Friday, July 17, 2015

FIFA, others defeat U.S. football concussion lawsuit

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit by football players and parents seeking to force FIFA and other governing bodies to change the sport's rules to limit the risk of concussions and other head injuries, especially for children.
In a decision on Thursday, Chief Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the federal court in Oakland, California, said the plaintiffs could not use the courts to change FIFA's "laws of the game," noting it was their decision to play football.
"Plaintiffs have acknowledged that 'injuries' are a 'part of football,'" Hamilton wrote, citing the complaint. "Those who participate in a sporting activity that poses an inherent risk of injury generally assume the risk that they may be injured while doing so."
The judge also said FIFA was not a proper defendant because there was "no connection" between the lawsuit and any activity that the sport's international governing body, which is based in Switzerland, undertook in California.
Claims against FIFA were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be brought again.
Hamilton said claims against bodies such as the United States Football Federation and various youth and club football organizations can be brought again if the plaintiffs show they have standing to sue, including by demonstrating injury.
"We will amend the complaint to satisfy the court's order and appeal the FIFA ruling," Steve Berman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in an email.
FIFA said in a statement that it welcomed the decision, and through its medical committee would continue monitoring issues affecting players' health. Lawyers for the other defendants did not respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuit is not related to the ongoing corruption scandal at FIFA, whose full name is Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Hamilton's 46-page decision is a setback for efforts to make football, considered the world's most popular sport with roughly a quarter billion participants, safer to play.
The proposed class-action lawsuit was brought on behalf of seven players, including four under the age of 17.
They sought a variety of rule changes, including limiting headers by players under 17, and making it easier to substitute during games for players experiencing head trauma.
The plaintiffs also sought medical monitoring for people who have played the sport since 2002. Money damages were not sought.
THOUSANDS OF CONCUSSIONS
According to the complaint, 46,200 U.S. high school football players suffered concussions in 2010, more than from baseball, basketball, softball and wrestling combined.
At least 30 percent of football concussions come from heading or attempting to head balls, the complaint said.
But only one of the seven plaintiffs claimed she suffered a concussion from playing football, and Hamilton said this appeared to be a one-time injury that ended with a full recovery.
She also called it "too speculative" to assume the other plaintiffs might suffer concussions in the future, and thus they did not deserve standing to seek rule and protocol changes.
Other lawsuits over concussions have been filed in recent years against the National Football League, the National Hockey League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
A recent settlement between the NFL and roughly 5,000 retired players could reach $1 billion.
Though the football lawsuit was dismissed, "this is not the end of the day for claims against the football federations," said Michael Kaplen, a lawyer specializing in traumatic brain injuries who teaches at George Washington University Law School.
"Groups are trying to market these sports as safe, when they are not," he said in an interview. "Unless and until officials and medical professionals testify under oath, the truth will never come out."
The case is Mehr et al. v. Fédération Internationale de Football Association et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 14-03879.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The 7 Oldest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time






Nearly all sports, when played at the highest level, are pursuits for the young. Professional careers overlap with athletic peaks, which tend to occur early, and the aging process will eventually force everyone, no matter their skill level or determination, to retire. That said, retirement comes at different times for everyone, and for every Rashard Mendenhall, who retired at 26 to travel the world and write, there’s a Brett Favre, who, well,couldn’t stay gone.
The game of football isn’t easy for anyone, and it’s particularly difficult for quarterbacks, who spend the start of every possession staring down 11 guys who are being paid to take him off his feet with extreme prejudice. When we look at the already injury-riddled careers of guys like Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin III, the idea that anyone could play as long as someone like Favre, who retired, for the last time, at 41, seems absurd. And that’s in the modern-day NFL, which is routinely dressed down as “touch football” or “flag football” by those in the fandom who don’t see why making a game safer is probably a good thing.
What’s really wild about Favre is that he doesn’t even come close to the oldest quarterbacks ever to suit up in the NFL. Using information gathered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, here are the seven oldest quarterbacks in league history.

The 10 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Second only to the U.S. President, the NFL quarterback is the most glamorous, if not important, job in the country. In addition to the hopes and dreams of his team, the quarterback carries the flag for entire cities, regions, and metaphorically, ways of life. The pressure is unreal, considering the fact that sports-obsessed Americans look to the gridiron gladiator for strength, controlled violence, and an escape from the routine fare of the daily grind. The quarterback is viewed as the one member of the entourage that combines leadership, intelligence, and strategic thought alongside brute force to control games and emerge victorious.
NFL teams sell their collective souls to trade up at the draft, or wheel and deal at the free agent marketplace to land that once-in-a-lifetime franchise quarterback opportunity. Certainly, today’s NFL fanatics are privy to the circus atmosphere that has surrounded Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. The outrageous hype is largely based on potential — for now, Manziel is the solid number 2 behind incumbent veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Sports fans, of course, recognize that the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time emerge as icons that define cities, dynasties, and eras. In order to be defined as great, the signal caller must combine top-shelf mechanics with game-time smarts and decision making. Beyond the nuts and bolts of execution, the quarterback must have “it.” Best described as the ability to win, “it” is the poise to lead comeback drives, refuse to back down from raging linebackers, and inspire offensive linemen and teammates to lay it on the line and go to war, day in and day out. Further, “it” is a style and flair that matches success on the field, with the ideals of a nation off the field.
Indeed, the term “quarterback” entices the imagination to personify “all that is right” with America. Let’s introduce the top ten greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time after the jump. All stats are from Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Which College Football Conference Has Won the Most National Title?

Which College Football Conference Has Won the Most National Titles?

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
In the constantly evolving world of college football, it has become difficult to keep track of which schools are in which conferences. What’s even more difficult is tracking national championships through the years in the division that is now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision. Prior to the Bowl Championship Series, and now the College Football Playoff, there were numerous outlets that crowned national champions, which has convoluted college football’s history books.
Using only national championships that are recognized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association, I compiled a list of the conferences with the most football national championships of all-time. It is important to note that the Ivy League no longer plays at the FBS level, but their national titles that are included were won when they were playing at college football’s highest level. Also, this list reflects current conference alignment and some national championships may have been won when teams were members of other conferences.
So, which conference has the most national championships of all-time? Here is a look at the total number of football national championships won by each conference.


Read more: http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/youll-never-guess-which-conference-has-the-most-cfb-national-titles.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3ai84e7BY

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Football star Bobby Bell to get Minnesota degree at age 74

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Most people in the University of Minnesota's college of education and human development class of 2015 will be pondering their futures.
Bobby Bell's lifelong goal will be reached by walking across the stage.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker will graduate Thursday from Minnesota, 52 years after his college career was done. The 74-year-old Bell recently returned to the school he left 13 credits short of a degree in recreation, park and leisure studies. The university guided him toward fulfillment of the promise he once made to his late father in North Carolina.
Bell helped lead the Gophers to the 1960 national championship and a 1962 Rose Bowl victory, before a 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs that included a Super Bowl title and six All-Pro selections.
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Monday, May 11, 2015

Tom Brady Suspended 4 Games


0511-tom-brady-getty-01Tom Brady has been suspended the first 4 games of the 2015 NFL season for his role in Deflategate ... TWICE the suspension the league initially gave Ray Rice for beating a woman. 
The NFL just issued a statement saying, "Tom Brady will be suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the NFL."
"Brady may participate in all off-season, training camp and pre-season activities, including pre-season games."
The league also dropped the hammer on the New England Patriots -- hitting the team with a $1 MILLION fine ... and taking away their 1st round pick in the 2016 Draft and their 4th round pick in 2017.  
The two locker room attendants who are believed to have deflated the balls have also been suspended indefinitely without pay. 
In a letter to Brady, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent explained the league found "substantial and credible evidence to conclude you were at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots’ employees involved in the deflation of the footballs and that it was unlikely that their actions were done without your knowledge."
"Moreover, the report documents your failure to cooperate fully and candidly with the investigation, including by refusing to produce any relevant electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.), despite being offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information, and by providing testimony that the report concludes was not plausible and contradicted by other evidence."
"Your actions as set forth in the report clearly constitute conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the game of professional football."
So far, no comment from Brady. 
Magic Johnson just spoke out on the suspension -- saying. "The Commissioner came down hard & fair."
Eli Manning told Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News ... "It is about integrity and you have to follow the rules. If someone’s breaking rules they’re going to get punished."
He added, " "In no way am I glad to see this happen."
Will Smith tweeted ... "Tom Brady suspended 4 games, Thats Interesting!!!!"
Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount  -- "THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! SMH 😡 #PATSNATION STAND UP!!!!!" 
Donald Trump -- "They had no definitive proof against Tom Brady or #patriots. If Hillary doesn't have to produce Emails, why should Tom? Very unfair!"


Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz3ZsMKS8bP

American Football Positions

The following diagram shows you football positions in Big Picture mode.
American football positions
For the moment, forget about the individual labels on our football positions. Just notice that the players on the field are broken up into two teams of eleven men each, the offense (who are trying to move the football down the field into the end zone) and the defense, who are trying to stop them.
Between them, as you can see, is the line of scrimmage. Although indeed there arelines drawn across the football field, the line of scrimmage is not one of them. The line of scrimmage is, in fact, an imaginary line that is used to indicate where each play will begin, with the offensive football positions set on one side of the line, and the defensive football positions set on the other. All lined up and ready to rumble!
Except when the play is begun by kicking the ball to the opposition (at the beginning of the game, after the halftime break, after points have been scored, and when the offense has failed to make the required ten yard minimum in their series of downs). Then they have a longer way to run before the . . . errr . . . rumbling can begin.
Okay, then. The first breakdown of football positions is into the broad categories ofoffensive team versus defensive team.
Within these two broad categories of football positions, there are, for both offense and defense, two more broad categories: line and backfield.
For the team on offense (i.e., the team with the ball), the responsibility of the linemen is to protect the backs so that they can get free to move the ball down the field.
The 'head back,' by the way, is the quarterback. He's sort of the general of the offense. He 'calls plays,' which means he yells out a code at the beginning of each play that tells the rest of the team what the game plan is, and what their individual assignments will be.
The responsibility of the backs is to move the ball forward either by running with it, or 'getting open,' i.e., free from the defense, so that they can catch the ball if it is thrown to them (usually by the quarterback).
Since only one player can have the ball at a time, the backs without the ball can also help protect the back with the ball, or they can be used as decoys to confuse the defense, a common ploy in American football.
Of course, the defense has the opposite assignment, i.e., they are trying to break through the offensive line and stop the backs from moving the ball.
The defensive backs are pretty much the 'opposite number' of the offensive backs, and may try to stop them by being assigned one man to 'cover' (i.e., control or stop), or by setting up zones of coverage so that the assignment passes from one defensive back to another as the offensive back moves down the field.
Now, you probably noticed that all the little players in our diagram have been labeled. But did you notice that there are a few labels left laying around (like 'Nickel Back' and 'Defensive Tackle') that haven't been stuck on any of the players?
The reason for this is that sometimes football positions are given names unique to the specific formation being used.
Formations, for future reference, are designed plays, rather like choreography in the dance world, in which positions are moved around in an attempt to gain strategic advantage.
And yes: we'll get to that. But we said we'd give you the basics first, and getting into plays and formations now would be like trying to master a souffle before you learn how to boil an egg.
Bu don't worry. You can watch a whole game without knowing if someone's a nickel back. So for now, stay with learning to recognize offense, defense, line and backfield. Unless and until you're hankering to coach the Dallas Cowboys, that's really all you need to know about football positions.
And remember: understanding the game is just a stepping stone. You'll see. Jumping from football positions to football for lovers is really gonna be a breeze!

What Football Playing Field White Lines Mean


White lines on a football field are critical to playing the game. By knowing what yard lines, hash lines, and end lines represent, you’ll have an easier time following the game.
The dimensions of a football field haven’t changed much through the years. The field has been 100 yards long and 531/3 yards wide since 1881. In 1912, the two end zones were established to be 10 yards deep and have remained so ever since. Consequently, all football games are played on a rectangular field, 360 feet long and 160 feet wide.
All over the field, you see a bunch of white lines. Every line has a special meaning, as shown here:
Football playing field
Football playing field
  • The lines at each end of the field are called the end lines.
  • The lines along each side of the field are called the sidelines.
  • The goal lines are 10 yards inside and parallel to each end line.
  • The area bounded by the goal lines and sidelines is known as the field of play.
  • The field is divided in half by the 50-yard line, which is located in the middle of the field.
  • The two areas bounded by the goal lines, end lines, and sidelines are known as the end zones.
The field also contains yard lines, hash marks, and lines marking the player benches.
Yard lines, at intervals of 5 yards, run parallel to the goal lines and are marked across the field from sideline to sideline. These lines stop 8 inches short of the 6-foot solid border in the NFL.
Yard lines give players and fans an idea of how far a team must advance the ball in order to record a first down. An offensive team must gain 10 yards in order to post a first down. Consequently, every 10 yards, starting from the goal lines, the field is numbered in multiples of 10.
In the NFL, the bottoms of these numbers are placed 12 yards from each sideline. The numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, and one 50-yard line are 2 yards in length. All these lines and numbers are white.
Hash marks mark each yard line 70 feet, 9 inches from the sidelines in the NFL. In high school and college football, the hash marks are only 60 feet from the sidelines. Two sets of hash marks (each hash is 1 yard in length) run parallel to each other down the length of the field and are approximately 18½ feet apart.
When the ball carrier is either tackled or pushed out of bounds, the officials return the ball in-bounds to the closest hash mark to where it’s spotted. Punted balls that go out of bounds are also marked on the nearest hash mark.
The hash marks are used for ball placement prior to most offensive plays so that more of the game can be played in the middle of the field, which makes the game more wide open. If the ball was placed 20 feet from where it went out of bounds rather than on the closest hash mark, offenses would be restricted to one open side of the field for many of their run and pass plays.
In other words, they would have to run or pass to the right or the left, and wouldn’thave the option to do both. But, when teams run the football and the ball carrier is tackled between the hash marks, the ball is declared dead at that spot and generally is placed where the ball carrier was tackled and stopped.

Player Positions in American Football



When two opposing American football teams meet on the gridiron (playing field), the player positions depend on whether the football team is playing offense or defense. Football pits the offense, the team with the ball, against the defense, which tries to prevent the offense from scoring. Each side lines up facing the other with the football in the middle.
The players on the offensive side of the ball include the
Quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and receives the ball from the center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it.
Center: The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. He handles the ball on every play.
Running back: A player who runs with the football. Running backs are also referred to as tailbacks, halfbacks, and rushers.
Fullback: A player who's responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners.
Wide receiver: A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play.
Tight end: A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback.
Left guard and right guard: The inner two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are to block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers.
Left tackle and right tackle: The outer two members of the offensive line.
The players on the defensive side of the ball include the
Defensive tackle: The inner two members of the defensive line, whose jobs are to maintain their positions in order to stop a running play or run through a gap in the offensive line to pressure the quarterback or disrupt the backfield formation.
Defensive end: The outer two members of the defensive line. Generally, their jobs are to overcome offensive blocking and meet in the backfield, where they combine to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier. On running plays to the outside, they're responsible for forcing the ball carrier either out of bounds or toward (into) the pursuit of their defensive teammates.
Linebacker: These players line up behind the defensive linemen and generally are regarded as the team's best tacklers. Depending on the formation, most teams employ either three or four linebackers on every play. Linebackers often have the dual role of defending the run and the pass.
Safety: The players who line up the deepest in the secondary — the last line of defense. There are free safeties and strong safeties, and they must defend the deep pass and the run.
Cornerback: The players who line up on the wide parts of the field, generally opposite the offensive receivers.

American football positions


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A diagram showing an I formation on offense and a 4-3 formation on defense
In American football, each team has eleven players on the field at one time. The specific role that a player takes on the field is called his position. Under the modern rules of American football, teams are allowed unlimited substitutions; that is, teams may change any number of players after any play. This has resulted in the development of three "platoons" of players: the offense (the team with the ball, which is trying to score), the defense (the team trying to prevent the other team from scoring, and to take the ball from them), and the special teams (who play in kicking situations). Within those platoons, various specific positions exist depending on what each player's main job is.

Patriots agree to deal with TE Fred Davis

Less than a week after being reinstated by the NFL, tight end Fred Davis found a landing spot.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Davis has agreed to a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, according to a source informed of the deal.
Davis was suspended indefinitely in February of 2014 for repeated violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. He missed all of last season.
The 29-year-old tight end earned career highs in 2011 with 59 receptions for 796 yards. Since that season he's compiled just 31 catches for 395 yards.
Davis joins a deep tight end group that includes Rob Gronkowski,Michael HoomanawanuiTim WrightScott Chandler and sixth-round pick A.J. Derby.
Once viewed as a Pro Bowl-level talent, Davis signing is another Bill Belichick special. If Davis doesn't wow, the Pats cut him and move forward. If he flashes some of his 2011 ability, they bought a bargain.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast reacts to the most recent "Deflategate" news and discusses the current state of all 16 NFC teams. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.

Odell Beckham Jr. goes wild over LeBron James winner


The Cleveland Cavaliers evened their playoff series with the Chicago Bulls on Sunday thanks to LeBron James, whose buzzer-beating jumper sealed a huge road win.
James has fans all over the world, but it's hard to imagine too many match the enthusiasm of Giantswide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who just about lost his damn mind while watching the final seconds of the Cavs' victory. Evidential proof:
Beckham's superstar status was sealed last December when James invited Beckham to dinner when the four-time NBA MVP was in town for a Knicks game. James said afterward that he "let (Beckham) pick my brain a little bit." How magnanimous of the King.
"He's just my favorite athlete," a beaming Beckham said the day after, according to the New York Daily News. "Just to be able to meet him and to be able to talk to him, and him to be able to share some words. It was a good time."
Let's hope ODB continues to document his delirious James fandom during the NBA playoffs.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast reacts to the most recent "Deflategate" news and discusses the current state of all 16 NFC teams. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW

Tim Nicot: Second Belgian player dies of cardiac arrest

Tim Nicot



Lower-league footballer Tim Nicot has become the second Belgian player to die of cardiac arrest in the past two weeks.
The 23-year-old left-back for fourth-tier Wilrijk-Beerschot was playing in a tournament in Hemiksem when he collapsed on Friday.
He was placed in an induced coma and his club confirmed his death on Monday.
A club statement said Nicot "fought like a bear" and was the "idol of our supporters".
It described him as "always in a good mood, always making time for an umpteenth selfie with a fan".
Three years ago Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, then 23, suffered a cardiac arrest in an FA Cup game with Tottenham. He was "in effect dead" for 78 minutes but survived, although he never played again.
Nicot's team-mate Wesley Snoeys said: "So many questions. Always the same question comes up: why why why? You left us far too soon. I will never forget you. Forever in my heart."
Jef Snyders, another Wilrijk-Beerschot player, added: "Football will never be the same anymore. Rest in peace mate."


Jerramy Stevens released from jail after DUI sentence

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) -- Former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens has been freed from jail in Los Angeles County after serving two days of a 30-day sentence for drunken driving.
Jail records show that Stevens was booked on Friday morning and released Sunday afternoon. He still must complete a two-year alcohol program and four years of probation.
Stevens, who's married to soccer star Hope Solo, was arrested in Manhattan Beach, California, in January while driving a U.S. women's soccer team van at night with the lights off.
Authorities said his blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit, and he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor drunken driving.
Solo was Stevens' passenger. She was suspended from the national team for 30 days for what were described as health-related issues.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Football players find no one way to train in offseason

While several of the area’s top football players use track as a way to springboard their way into the football season, it is not the only way for elite athletes to be in peak physical condition for the grueling summer months.
Offseason work is all about getting bigger, faster and stronger, and that does not have to be done with blocks and a baton.
Walk into Total Athletic Development’s new Granville facility on the average day, and the training does not look too different from what athletes are doing on the track. Owner Clint Cox began working with football players on their strength, explosion and change of direction soon after the 2014 season ended.
“If you want to run track because you love track, want to be a part of a team or play a spring sport, then run track. It could be a great sport for people,” Cox said. “If you want to run track because it will make you faster for football, there are probably other ways to do that to make it geared toward a football player’s needs.”
Cox noted the importance of avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Some of his athletes are already strong and need to increase their flexibility, whereas others need the weight training to hold up during a long fall.
Nick Showman, owner of Showtime Strength & Performance, has a mix of football players. Whereas several are working with Showman in place of competing in a spring sport, others, including Utica’s Colton Danison, are using their work with him to supplement one.
“With (Danison) specifically, he is a super strong kid, so we have to keep his mobility up,” Showman said. “We have to keep his hips and his hamstrings to where they are not too tight. His max weight is heavy right now, so it is more speed and accessory work to complement his weak areas.”
Newark assistant football coach Terrell White certainly sees benefit in keeping the Wildcats on the athletic fields so to speak. White is assisting with the track program in hopes of seeing more athletes move in that direction.
Newark plays in the Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division, one of the state’s most competitive conferences in most every sport. White said success and confidence can carry over to the following season.
“It’s still a question of mental toughness,” he said. “No matter what sport, I like the fact that they have to compete. You show up to win.”
Johnstown senior Cody Farley has nothing against track, but he simply needed a break each spring. After playing football and basketball each of his four years at Johnstown, Farley wanted a chance to move at his own pace.
That is not to say Farley was kicking his feet up. He and his football teammates, many of whom do not play a spring sport, lifted four days a week each spring.
“Once it started to get warm out, we would do agility training to work on our foot speed and off-the-ball quickness,” said Farley, who will play running back at Denison University next fall.
Farley said the informal work in the spring was a great bonding experience for the Johnnies. A tight-knit senior class fed off each other on the field while winning the Licking County League-Small School Division title.
“Because of the bonding, once actual practice starts, you know how hard you can push and how hard you can push all of the other guys,” Farley said. “It gets intense, and you don’t want your teammates to give up.”
Ask Watkins Memorial junior Evan Caniff, however, and he says nothing beats track. He can catch a kickoff at the goal line and be in the opposite end zone in less than 11 seconds.
“It helps a lot with getting a burst, so I can go from 0 to 100 real quick,” he said

Highest paid sports players in the world

Posted on Mar 19 2015 - 2:51pm by EconomicFigures
We all love sports. We all love the excitement it brings to our lives. Whether a team sport or not, we all follow the best players. We all idolize them.
Everyday, they offer us something extraordinary in their respective gaming fields. Those players are paid accordingly. Here are top 10 highest paid athletes in the world in 2014.
1Floyd Mayweather105m usdBoxing
2Cristiano Ronaldo80m usdSoccer
3LeBron James72,3m usdBasketball
4Lionel Messi64,7m usdSoccer
5Kobe Bryant61,5m usdBasketball
6Tiger Woods61,2m usdGolf
7Roger Federer56,2m usdTennis
8Phil Mickelson53,2m usdGolf
9Rafael Nadal44,5m usdTennis
10Matt Ryan43,8m usdFootball

Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (born Floyd Joy Sinclair, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxer. He is undefeated as aprofessional and is a five-division world champion, having won eleven world titles and the lineal championship in four different weight classes. Mayweather is a two-time Ring magazine Fighter of the Year (winning the award in 1998 and 2007); he also won the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Fighter of the Year award in 2007 and the Best Fighter ESPY Award in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos AveiroGOIH (born 5 February 1985), known as Cristiano Ronaldo(Portuguese pronunciation: [kɾɨʃtiˈɐnu ʁuˈnaɫdu]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid C.F. and the Portugal national team. He is a forward and serves as captain for Portugal.
By the age of 22, Ronaldo had received Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2008, he won his first Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He followed this up by winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or in2013 and 2014. He also won the 2013–14 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. In January 2014, Ronaldo scored his 400th senior career goal for club and country aged 28.

LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for theCleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and weighing 250 lb (113 kg), he has started at the small forward and power forward positions. James has won two NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA scoring title, and the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He has also been selected to 11 NBA All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams, and is the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer.