not the mother. its not mcgrady's responsibility to look after his baby's mom.

 

[kennadog]

I doubt TMac worries about the child's lifestyle. Probably more worried that mama driving around her Mercedes on her way to her $1000 spa day isn't actually contributing much to the child's welfare. Alwyas a tough issue.

Yes, momma living very, very well is a likely consequence. T-Mac's wife undoubtedly has the expensive car/ luxury spa lifestyle, too. Does she contribute more to her children's welfare, therefore she "deserves" that lifestyle more?

Not only that, but T-Mac didn't marry his wife until recently. Why would one mother of out-of-wedlock child(ren) deserve the liestyle of the rich and famous more than the other? All she managed to do to "earn" it was get him to sign on the marriage license.

 

[kennadog]

ive always felt that men who dont have full custodoy of the child should pay the child support faithfully. and if anything extra is given, it should be given to the child and not the mother. its not mcgrady's responsibility to look after his baby's mom.

What would determine "extra?"

 

[PurpleHaze]

I doubt TMac worries about the child's lifestyle. Probably more worried that mama driving around her Mercedes on her way to her $1000 spa day isn't actually contributing much to the child's welfare. Alwyas a tough issue.

Seeing that the Circuit Court Judge in Florida is a "Donna" Berlin I think T-Mac is already cooked with the fork about to be sunk into his careless hide.

I doubt he's worried at all about "mama" having the ability to runaround in some everyday "Mercedes" which he would probably have no problem providing, plus the normal spa days, etc. He's worried sick over her getting a big chunk of this enormous NBA salary and giant endorsement packages which would mean she hits instant lottery multi-millionaire status with much flashier toys like a Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborgini, etc.

 

[VF21]

At this point, I'm closing this thread. It isn't about the NBA ...