When we gather on the sofa to watch the game, do we tuck in to a heaping plate of steamed veggies? No, we mow down mounds of hot wings, boxes of pizza and bowls of chips. At the ballpark? Sure, we know our most worshiped athletes can't eat that junk, but the truth cannot be denied: sports and fast food go hand in hand.
So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that although athletes fuel their bodies with healthy food, some of them fuel their wallets with fast food franchises. With some help from FranchiseHelp.com, we've put together a list of some major league sports celebrities making bank on fast food franchises:
Star Athletes' National Franchises Slideshow
Drew Brees, Jimmy Johns
On Sunday, the Saints quarterback and Super Bowl MVP celebrated a $100 million contract with a sandwich at his own Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich franchise in Metairie, Louisiana. The No. 9, a.k.a. the Italian Night Club, was one of Brees' go-to meals at Purdue.
Tim Biakabutuka, Bojangles
The former running back for the Michigan Wolverines and Carolina Panthers came all the way from the Republic of Congo to American football stardom. He bought two Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits franchises in Georgia.
Albert King, Wendy's
King may have retired from the Nets in 1992, but he isn't just sitting around. He owns three Wendy's franchises in New Jersey. Don't say the phrase "fast food" at his Englewood location, though. King prefers "quick service."
Mark Brunell, Whataburger
He's been a Jaguar, a Saint, a Packer, a Redskin and a Jet. He's also been to bankruptcy court, thanks to some bad real estate investments. But Brunell's 11 Whataburger franchises? They're still going strong.
Trevor Ariza, Buffalo Wild Wings
At the young age of 24, the Washington Wizard opened a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise in California with help from his former teammate Kareem Rush.
David Feamster, Little Caesars
The retired Chicago Blackhawk owns five Little Caesars franchises in Pueblo, Colorado. (Crazy Bread!) That claim to fame helped him land a cameo in Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation."
Nate Wayne, Cold Stone Creamery
We couldn't leave you without dessert. The former linebacker, who played for five different NFL teams, owns a Cold Stone Creamery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Magic Johnson, Starbucks
Here's your bonus pick. Earvin Johnson Jr. has one of the most impressive resumes in the NBA and also happens to have ownership interests beyond sports. Magic once owned 105 Starbucks locations, as well as a few other franchises.
So after looking at that list, who made the best eats investment?
