15 Signs You're a Huge Sports Star

If you’re trying to figure out whether you’re a huge sports star or not, allow me to assist you. 

Sure, if you’re a professional athlete at all, that’s a big deal. But not everyone is a bona fide star. Do you have millions of Twitter followers despite a lack of overly interesting posts? Can you tell your general manager what to do and know that he might actually listen? Do fans hand you their babies? 

If you answered no to any of these questions, you might not be as big as you think. If you’re still wondering, read on for 15 telltale signs that you’re a huge sports star.

Best Endorsement Deals

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You don’t have to scrape together endorsements contracts—marketers come to you. You’re in demand as a spokesperson, and you make the big bucks for your services.

You endorse national brands that sell shoes, sports drinks and luxury watches. You’re only doing local endorsements if you choose to, not because it’s all you can get.

International Competition

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If you’ve been asked to participate in international competition, you’re a big star. It is a great honor to represent your country on the world’s stage, and it’s an honor often reserved for the very best.

Sidney Crosby plays for the Canadian national hockey team. Derrick Rose and Maya Moore play for Team USA Basketball. Clint Dempsey is the captain of the U.S. men’s national soccer team. You get the point.

Getting Away with More

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You know you’re a big sports star if you can publicly call your teammates “soft like Charmin” and get away with it. People will just say, “Oh, that’s just Kobe being Kobe,” you know, as an example.

You’re a big sports star if you just generally get away with more shenanigans. As another example, remember the time Dwight Howard (allegedly) caused his coach to get fired in Orlando and then bailed for L.A.? Then he bailed again? But teams still want him because he’s big-time.  

Free Everything

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Despite that fact that you’re already wealthy, by virtue of being a huge sports star, people still feel the need to give you things for free. 

You know you’re a high-profile athlete if you’re constantly getting free admission to restaurants, clubs and shows. Not to mention, companies you endorse will give you free shoes, clothing and just general swag all the time. And uh, companies you don't even endorse will probably do the same. 

Badass Nickname

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A lot of athletes have nicknames, but only the biggest stars have really boss pseudonyms like Black Mamba or Megatron.

Listen, we all saw how Kenny Trill worked out. Unfortunately, this means that Paul George isn’t as big of a star as he could be. Sorry, PG-13.

Tattoo Freedom

If you’re a huge star, you can pretty much do what you want. This includes inking up your bod with silly tattoos without fear of criticism. Big-time athletes can get any tattoo they want—silly or not—and no one really says anything. 

Colin Kaepernick, a man making millions of dollars, got a “money is the root of all evil” tattoo. OK. Kevin Durant got an elaborate back tattoo that included a typo.

Another GM

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You are a leader on your team. You might be described as “another coach on the court” or a “field general.”

And not only are you somewhat of another coach, but if you’re big enough, you might even be like another general manager. You are such a big star that your team’s front office doesn’t make personnel decisions without your say so. And if you are really a massive star, you might actually have the power to veto trades.  

Kids Are Stars by Association

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When you’re famous, your kids are famous, too. I doubt anyone would pay as much attention to a 10-year-old basketball player as they do to young LeBron James Jr. There are sports stories out there about not just you, but about your kids. Photos of you and your kids appear on websites, and people know their names.

Memorabilia Is Gold

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Even in this world of increasing digitization, in which a fan is more likely to ask for a picture with an athlete than an autograph, big stars’ Herbie Hancocks are still worth a lot. 

Think about it. A baseball signed by a little-leaguer sold for over $500 recently. (Yes, it was Mo’Ne Davis, but see, she’s a big star!) And here are some other strange instances: Someone actually paid for a death threat to Mickey Mantle, signed by Mickey Mantle. Someone bought a toothpick used by Tom Seaver for $440. David Ortiz’s beard clipping are worth $10,000 to some poor sap. 

You see the point. If you’re a huge star, you could probably autograph your jock strap and get a pretty penny for it on eBay. Hell, one of Nolan Ryan’s non-autographed jock straps sold for $25,000.

Compared to Greats

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Who is better—you or Michael Jordan? You are a master of your craft—so much so, that people consistently debate about where you rank among the greatest of all time. Are you one of the top five athletes in the history of your sport? Top 10?

Debates rage on in sports bars, television studios and living rooms across the country, sometimes even across the globe. Whenever people talk about the greatest athletes to ever play your sport, you are always in the conversation.

Statue

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If a life-sized bronze sculpture of your person exists anywhere, you’re a huge star. Think about who this includes—Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Ted Williams, Bobby Orr. You are so legendary that someone decide to immortalize you forever—that’s big.

Yes, I realize this also includes RGIII as of late, but his statue is at Baylor. And at Baylor, that dude is a god.

Huge Social Media Following

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Athletes and celebrities often have massive social media followings, despite the fact that their posts aren’t any more earth-shattering than yours or mine. 

The difference is people love to have an inside look into the lives of celebrities. If you’re a huge sports star, congratulations, you’re a celebrity. LeBron James has over 17 million Twitter followers, and his posts are pretty basic—commentary on sporting events, shout-outs, posts about his kids—you know, the usual.

Non-Sports Fans Know You

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You’re a household name. You’ve reached celebrity status to the point that non-sports fans know who you are.

If someone completely devoid of sports knowledge was asked to name one player of your sport, they would probably name you. You are such a huge star that you are near synonymous with the game. Think, LeBron James and basketball or Tiger Woods and golf.

Celebrity Connection

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When you become big-time, you often get big-time friends. If Jay Z is a pal of yours or you’re dating Kate Upton, congratulations, you’re a big deal. 

In addition to this, if your smoking hot super model wife waits for you outside the locker room, you’re a big deal—heyo Tom Brady!

And I’m not saying Nick Young is superstar status yet, but he did land his girlfriend, Iggy Azalea, partly because of his smooth social media moves. When celebrities respond to your romantic advances on Twitter, you’re on your way to becoming a big deal.

$$$

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The most obvious, glaring indicator of your massive sports stardom is cash money. You make an insane amount of it—seven figures per year and then some.

When free agency comes along, you’re not out there vying for more money. Instead, you’re fighting off all the teams that want to sign you for big. We’re talking max deals, a lot of years, etc. And when it comes down to it, you are so in demand that your ultimate fate will be solely up to you.