MAGIC JOHNSON - LOS ANGELES LAKERS (NBA)
The NBA legend signed an unprecedented 25-year, $25-million contract extension with the Lakers in 1981. However, Johnson didn't stay on $1 million a year with his contract renegotiated to put him in the upper echelons of the league's salaries. He retired from basketball in 1991 after revealing he was HIV positive. Johnson came out of retirement to be part of the gold medal-winning "Dream Team" at the 1992 Olympics, but abandoned plans to return to the NBA after protests from fellow players. Returned to the Lakers in 1996 to play 32 games before retiring for a third and final time.
LANCE FRANKLIN - SYDNEY SWANS (AFL)
Stunned the AFL world by signing a nine-year, $10-million deal with the Sydney Swans to usurp their junior cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney who were expected to sign the superstar Hawk. Franklin, 30, is about to enter his fourth season for the Swans with 207 goals in 49 games for the club.
PAUL CHEESLEY - BRISTOL CITY (ENGLAND, SOCCER)
Cheesley joined Bristol in 1973 on a 10-year deal but in 1976 suffered a career-ending knee injury and never played again. Bristol were just beginning their first season in the English top flight in 65 years. By 1982 they were back in the fourth division and bankrupt and Cheesley's injury and long deal was seen as a major factor in their slide.
ILYA KOVALCHUK - NEW JERSEY DEVILS (NHL)
Kovalchuk's 17-year, $US102-million contract in 2010 set the NHL's record for the longest ever only to be blocked by the league the following day. The then-27-year-old agreed to a 15-year, $US100 million deal a few months later. He quit the NHL in 2013 to return to Russia to play ice hockey, foregoing the $US77 million left on the remaining 12 years of his contract.
ALBERT PUJOLS - LOS ANGELES ANGELS (MLB)
In late 2011, Pujols inked a 10-year deal worth $US240 million after already cementing his position as one of baseball's greats having picked up three MVP awards and named All-Star nine times. Now 36, Pujols reaches the halfway point of his contract with his career at the Angels plagued by injury, allowing him to show only glimpses of what he's capable of.
JASON TAUMALOLO - NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (NRL)
The reigning Dally M medallist's 10-year deal - believed to be worth $10 million - will keep him with the Cowboys until the end of the 2027 season. The contract puts the 23-year-old lock forward among the NRL's highest paid players and all but ends any chance of leaving for America to pursue an NFL career.
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