Athletes, we cheer them on as they fly our national flag high and we really jivunia kuwa Wakenya. Few moments come close to the sheer joy, overflowing ecstasy and undiluted happiness when we celebrate hard-earned sporting victory.
When Lebron sinks that buzzer-beating 3 pointer to win the NBA playoffs. When Jenson Button overtakes Vettel in the final corner at Silverstone to win it for Queen and country and McLaren fans. When CR7 scores a goal so sublime against Barca to take the Kings Cup trophy. When Wallaby Quade Cooper side-steps New Zealand big man Tony Woodcock so beautifully that you cannot help but Lol, stereotypes and barriers are broken and we revel in the unity that sport brings us.
Aside from the fun and games that sport brings, which it does by the boatloads, sport also generates money by the billions (of dollars). Every year, we hear of players from the Barclays English Premier League breaking transfer records. Some these athletes have amassed so much money that they can comfortably finance projects like the Thika Superhighway.
Below is a list of the 10 highest paid athletes:
1. Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) – $85 Million (about KES 7.14 billion)
2. Manny Pacquiao (Boxing) – $62 Million (about KES 5.208 billion)
3. Tiger Woods (Golf) – $59.4 Million (about KES 4.99 billion)
4. Lebron James (Basketball) – $53 Million (about KES 4.45 billion)
5. Roger Federer (Tennis) – $52. 7 Million (about KES 4.43 billion)
6. Kobe Bryant (Basketball) – $52.3 Million (about KES 4.39 billion)
7. Phil Mickelson (Golf) – $47.8 Million (about KES 4.02 billion)
8. David Beckham (Football) – $46 Million (about KES 3.86 billion)
9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) – $42.5 Million (about KES 3.57 billion)
10. Peyton Manning (American Football) – $42.4 Million (about KES 3.56 billion)
Collectively, the top 100 highest sports earners received $2.6 billion, over KES 200 billion. In other words, a lot!
Gooooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllll!!!!