A look at several modern athletes who are no strangers to hourly wages
When I think about people who might work at a
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) cafe, I think of a skinny-jeans-wearing hipster. Or maybe some insecure high school kid. But definitely not former NBA All-Star Vin Baker.
Which is really too bad because, apparently, Baker is currently
training to become a SBUX manager in Rhode Island. "In this company there are opportunities for everyone. I have an excellent situation here at Starbucks and the people are wonderful," said the power forward-turned-barista.
The story sounds crazy at first-blush, but it's really not. There was a time when professional athletes worked offseason jobs like the rest of us. More recently, you might remember that former NFL kick returner Michael Lewis
was a beer delivery man for Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE:BUD), prior to latching on with the New Orleans Saints, while Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler
took orders at a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc (NASDAQ:PLKI) restaurant.
And it's not just ex- and pre-professional athletes that work hourly jobs. Last offseason, Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam picked up some shifts at a Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ:FINL) location in Florida. When asked why, Elam said he's
trying to get experience so he can one day open his own sports merchandise shop.
Whatever the case may be, I hope these athletes are buying into their respective companies' stock plans -- especially Baker. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has surged 40.5% year-to-date at $57.63, and hit a record high of $59.31 last week following an
earnings beat.