The importance of sponsorships to athletes

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 Athletes need sponsors to help fund their training and equipment, entrance to various competitions, food, housing, and other necessities as they strive for excellence in sports. The 2012 London Olympics is among the many events that show how lucrative sponsorship deals offset the high cost of sports. The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 40 prevents athletes from wearing logos of non-sponsors to prevent the so-called ambush marketing, which Olympic athletes deemed to be limiting their potential to receive sponsorships that were crucial in paying off the high fees. For the non-sponsors, the rule afforded them less exposure which affected their bottomline.

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In any competition, there should be a balance between the rights of the respective parties, says Paul Geoghegan, senior solicitor at Morton Fraser, LLP. The partnership benefits both the sponsor and the athlete, but these benefits entail hard work. Sports committees should help both parties experience these benefits without the expense of neither. Athletes are expected to perform well and do their duties such as endorsing products, attending PR events, and everything that will enhance the reputation of the sponsor; or else they may suffer what Lance Armstrong went through because of his doping issue.

While it is money, not talent that can pay for their necessities, athletes should never disregard their public image in signing deals. They need to ensure that the brands they signed on with don’t alter their image, but rather promote it. NFL Super Bowl Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s deal with Brad Pyatt’s athletics company MusclePharm is an example of a sponsorship that truly complements the public image of the athlete and of the brand as well.

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MusclePharm Founder & CEO Brad Pyatt said that Kaepernick’s reputation as a workout fanatic coupled with his amazing physique makes him an ideal fit for the brand. Visit this

Awesome pro athletes turned CEOs

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A career in sports won’t last forever. Athletes may be the pillar of endurance and athleticism in their heydays, but as the years pass by, they may suffer from major injuries or may need to retire from the active lifestyle because of old age.

While not a few athletes have been unfortunate to retire without a penny in the bank, there are those who have invested their money on business ventures and have succeeded.

The following are four of the most popular sportsmen who have made an impressive career shift from being athletes to entrepreneurs:

Oscar De La Hoya, the “Golden Boy” of boxing, is an Olympic gold medal winner and the youngest boxer ever to win five world titles. Today, he owns 50 percent of the international boxing management company Golden Boy Promotions, which generates more than $100 million annually, according to CNBC.com.

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American basketball legend Michael Jordan is considered as the best player in the history of basketball. His gravity-defying stunts in the court have earned him the title “Air Jordan.” Most remembered for playing for the Chicago Bulls, he is the current owner of the basketball team Charlotte Bobcats. He is also the spokesperson for Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers.

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk started his game at the age of 12 and became a professional at 14. He won 73 professional skateboarding competitions during his career and has made more than 80 tricks. After retirement, he founded two skateboarding companies, Birdhouse and Hawk Clothing. He also created the best-selling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Video game (in partnership with Activision).

Brad Pyatt is a former National Football League player who played for Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins. After his four-year career in the NFL, he founded MusclePharm, a nutritional supplements company, which has grown at an average annual growth rate of 626 percent since its inception in 2008, making him one of the youngest pro athletes-turned-entrepreneurs at the age of 32.

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MusclePharm’s official website provides more information on Brad Pyatt’s career shift, as well as a complete list of its products.