Some athletes rise to the top of their sports and stay in the spotlight seemingly forever,
like Michael Jordan or David Beckham, sticking around as coaches or commentators and making
bank doing commercials.
But not every former athlete takes that road.
Some end up taking regular 9-to-5 jobs just like the rest of us.
Here's a look at some ex-professional sports stars who now work regular jobs.
Tito Santana
In the 1980s, Tito Santana was going toe to toe with the likes of Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate
Warrior in the WWF, appearing in each of the first nine Wrestlemanias.
After retiring from wrestling, though, Santana rejoined the work force under his real name,
Merced Solis, becoming a middle school Spanish teacher in New Jersey.
We'd hate to be the kid who turns in homework late!
"I know I'm making a difference, it feels good."
Kerri Strug
She became a national hero after triumphantly winning gold at the 1996 Olympics despite
competing on a badly injured ankle.
But after the spotlight faded, Kerri Strug first went to school, earning a degree in
sociology from Stanford, and then she went to work.
After spending some time working as a second-grade teacher, Strug moved on to government work
and is now listed as a grant manager at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention.
"I say a little prayer."
"That's so sweet!"
"I know it is, isn't it?"
Vin Baker
Though he played in the NBA for 13 years and made several all-star teams, Vin Baker's career
was cut short due to addiction and substance abuse, costing him a small fortune.
After getting sober, though, Baker turned his life around, thanks in part to his one-time
boss, former SuperSonics team owner Howard Schultz.
Schultz also happened to be the CEO of Starbucks, so he offered Baker a job as a barista.
It might seem like a humbling experience to a former superstar athlete, but Baker used
the opportunity to get his life back on track, and he's stayed clean and sober ever since.
"I consider Howard family and a close friend.
And he did take a chance on me, and I'm grateful for that opportunity."
Randy Johnson
One of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson stands
6 feet 10 inches tall.
These days he also stands tall in the world of photography, as he's left baseball behind
to found his own business, Randy Johnson Photography.
A photojournalism major at USC before turning pro, Johnson is known for his excellent concert
photography, having taken pictures on tour with Metallica, KISS, and Rush, among others.
He's also photographed USO tours and gone to Africa to capture images of wildlife.
His business logo also features wildlife: the dove that he accidentally clobbered with
a pitch in 2001.
Karl Malone
Two-time NBA MVP and Olympic Dream teamer Karl Malone was also a 14-time NBA All-Star.
After leaving the NBA, though, Malone didn't rest on his laurels, instead branching out
into all sorts of entrepreneurial enterprises.
And he's very hands on.
Besides owning several fast food and automotive franchises, the Deseret News reported that
he not only owned a trucking company, he actually drives the trucks himself because, simply,
"he loves trucking".
"Where is this going?"
"I don't know."
"Someone is about to get their ass kicked."
Mark Wohlers
Relief pitcher Mark Wohlers spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, mostly with the
Atlanta Braves, famously throwing a pitch 103 miles per hour on one occasion.
After developing the yips, though, he retired and became a real estate agent.
These days he and his wife are selling houses in Atlanta, setting up clients with savings
and closing deals instead of setting up closers for a save and dealing strikes.
Pretty neat.
Antoine Walker
After being drafted sixth overall in the NBA's 1996 draft by the Boston Celtics, Antoine
Walker went on to become a three-time All-Star and NBA champ, earning more than $100 million
over the course of 13 seasons.
But in 2010, just two years after he retired, Walker declared bankruptcy.
Nowadays, Walker works as a financial consultant for Morgan Stanley, teaching young athletes
how not to spend their money, and ensuring they don't make the same mistakes he did.
Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!
Adrian Dantley
With 23,177 points over 15 seasons, six-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley
was ninth on the all-time scoring list at the time of his retirement.
After a stint in coaching, though, Dantley turned to a totally unexpected career.
The Washington Post reported in 2013 that he was working as a crossing guard for $14,000
a year.
Turned out he didn't need the money or anything, he just wanted to keep busy and help the local
community.
Now that's true All-Star behavior!
"Oh, it definitely has meaning, and I feel like I'm doing something, helping the community.
It's all about the kids."
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