celebrity header corner
NFL Golfers Making a Difference Leveraging the Intersection Between Business and Sports
Across all sports, many of the world’s most famous athletes have gone on to find a successful second career in business. Names like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, George Foreman, and Alex Rodriguez are enterprises unto themselves, with business empires to back their owners’ entrepreneurial efforts. The leap into business often happens in tandem with an athlete picking up a second sport. Obviously, athletes have natural abilities and a competitive nature, so it’s no surprise that they often excel at multiple sports. For many athletes, golf is the great turn-to for those who found fame previously in other sports. The list of professional athletes who are also proud golfers includes heavy-hitters such as Steph Curry, Bode Miller, Pete Sampras, Wayne Gretzky, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, and 16
Dan Marino. Among those who have found success in both golf and business following their primary sports careers is retired NFL player and Super Bowl winner Justin Watson. Watson considers golf his “vacation from reality.” He notes that when he’s on a golf course, he
gets a sense of peace. Moreover, when he’s competing on the course, he feels as though all aspects of his being are satisfied. Watson got his start in golf by participating in celebrity tournaments. The first one was Marshall Faulk’s Celebrity Classic. Watson loved it and was immediately hooked. He found that his naturally competitive spirit made him want to play—and win—against family, friends, and other teammates. Unlike many other NFL players, Watson didn’t start playing football at an early age. As a first-generation American (the child of Jamaican immigrants), Watson’s Sundays were filled with work rather than football games. So it’s no surprise that he has turned to business to help fill his post-retirement time as well. Hard work has always been a cornerstone of his life. Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 1
