who was the world's most famous and highest-paid athlete when he joined a North American team in 1975.?
437101
Pele, the most impacting player to ever play the game. One reason he was signed to professional soccer in the U.S. was the name recognition he had with soccer fans and non-soccer fans alike. Hoping to build from this recognition, pro-soccer would have its best chance to survive in the Untied States.
668611
Just For His Shoes And Basketball Cards!!\nLeBron James hit the jackpot Wednesday night. The USA TODAY basketball player of the year from St. Vincent-St. Mary High (Akron, Ohio) signed a multiyear deal with Upper Deck trading cards and hours later inked a seven-year shoe contract with Nike. The seven-year shoe deal is worth more than $90 million, The Associated Press learned Thursday. ESPN.com said James will receive $1 million a year for five years for his image on trading cards.
442976
Basketball was probably the top sport. The 90's featured Michael Jordan, who was undoubtably the game's greatest player, and his Chicago Bulls dynasty. The team won 6 championships from 1991 to 1998, including an NBA record 72 wins in '98.
1150949
Michel G was right\nbut if you are looking for the player who won the golden shoe for scoring 7 goals (and only 7) in the world cup then he is:\nGregorz Lato (Poland) 1974
655786
a year ago David beckham was the highest paid footballer\nbut.\nduring 2006 ronaldinho signed huge contracts with Nike,Trident,lays and yes he is the highest paid player in the whole world
637469
Check this out:\n\nhttp://www.forbes.com/2004/06/23/04athletesland.html
452829
Donovan Bailey (born December 16, 1967) is a former Canadian athlete.\n\nIn June of 1997 he raced against Michael Johnson in a 150m race at Toronto's SkyDome (now Rogers Centre), in a bid to truly determine who was the world's fastest man. He won $2 million for winning that race, in which Johnson pulled up lame at the 100m mark with an injured quadricep muscle.
856374
Best athlete, when he wants to be is Randy Moss.\n\nStraight Cash Homie
307013
Brazilian Ronaldinho has overtaken David Beckham as the world’s highest-paid player, according to France Football magazine.\nEngland and Real Madrid midfielder Beckham, who has topped the list for the last three years, is now second behind the Barcelona forward and FIFA World Player of the Year.\nRonaldinho enjoyed an annual revenue of 23 million euros (16 million pounds), said France Football, which added up the salaries, bonuses, sponsorship deals and other sources of income for each player.\nBeckham follows with a total of 18 million, down from 25 million the previous year. Brazil and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is in third place, having pocketed 17.4 million euros while England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is fourth in the list with an income of 16.1 million euros.\nFrance Football also published a top-10 list for managers and coaches, headed by Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho on 10.9 million euros. England’s Sven-Goran Eriksson follows with 6.9 million.
227024
Wayne Gretzky!! He was so amazing... when I was young I used to watch him play with the Oilers and I had to find ways to watch the games cause my mother wanted me to go to bed. The stats talk for themselves. Best goalscorer, more assists than everybody has point... hold or share 61 record at the time he took his retirement on April 18 1999. It goes so fast... It will be the sixth anniversary of his birthday that day.
189439
Real Madrid and England star DAVID BECKHAM is highest paid soccer player. \nHe switched teams from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a $41 million transfer. He earns $28 million dollars a year. \n\nAs Per Forbes List\nBeckham - $28 million \nRonaldo - $19 million \nZidane -  $16 million
1132933
At the beginning of the 1971-72 season, Bobby Orr signed a contract with the Boston Bruins worth a reported $200,000 per season over five years. That would make him hockey's first million-dollar man. \n\nDerek Sanderson and Bobby Hull are widely remembered as hockey first millionaires because of the sensation they caused in the summer of 1972, when they left their NHL teams to join the new World Hockey Association. Hull's deal was worth $2.75 million over ten years, with $1 million of that paid up front. So Hull qualifies as the first guy to make $1 million in a single year. No NHL salary came close to $1 million a year back then. \n\nSanderson was only a millionaire on paper. His five-year, $2.65 million deal with the Philadelphia Blazers briefly made him the world's richest athlete. But Sanderson played only a few WHA games before returning to the NHL, so he never collected his millions. \n\nThere are reports that Bernie Parent was paid $1 million by the Philadelphia Flyers for one season in the late 1970s. But as far as I know, that has never been confirmed. It is also said that the Chicago Blackhawks paid Orr $1.3 million per year after he left Boston. But he only played 26 games over three seasons in Chicago, so there is some doubt as to how much cash he collected.
648505
Canada has two national sports.in the summer, it is lacrosse, in the winter, it is hockey.\n\nCanada is famous in several other sports as well.  In golf, some of the icons include George Lyon, who in 1904, won the Olympic gold at 46 years of age.  Some of the others icons include 2004 Masters champion Mike Weir, George Knudson, and Moe Norman\n\nA Canadian invented basketball (James Naismith) and is home of the back to back NBA MVP Steve Nash\n\nCanada has also had its share of famous baseball players including Larry Walker, Ferguson Jenkins, Tip O'Neil, and Terry Puhl \n\nCanada is very famous for curling.  Some of the great teams/individuals that have been popular in Canada include the Richardson team, the Schmirler team, and Russ Howard
691969
I still have to say that the "Miracle on Ice" was the biggest upset in sports history.  The US used amateur college kids in those Olympic games and they beat the best team in the world.  There wasn't a person outside of the United States that actually thought the US team could win the gold medal in those Olympics.
692914
Muhammad Ali was internationally known and his stance against the Viet Nam War was controversial. Not the greatest boxer, nor was he the greatest athlete, but he was fun and memorable.\n\nAgainst the ropes, Ali was easily hit. A blown up Sugar Ray Robinson, Ali would have never gotten away from Rocky Marciano, if and when Marciano pinned Ali against the ropes. Even in the middle of the ring, Marciano would take an opponent apart as Marciano took apart Ezzard Charles in their last meeting.\n\nAli/Frazier ushered in the million dollar athlete. each fighter received a guaranteed 2 1/2 million dollars for their 1971 fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. \n\nMickey Mantle, the most notable baseball player received a contract from the New York Yankees for $100,000 for the entire season, 5-6 years earlier. I believe Mantle was the top paid contractual athlete during his time.\n\nIf the heavyweight Championship of the World was fought on the same card as Muhammad Ali, it would be safe to say Ali would be the main event and the Heavyweight Championship fight would be on the under card. \n\nAli was bigger as a fighter, than anyone else during his time and combined with his name change from Cassius Clay, made Ali the talk of the town when the Civil Rights movement was in full swing.\n\nMuhammad Ali was entertaining, talented, challenging and effective as a boxer and an all around human being outside of the ring, as well as inside of the famous squared circle.
191980
Efren "Bata" Reyes of the Philippines. Already a hall of famer. Just recently won the King of the hill tournament. $200,000 price money. Earl Strickland is second from the US though Francisco "Django" Bustamante of the Phil have something to say about that.
872316
name me one player who has transformed a nation of nearlys to the top in the world. it wont happen what was his first coaching job ? his inspiration will be short lived, knowing that failure you get shot.