Athletes Who Go Big in Everything They Do
Some guys and girls have a flare for the dramatic. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and new "frienemy" Adrien "The Problem" Broner are featured in the lead photo, but they aren't alone. Without trying—and sometimes while trying a lot—the athletes on this list do everything in a major way.
The list consists of standout personalities and performers from individual sports, but there are also decent contingents from the world of team sports.
Take a gander at this list of high-profile athletes.
Kobe Bryant
1 of 10
In 1996, when Kobe Bryant was 17, he took soul singer Brandy to the prom. Who does that? The Black Mamba, that's who.
Bryant isn't the flashiest guy off the court, but when it comes to basketball related activities, no player is more high-profile.
It wasn't enough that Bryant became just the fifth man to be drafted by an NBA team straight out of high school, he was also the first non-frontcourt player to have the distinction.
In 2006, Bryant scored 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors. It was the most points scored in a game since Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in 1962.
In Bryant's 20-year career, he has won five NBA championships, appeared in 18 All-Star games, won two NBA Finals MVPs and one league MVP. With that laundry list of accomplishments, it's only right Bryant receive a royal sendoff in his final season. Bryant's farewell tour has featured countless tributes and tons of attention.
What else could you expect from a culmination of one of the most storied careers in the history of American sports?
Adrien Broner
2 of 10
Anyone whose nickname is "The Problem" intends to make waves in his profession. Adrien Broner is a personality that boxing fans either loathe or love, and there doesn't appear to be an in between.
The 26-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio, native has already won four world titles in as many weight divisions.
Most recently, he won the WBA Super Lightweight title when he beat Khabib Allakhverdiev, via 12th-round TKO in October 2015. Unfortunately, Broner doesn't just do it big when it comes to boxing accomplishments.
It would appear The Problem does it pretty big when it comes to his diet during training sessions before fights. Broner lost the WBA title by missing the 140-pound weight limit before his April 1st defense against Floyd Mayweather Jr. protege Ashley Theophane. Broner won the fight despite losing the title. Per Laceup Boxing, Broner weighed a whopping 171 pounds after rehydrating before the fight.
This was the second time Broner has lost a title on the scales. He was stripped of the WBO Super Featherweight belt for missing weight before his win over Vicente Escobedo in 2012.
Shortly after missing the weight, Broner tweeted an image of a Twinkie, confessing he was "addicted."
Broner has been accused of trying to copy Mayweather's in-ring style and swag outside of the ring. Most would say he's definitely fallen short between the ropes. Mayweather and Broner were once friends, but they are now feuding.
How big is the beef? Broner called out the former pound-for-pound champion after his win over Theophane. Mayweather laughed off the challenge, but Broner wouldn't be himself if he didn't go after the biggest fish.
Broner's in-ring antics include regular dance routines and other gyrations. After he wins, he often has his father brush his hair. The Problem once faked a wedding proposal to his longtime girlfriend in the middle of the ring. Recently, he went to Walmart to throw money at the cashier. (Warning: link to video that contains NSFW language.)
That didn't win him many fans, but it did garner more attention. That's exactly what The Problem craves.
Russell Westbrook
3 of 10
Have you ever seen Russell Westbrook dunk the ball softly? Have you ever seen him dressed modestly? The answer to both of those questions is probably no.
Westbrook has big game and flashy clothes, but he also has a healthy desire to contribute through charity work. His foundation is called Why Not? Per the foundation's website, its mission is as follows:
"to inspire the lives of children, empower them to ask “Why Not?” and teach them to never give up." Westbrook has his haters. Critics say he's not a real point guard. They say he takes shots from superstar teammate Kevin Durant.
There could be some truth to those critiques, but there's no denying his passion.
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Serena Williams
4 of 10
Behind a terrific power game that is spurred by one of the biggest serves in the history of women's tennis, Serena Williams has enjoyed one of the most accomplished careers ever.
Williams has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles in her career. Despite the fact that she's 34 years old, Williams is likely to be the favorite to win the remaining three Grand Slam events in the 2016 season.
Williams was recently named the Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year (2015).
Her on-court exploits are enough to make her arguably the biggest female superstar athlete in the world. Williams has made her mark in the fashion world as well.
She has turned heads with some of her tennis outfits, and she even has her own line on the Home Shopping Network. Williams has built a brand that could remain influential even after she has retired.
CM Punk
5 of 10
During his WWE career, CM Punk rose to fame on the strength of his diverse in-ring ability and his compelling mic work. Love him or hate him, Punk is the type of speaker who commands attention when he speaks.
In one of the best story angles the WWE has seen in the past 15 years, Punk delivered his now famous "pipe bomb" speech. Punk used real-life frustrations with the WWE in a storyline and it precipitated a great program with John Cena.
Punk won the WWE title and threatened to leave the organization with the belt.
Obviously, it was an angle, but Punk may have influenced his own storyline as much as any Superstar of his era. As most know, he has left the WWE to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist with the UFC.
Most times that transition works the other way, but Punk is a trailblazer. His announcement was made during the UFC 181 pay-per-view. The announcement was bigger news to casual fans than Robbie Lawler's title-winning performance over Johny Hendricks on the same night.
Despite the fact that Punk is 37 years old, he's yet to make his UFC debut. However, when he does, expect it to be one of the biggest debuts in the promotion's history.
Yoenis Cespedes
6 of 10
Yoenis Cespedes bought a 270-pound pig at the New York State Fair for $7,000. That's a pretty big purchase—literally and figuratively. Cespedes has made a habit of making big purchases.
A portion of Cespedes' huge automobile collection was on display during spring training. If most people owned just one of the cars Cespedes trades in and out, then they could scratch a major item off their bucket lists.
Cespedes can hit and throw a little bit, too. It's widely known around the majors that you don't run on the Cuban's arm. He has 48 outfield assists in just four major league seasons.
In his major league career, he's averaged a .271 batting average, 30 home runs and 103 RBI per season. That's how he procured a three-year, $75 million deal from the New York Mets this winter.
Conor McGregor
7 of 10
No MMA fighter has ever had pre-fight press conferences like The Notorious Conor McGregor. You never know what he's going to say or do.
He is hands-down the biggest and best trash talker in the UFC. His Octagon and mic skills have afforded him luxuries like the ones he captured in this recent tweet about automobile choices.
The Irishman is the current UFC featherweight champion after putting Jose Aldo to sleep with a left hook just 13 seconds into their much hyped meeting at UFC 194.
Even when McGregor loses, he does it in grand fashion. The Notorious one was scheduled to challenge UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos for his title at UFC 196, but the latter had to pull out with an injury.
McGregor fought Nate Diaz at 170 pounds instead. That's a full 25 pounds heavier than the featherweight division. Diaz gave McGregor a lesson with his fists and choked him out on the ground. However, if there's such thing as a respectable loss, McGregor's defeat to Diaz was it.
Most fighters wouldn't even attempt to go that far up in weight. Even fewer would be looking to rematch their conqueror so quickly. That's exactly what McGregor is set to do. He will take on Diaz again in the main event at UFC 200 in July.
Per UFC President Dana White, win, lose or draw, McGregor's next fight will be against the winner of the Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo bout that is also scheduled for UFC 200.
McGregor's big year continues.
Cristiano Ronaldo
8 of 10
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a lot of goals and he has a lot of cars. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is one of the reported 19 exotic vehicles that the Real Madrid star owns.
Cars aren't the only lavish possession Ronaldo owns. His $6.8 million home in Madrid is amazing. If you click the link, you can see Ronaldo give a tour of the Spanish mansion. Does anyone actually need that much house?
Of course not, but when you're as gifted as Ronaldo, and you're the third wealthiest athlete in the world, per Forbes.com, why not splurge on a pad? Ronaldo doesn't just spend his money on cars and houses.
Per The Daily Mail, the 31-year-old star was voted the world's most charitable athlete. That's a pretty phenomenal distinction and one he should be as proud of as any he's earned on the pitch.
LeBron James
9 of 10
LeBron James' talent is second to none. The next statement will draw tons of criticism, but it's true: There's never been anyone in the NBA as big, strong, fast and skilled who also possesses the leaping ability that James does.
Because of that, he's the best physical specimen in NBA history.
James has been using his physical gifts to do big things since he was 15 years old. At that age, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the caption read, "The Chosen One."
When he began his NBA career, he signed a $90 million shoe deal with Nike and has since inked a lifetime contract with the company. According to Forbes, it is the largest endorsement deal in the shoe company's history.
LeBron's exits from teams are also a big deal.
When he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat in 2010, he turned the announcement into an hour-long special called The Decision. The show and the announcement turned James into one of the most hated men in sports, but he won two NBA titles alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach.
He left Miami to return to the Cavs in 2014, and that was almost as big of a deal. Let's face it, everything James does is blown up. That's the reality when you've been performing under the spotlight for the past 16 years.
Floyd Mayweather
10 of 10
As much as Broner tries to copy the Mayweather blueprint to untold riches in the sport of boxing, he can't quite capture the essence of Money.
Mayweather is the villain, and he embraced this role early in his career. He dropped the pretty boy persona he came into the sport with and adopted the moniker "Money," and he has taken it to the bank.
According to Forbes, Mayweather is the world's richest athlete. In case you didn't know, Mayweather never hesitates to remind you. Whether he's using Instagram to show you his cars, private jet or cold hard cash, Mayweather has no problem showing off his wealth.
Throughout the middle and latter portions of his career, Mayweather has been paid handsomely for his masterful skills in the sweet science, but it was his epic clash with Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 that solidified his status as the highest earning boxer in history.
Mayweather made an estimated $700 million during his career, per Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes.
With the Pacquiao fight and his supposed farewell bout against Andre Berto in September 2015, Mayweather made a reported $300 million last year, per Badenhausen. Love him or hate him, there's no denying Mayweather's business acumen and boxing genius.
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