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Professional athletes can make millions in no time, but in order to secure this kind of hefty income they will often shoot for the biggest and best endorsement deals out there. Big name athletes are usually the first to get signed to endorsement contracts, but every once in a while a big brand will take a chance on a rookie or lesser-known player and strike gold. Here are the 10 biggest endorsement deals in athletic history:

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  • Tiger Woods and Nike

    Tiger Woods is by far the most endorsed and highest paid athlete in sports history. Although Woods has lost some major endorsement contracts since his 2009 scandal, he still managed to earn an estimated $70 million in endorsements in 2010. One of the biggest names to stick by Tiger is Nike, who in 2000 offered the gold superstar a five-year, $100-million endorsement deal. At the time, this was the largest deal ever offered to an active athlete.
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  • Michael Jordan and Nike

    Before Michael Jordan reached the big leagues, Nike offered the rookie $500,000 and his own shoe line if he signed with them. This was one of the biggest and riskiest endorsement deals to ever happen to sports, especially since Jordan hadn’t played in the NBA yet and was leaning towards signing with Adidas. Jordan took Nike up on the deal and created the ever-so popular Nike Air Jordans.
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  • David Beckham and Adidas

    David Beckham agreed to one of the biggest endorsement deals in athletic history when he teamed up with Adidas for $160.8 million in 2003. This massive lifetime contract came about because Adidas feared Beckham would be persuaded to switch to their rival brand, Nike. Out of all of Adidas’ clients, Beckham is the top-selling endorser.
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  • Allen Iverson

    In 2001, Allen Iverson signed with the Sixers and signed a lifetime endorsement and marketing contract with Reebok for $50 million. Although the terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, we do know that the contract will extend beyond his career as a player. Iverson’s signature shoe “The Answer” was very successful and helped resurge Reebok’s place in basketball.
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  • LeBron James and Nike

    In 2010, basketball megastar LeBron James signed a sever-year basketball shoe endorsement deal with Nike worth $90 million. This contract was particularly huge because LeBron hadn’t played a minute in the NBA when Nike signed him. According to the Associated Press, the Nike deal includes a shoe and apparel line for James, which he has an artistic say-so in.
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  • Tony Romo

    In September 2008, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo signed a five-year, $10-million endorsement deal with apparel brand, Starter. The footwear and apparel contract is believed to be the biggest endorsement deal in NFL history. Despite his endorsement deal, Romo does not wear Starter footwear during games because the company does not have a contract with the NFL.
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  • George Foreman and Salton, Inc.

    The former heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman reached new levels of success with his popular “Lean Mean Grilling Machine,” but scored an even bigger deal by selling his name to grill maker Salton, Inc. in 1999. The company agreed to pay Foreman $137.5 million in cash and stock in exchange for using his name and image to sell food-preparation products.
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  • Anna Kournikova and Adidas

    Anna Kournikova is a highly sponsored tennis player with a wide array of endorsement deals with big name brands like Omega watches, Internet search engine Lycos and Berlei lingerie. One of her biggest and tennis’ richest deals was signing a six-year contract with Adidas worth $50 million. The catch was that in order to receive all of the $50 million, Kournikova would have to succeed on the tennis court. Since this didn’t come easy to the blonde beauty, she took home the guaranteed $3 million.
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  • Sidney Crosby and Reebok

    Sidney Crosby is one of the most endorsed hockey players in the league. In May 2010, Crosby signed an endorsement deal with Reebok worth $1.4 million a year for five to seven years. This is the richest contract the NHL has ever seen. When Crosby first entered the NHL as a 17-year-old superstar, he had a five-year, $2.5-million deal with Reebok, in addition to several other big name brands.
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  • Venus Williams and Reebok

    Venus Williams struck gold in 2000 when she signed a five-year, $40-million endorsement contract with Reebok. The endorsement came after Williams won both the Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. In 2003, Reebok decided not to renew their contract with Williams because of her inconsistent play throughout the years. However, the company still pays Williams to wear Reebok, even though she is not contracted to do so.
  • Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in an epic five-set masterpiece.  With his 15th Grand Slam title, Federer moved ahead of Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam victories in history.  Federer set a career high with 49 aces. 

    It was Federer’s sixth Wimbledon title.  He also has five U.S. Open, three Australian Open, and one French Open title.

    Serena Williams defeated Venus to win the 2009 Wimbledon Final.  Serena beat Venus in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-2.  Serena now holds a 3-1 edge over her big sister in Wimbledon Finals.  She also moved to a 6-2 record against Venus in Grand Slam Finals, and 11-10 in overall finals.

    For Serena it was her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam title.  Her serve was the difference as she fired 12 aces to set a tournament record with 72 overall.


    Atlanta’s Jeff Bennett broke his hand punching a door.  A-Rod juiced his way past Reggie Jackson on HR list.  Sidney Ponson got popped for taking a stimulant during the WBC.  Xavier Nady is done for the year.  Adrian Beltre will miss 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury.  Cleveland traded Mark DeRosa to St. Louis for Chris Perez.  Andre Ethier clubbed 3 HRs in one game.  Milton Bradley acted the fool.  Mariano Rivera picked up his 500th Save.  Roy Halladay.  Mike Lowell had fluid drained from his hip.  He also received a shot.  Khalil Greene returned to the DL because of his anxiety disorder.  The Pirates traded Eric Hinske to the Yankees for Minor Leaguers Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer.  Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL.  Carlos Beltran’s second opinion confirmed he had a bone bruise.  The Cubs called up Jeff Samardzija.  Pittsburgh sent Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett to the Washington for Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.  Mike Lowell went on the DL.  Josh Hamilton and Ervin Santana should return this weekend.  Elijah Dukes got sent down.  Mike Aviles is going under the knife to fix his elbow.  Koji Uehara’s elbow injury will cost him 6-8 weeks.  They are expandeing the All-Star rosters to 33.  The Cards signed prospect Wagner Mateo.  Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba.  The Cubs got Jeff Baker from Colorado for a prospect and sent Ryan Freel down.  Manny is set to return.  I hope he struggles like A-Rod.


    Jacksonville sent Dennis Northcutt to Detroit for Gerald Alexander.  LeSean McCoy came to terms with the Eagles.
       Calvin Pace got suspended four games for testing postive for a PED.

    Shaq will wear #33 for the Cavs.  The Pacers did not pick up Marquis Daniels’ option making him a free agent.  The Nets picked up Jarvis Hayes’.  Zo will be Miami’s VP of player development.  Reports have surfaced that Yao Ming could miss all of next year, and possibly be forced to retire.  Kyle Korver is not opting out for Utah.  The Bucks did not pick up Charlie Villanueva’s option.  The Pistons fired Michael Curry.  Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur chose not to opt out either for the Jazz.  Kobe isn’t terminating his contract early either.  Anderson Varejao will see if there is any money in the free agent market.  Corey Maggette had wrist surgery.  J.R. Smith got a 90-day jail sentence for a car accident that took his friend’s life in 2007.  Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva will sign with Detroit.  The Clippers will send Zach Randolph to Memphis for Quentin Richardson.  Ron Artest will sign with the Lakers.  Unreal.  They are going to be tough.  Trevor Ariza will replace him in Houston.  Marcin Gortat will sign with Dallas.

    The Islanders took John Tavares with the first pick.  Anaheim traded Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle to Philadelphia for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two first round picks and a third rounder.  There were a few other minor trades (swapping of picks) during the draft.  Scott Niedermayer will play again next year.  Teemu Selanne will return for the Ducks as well.  The salary cap will drop next year.  Minnesota dealt a couple draft picks for Kyle Brodziak.  Calgary landed Jay Bouwmeester from Florida for Jordan Leopold.  Calgary then signed Bouwmeester to a five-year deal.  Leopold signed a one-year deal with Florida.  Bill Guerin re-signed with Pittsburgh.  Jussi Jokinen re-signed with Carolina.  St. Louis bought out Jay McKee’s contract.  Rob Blake signed with San Jose.  Chicago signed Dave Bolland.  New Jersey signed Johnny Oduya.  Ottawa agreed to send Dany Heatley to Edmonton for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid, but Heatley rejected the trade.  The Rangers sent Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Mike Busto to Montreal for Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, and Pavel Valentenko.  Daniel and Henrik Sedin signed matching five-year deals with Vancouver.  Marian Hossa signed a 12-year, $52 million deal.  Mattias Ohlund signed with Tampa Bay.  Toronto signed Colton Orr and Mike Komisarek.  Marian Gaborik signed with the Rangers.  Martin Havlat signed with Minnesota.  Montreal signed Michael Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Jaroslav Spacek, and Hal Gill.  Edmonton signed Nikolai Khabibulin.  Atlanta signed Nik Antropov.  Boston signed Mark Recchi.  Ryane Clowe signed with San Jose.


    Duke’s Eliot Williams is transferring to Memphis.  McDonald’s High School All-American Lance Stephenson is going to Cincinnati. Coach K is not going to leave to coach the Lakers.  Holy Cross hired Sean Kearney as Coach.


    UConn’s Marcus Campbell won’t play next year.  NC State LB  Nate Irving broke his leg and collapsed his lung in an accident in which he was charged with careless and reckless driving.  Texas LB Sergio Kindle left the scene of an accident.  Arkansas kicked LB Khiry Battle to the curb after he got popped for a DUI.  West Virginia QB Eugene Smith broke his foot.
     Northern Iowa Offensive Lineman Austin Steichen was arrested for assault.
     
     
     
     

     

     


    Joey Logano won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.  He’s the youngest driver to win a Sprint Cup race.  Kyle Busch won the Camping World 200.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     

     

    Kenny Perry won the Travelers Championship.  Jiyai Shin won the Wegmans LPGA.  Nick Dougherty won the BMW International Open.  Lonnie Nielsen won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.  Tom Gillis won the Nationwide Tour Players Cup.  Ryo Ishikawa won the Mizuno Open to qualify for the British Open.  Jennifer Song won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

    Serena and Venus will meet in the Wimbledon finals once again.

    That concludes the Tidbits. As always feel free to add any stories you liked this week in sports or discuss any of the stories I mentioned.  Be sure to check out my Links Page for some great sites.

    Venus and Serena will square off Saturday in their fourth Wimbledon finals.  Venus defeated Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0 and Serena defeated Elena Dementieva 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6.  Serena leads the Wimbledon finals series 2-1 with victories in 2002 and 2003, but Venus won Wimbledon the past two years, including last year against Serena.  Overall they have split twenty head-to-head finals matches.


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