If you could be a professional athlete in any one major sport, what would it be?

Golf, more than enough money to leave a great life, easy schedule, long career, less grind than any other popular sport, decidedly upper middle class, and you get an assistant to carry your gear.

 

Baseball easily if I'm looking out for my longevity/money aspect. If I had to choose love of the sport then Basketball or MotoGP.

 

Soccer because it's what I'm best at and love.

Baseball next because of the longevity and you're more likely to retire in good health.

 

I'm surprised everyone hasn't picked golf. Is there any job in the world better than millionaire PGA golfer?

Golf is so popular nowadays that you get automatic rockstar status wherever you go. Have you seen the fans worshiping these guys as they walk down that 18th fairway?

You are treated like a GOD, making millions of dollars doing something that everyone else does while on vacation. Hell, even other professional athletes play on vacation. And the best part is you can play well into your 70's.

 

you sure? those are the 2 worst sports for your body

 

Golf..easily. minimum damage to your body, longevity of career..ect.

For those saying NASCAR...its the one sport where sponsorship REALLY matters. No matter how talented you are, if you don't have a sponsor..forgettaboutit.

I was shocked to see a NASCAR veteran of 30-something years pull up and leave Texas Motor Speedway because his lack of sponsorship cost him too much money..he sold his owner points to other teams..he didn't even qualify because he couldn't afford good tires or a decent pit crew. If he hadn't of sold his owners points, he would have automatically qualified. Money is EVERYTHING in that sport.

 

If you can snap your fingers and be at the top level of that sport, I'm going with Boxing. People don't realize the insane amount of stamina that goes into Boxing. After that, probably Basketball, or Gymnastics, just because it would be funny to see me competing at the top level at my height of 6'1.

 

Golf. And it's not even close...

Travel the world, make millions, play GOLF!!!!

 

I would love to be a caddy for an above average PGA player. I've caddied in the SHO pro-am and the city amateur a couple of times. Being a caddy would be hard work, but I think it would be awesome.

 

that or a greenskeeper. although that may be setting the bar a little high.

 

I don't even like baseball that much, and I'd choose it. Baseball starting pitcher to be exact. In the American League. Significant money, play only every 4 to 5 days. Don't have to hit. Yes, it's a long season, but real people have no seasons, they work all the time, so you'd still be way better off then the normal population in that regard. Also, your away trips aren't in and out so quick like basketball. You fly in, spend 3 days, then leave. You can also get some nice homestands that way.

It's the best money to activity to lifestyle ratio, imo.

If for love, I choose NBA.

 

MLB without a doubt. I would love to take the field just once as a Major Leaguer.

 

FOOTBALL (soccer to you Yanks), but the best GOALKEEPER.

I'd be wanted in many leagues.

LOL @ pairing "MLS" with Euro soccer. :grin: Come on, man... really?

 

I would choose baseball simply because I like playing it more than golf. When discussing golf salaries, however, the 50th leading money winner on the PGA tour last year "only" made around 1.8 million from the tour. The 50th highest paid baseball player made $14,000,000 and the 50th highest paid basketball player made a bit over $10,000,000.

The highest earning golfer made around 6.7 million - Alex Rodriguez made 29 million.

 

I may be waaaaay off base here, but I believe that Tiger and Phil make the most money out of all American athletes (including sponsorships), or at least in the top 10. And the number for $ the 50th ranked person makes is a little skewed because only the top 125 golfers on the money list keep their tour card, whereas there are 800 something MLB players. So you'd have to compare it to a middle of the road MLB player (which MLB still probably wins out).

 

edit: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/fortunate50-2011/index.html

 

It's Golf, anyone saying another sport is too young to understand what a grueling schedule and/or contact sport does to one's body.

 

NBA and Soccer are tied. Then probably Olympic sprinter.

 

There's so much less risk in golf though. In baseball, you really have to hit the big payday, which is SIX years after getting to the big leagues. And you have minor league stints before that. The odds that you get through all that without an injury or regression in skill isn't all that high. And even then, you basically get one big contract in your entire career.

Golf is something you can do into retirement age. And even if you have to retire because you are no longer that good, it's a much better job teaching rich people how to play golf, then trying to be a coach in baseball in the minors or college level.

 

Looking at list, there's a lot to be said for being a quarterback. Rules set up specifically to protect your health, great longevity, only have to play 16-19 games per year, and relatively easy (compared to other athletes) offseasons. And you can get into mid-10 figures? Pretty swell deal.