Can you guess the #1 most sought after athlete, active or retired, for endorsement deals? Nope, not the golfer. Guess again. Nope, not the basketball player…well, not that basketball player. The answer? Earvin Johnson, aka Magic Johnson. Ten of the top 20 athletes on the list have retired from their primary sport and have moved into business, management, broadcasting and other endeavors, according to “Athlete Business,” a survey from TSE Sports & Entertainment, New York. The study was conducted this year among 213 marketing executives who use athletes for corporate purposes. OK you have a right to be skeptical. I know I am. Here is the full list:
1)Magic Johnson
2) Peyton Manning 3) Michael Jordan
4) Tiger Woods
5) Cal Ripken, Jr.
6) Lance Armstrong
7) LeBron James
8 ) Terry Bradshaw
9) Shaquille O’Neal
10) Charles Barkley
11) Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
12) Annika Sorenstam
13) Yogi Berra
14) Steve Young
15) Danika Patrick
16) Rusty Wallace
17) Derek Jeter
18) Tiki Barber
19) Venus Williams
20) Bill Walton
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003573841
