Greg Oden Passes on NBA’s Lavish Life

As the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, Greg Oden is going to make over $4 million this season. He’s also getting loot from endorsement contracts with Topps Trading Cards, 2K Sports and Nike but if you see him walking on the street you couldn’t tell. He still lives with his mother, drove his mom’s Ford Taurus up until last week, and sports no jewelry. In a recent feature story in the Oregonian Oden and people around him have said his fame is not getting to his head.

"How many No. 1 picks would be driving a Ford Taurus?" Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno asked the Oregonian. "He's not really caught up in all the hype, and that's nice. I think the NBA needs that. A lot of these guys are caught up in the wrong things: money and cars and bling. Greg's just a good dude; a down-to-earth kid. I don't think he'll let the money or the fame change him, which is rare in the NBA."

But his family sure has changed. Although his mother helps him manage his finances, only giving him $10,000 every two weeks, Oden’s extended family has been bugging him for more cash, even though he’s blessed them with a bunch of money already.

"I didn't expect that at all," Oden told the Oregonian. "I thought my family was cool. You hear stories, but I'm like, nah, my family is cool. They were living with a lot less money than what I am hooking them up with. I'm like, 'You can make (the money I give you) work.' I'm getting $10,000 and I bet you I won't use more than $2,000 of that every two weeks because I don't need it and they don't either."

Hey Greg, any of that cash that you “don’t need”, you can send our way!

There’s this website called TheGoal.com that’s been around for awhile. The website features Christian athletes and their struggles, successes, and life stories. Some of the folks featured include Dwight Howard, Ray Buchanan, Reggie White, Tony Dungy, Dee Brown and others. Shaun Alexander recently shared his story on the website.

“Easter Sunday, when I was 10 years old, changed my life forever,” Alexander wrote. “I remember the singing, dancing, and preaching was amazing. I asked my mom about everything that was happening in the church. She told me, ‘Everybody is going through something, coming out of something, or preparing for something, and they are all thankful that Jesus is in control.’ I told her I want to know this Jesus. I joined the church, gave my life to Christ, and said my first prayer, ‘Lord I don't know much, but I do know how to be obedient.’ That set me on the course to be who I am today.”

The website features dozens of stories and testimonies from professional athletes from nearly every sport. Yes, even cheerleading, luge, table tennis, archery and cricket. Even something called goalball, a sport for blind athletes, is represented on the site.

Pacman Jones signs contract with TNA Wrestling

When word got out that Adam “Pacman” Jones may use his downtime from an NFL suspension to dabble in the professional wrestling world, the NFL laid down its hand; stating that Pacman was not able to participate in any non-football activities that could cause injury. That didn’t bother Jones any since he just signed a deal with TNA Wrestling.

"I am a big fan of wrestling, so I wanted to give it a try," Jones said in a statement. "I respect wrestling and I'm not coming in like it's just a show. I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete."

Pacman will make his debut tonight (August 9) on Spike TV’s TNA iMPACT show and then appear in a pay-per-view TNA show on August 12. TNA officials did not comment on Pacman’s involvement in the show, whether he would wrestle or not, but they did say he was going to be involved in a story line. We’re pretty sure he’ll stay out of the ring even though he does need some sense knocked into him.

LeBron signs NFL rookie to marketing contract

Looks like LeBron James wants more than basketball endorsement money, he’s looking to tap into the NFL as well. A couple of years ago, James launched LRMR Marketing, a sports marketing company, with three childhood friends to further his profile in endorsement and business deals. Now he’s signed Miami Dolphin rookie wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to five-year $13 million deal.

"To do this, not so much for money but to maybe get on a Sprite commercial with LeBron or anything, that'd be fun," Ginn told the Associated Press. "A lot of football guys don't get a lot of marketing their first couple years coming out. You've got to do big things to do that. [LeBron] has been a good friend to me for the last four or five years, so the best thing for me is get involved with someone I know."

LRMR is looking to enhance Ginn’s image, who played wide receiver for the Ohio Buckeyes, as well as try to hook him up with a shoe and apparel deal. Ginn and James have been friends for several years.

Willie McGinest signs endorsement deal with MyoMed

Willie McGinest is now entering his 14th season in the NFL, his second with the Cleveland Browns, so it’s possible that the veteran linebacker might have experienced some bumps and bruises here and there. So now he has the hook up on some pain cream, signing an endorsement with MyoMed All-Natural Pain Cream.

"After 14 years in the NFL, I understand pain and how to put it away with MyoMed,” McGinest said. “Part of being strong on the line is being able to move free without pain slowing me down. Early in my career, I started working on natural ways to keep my body healthy and mobile. I wanted a good career in the NFL and a good life after the NFL. The long-term effect of managing my pain with MyoMed is simple - I'm going to live a long, healthy life."

McGinest will be pushing the pain cream in various print ads and other media outlets.