College athletic programs have always been good moneymakers, but now they are racking in millions at universities across the country. It’s no wonder universities are fighting to get in with big name sports conferences like the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten; these conferences bring in millions for athletics and the school each year.

Out of all the universities across the country, here are the top ten moneymakers, based on revenue generated from athletics over the past year.

#10

University of Tennessee, SEC

Knoxville, Tennessee

Revenue 2011-12: $105.9 million

As the first of many southern schools to make this list, Tennessee prides itself on its 18 men’s and women’s Division One teams and 150 SEC Championships.

#9

Auburn University, SEC

Auburn, Alabama

Revenue 2011-12: $106.0 million

This Alabama team has some of the best swimmers in the country. Thirteen out of Aubrun’s 18 all-time NCAA National Championships are from the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.

#8

Oklahoma State University, Big 12

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Revenue 2011-12: $106.5 million

Oklahoma State boasts 51 National Team Championships, the most won out of every team in the Big 12 conference, including the University of Texas.

#7

Penn State, Big Ten

University Park, Pennsylvania

Revenue 2011-12: $108.3 million

At the end of the 2011-12 season, Penn State had five Big Ten Championships and 61 All-American players, plus some of the rowdiest fans in the country.

#6

Louisiana State University, SEC

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Revenue 2011-12: $114.0 million

LSU has 46 National Championships and 120 SEC Championships, most coming from LSU’s basketball and track teams. But these teams couldn’t succeed without Louisiana’s championship winning cheerleaders in the crowd; Louisiana State has one of the top cheerleading programs in the nation.

#5

University of Florida, SEC

Gainesville, Florida

Revenue 2011-12: $120.3 million

Most recently, the Florida Gators won NCAA Championships in men’s track and field and women’s tennis.

#4

University of Alabama, SEC

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Revenue 2011-12: $124.1 million

The University of Alabama is the second school in Alabama to make this list. The university brought in 22 team NCAA Championships.

#3

University of Michigan, Big Ten

Ann Arbor, Michiagan

Revenue 2011-12: $128.8 million

Michigan has a sterling football team toting 11 football National Championships. But Michigan’s football team can’t quite keep up with men’s swimming and diving, which brought in 18 National Championships.

#2

Ohio State University, Big Ten

Columbus, Ohio

Revenue 2011-12: $142.0 million

Ohio State brings in the big bucks with their Division One FBS football team, one of only 13 in the nation, and their champion Division One ice hockey team.

#1

University of Texas, Big 12

Austin, Texas

Revenue 2011-12: $163.3 million

Texas loves their sports and they aren’t shy about spending money on them. Texas not only brings in the biggest sports revenue in the nation, they also shovel out over 25 million a year on their team and premium guests.

The team boasts 100 Big 12 conference and tournament titles since the conference began in 1996, which is more than any other school in the Big 12. On top of that, 23 athletes from the University of Texas went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

What do you think about the amount of revenue these schools are bringing in from their athletic programs?

Lost in the shuffle of multimillion dollar contracts, lockouts, and other squabbles about money is the fact that there are athletes who take their wealth and give back. Let’s take a look at some of those who, in the spirit of the holiday season, went above and beyond to give back.

Andre Johnson — The Texans receiver is well known for hauling in passes but recently made headlines for taking a dozen children between ages eight and 16 to Toys R’ Us. He allowed these children from Child Protective Services in Houston to get as many toys as they could in 80 seconds and then he picked up the tab, which totaled $19,521. He joined the Houston Police Department’s Blue Santa program as well, helping surprise 800 students at Bastian Elementary School in Houston with presents.

Warrick Dunn — Dunn has two major charities of his own, the Homes for the Holidays program and Warrick Dunn Charities. Homes for the Holidays provides furnishings for a home and down payment assistance for single parent families in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Tallahassee and Tampa. To date, the program has provided help for more than 115 single parent families. Warrick Dunn Charities started Betty’s Hope, in honor of his mother in 2012. Betty’s Hope provides support for children who have lost a parent or loved one with their mobile bereavement program.

Roberto Clemente — While Clemente hasn’t been active as an athlete since his death in 1972, the works he contributed to better the lives of people live on. Clemente worked constantly to help deliver needed aid and relief to his home country of Puerto Rico. Clemente’s death, on December 31, 1972, came when he was following an earthquake in Nicaragua. Clemente worked to gather food and supplies to deliver. On his way to the disaster stricken country, his plane crashed and his body was never recovered.

Dikembe Mutombo — Mutombo was awarded the Goodernote Humanitarian Award for his efforts to help reduce polio globally. He also helped build the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, the capital of the Republic of Congo. Mutombo donated $15 million for the construction of the hospital, the first modern medical facility built in the country in 40 years. The Mutombo Foundation is working with Georgetown University to provide care for visually impaired children from low income families in the Washington D.C. area.

Tiger Woods — The Tiger Woods Foundation operates the Tiger Woods Learning Center, which provides programs to students who aren’t getting the education necessary to go to college. In addition, Woods started the Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Foundation, which helps students in Orange County and Washington D.C. go to college.

Eric Lindros — When Lindros retired from the NHL following the 2006-07 season, he donated $5 million to the London Health Sciences Center, where he had several procedures done during his career. Lindros continues to help with fundraising efforts for the London Health Sciences Center and has also been active in building houses for Habitat for Humanity in Canada.

What other athletes do you see giving back to their communities?

Ask any sports fan to name some of the more popular and prominent sports streaks and you’ll probably hear about the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who are the only undefeated team in NFL history. Or perhaps about Cal Ripken’s 17-year, 2,632-consecutive games streak. Or even Lance Armstrong’s seven consecutive Tour De France victories.

You’ll know you have a true sports fan on your hands if they happen to mention any of the following notable sports streaks.

Coin Toss Probability

Flip a coin enough times and you should get an equal number of heads and tails outcomes. Tell that to the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League and they might laugh or tell you to get lost. See, to add to an already tough season, which has seen the Panthers amass a dismal record of 4-9, they have lost every coin toss to start a game this season. Until the unthinkable happened against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14, the streak stood at the unlucky number 13.

They’re Only Free If You Make Them

Fifteen feet isn’t too far to toss a basketball, right? Throw up enough shots and some of them will go in, even if by luck. Chris Dudley might beg to differ. While wearing a Portland Blazers jersey back in 1990, the now-retired Dudley went to the free-throw line 18 times in that game. At one point he’d missed 13 in a row, and one of the 17 he ultimately missed that night was a complete air ball. Even Shaq never missed that many in a game.

Remember the Sabbath

It becomes very hard to argue a point when something keeps happening over and over again. The Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball currently hold an MLB record with 17 consecutive losses on Sunday. It’s an incredible streak when you think about it because that’s a minimum of 17 consecutive weeks, or pretty much 2/3rds of the entire baseball season. For fans of opposing teams, 2011 was a great season if you happened to play the Rockies on a Sunday.

What’s in a Name?

Okay, so this isn’t a sports-specific streak, it’s certainly sports related and exceedingly noteworthy. Jim Rome, the acerbic and quick-witted radio and television sports host and commentator, interviewed at least one person named “Rex” for 20 consecutive shows. This was back in 2009 and included guys like Rex Ryan, Rex Hudler, and of course Rex Grossman. Rome’s final guest was U.S. astronaut Rex Walheim who agreed to do the show just to keep the streak going.

When it Rains, it Pours

Okay, I’ll admit this headline is a little misleading, but it kind of works when you consider droughts that have nothing to do with the weather. Anyway, the City of Cleveland has suffered through 46-years without a professional championship in any sport. This is particularly amazing when you consider the Cleveland Indians have put together many excellent baseball seasons, the Cleveland Browns have had some NFL glory, and the Cleveland Cavs once had LeBron James on their basketball squad. For a city with at least three professional teams, this is an unmatched streak and one that no other city wants.

What is your favorite trend in sports?

NBA players are especially sought-after for brand endorsement deals because of their international following. Even after the 20 percent salary cut NBA players took this year, after the 2011 lockout and the resulting 66 game series, “Forbes” reports that NBA players enjoyed sizable endorsement fees.

Here are the top 10 NBA players with the most lucrative endorsement deals.

10. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

Endorsement Total: $4 million                    Major Endorsements: ANTA, Zico

The Boston Celtics’ No. 5 was born in Greenville, SC and didn’t play organized basketball until he was in high school. That didn’t seem to matter to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team drafted him straight out of high school. Garnett left Adidas sponsorship and has been affiliated with ANTA Sports Products since the summer of 2010.

9. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Endorsement Total: $6 million                Major Endorsements: Jordan Brand, JEEP, Powerade, Upper Deck

Serving as point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, 27-year-old Paul is known for his charitable donations and he responded generously to the victims of hurricane Katrina. Paul endorses the Jordan Brand, and rumor has it that the players chosen to represent the brand are selected by the ledged himself, Michael Jordan, which is a major compliment.

8. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Endorsement Total: $8 million                    Major Endorsements: Nike, Sheets Brand energy strips

The 6’ 11” Stoudemire is a power forward and center for the New York Knicks. Stoudemire’s mother was a transient farmer, and as a result he played basketball for six different high schools. His reward came when he was honored with the title of Mr. Basketball in Florida. Stoudemire endorses Sheets Brand energy strips, which was co-founded by NBA super star LeBron James. According to ABC News, the energy strips contain about 50 milligrams of caffeine and have been scrutinized because of the potential for abuse and use by children.

7. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Endorsement Total: $8 million Major Endorsements: Jordan Brand, Powerade, Sprint (Boost Mobile)

Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks are knocking out a killer 5-0 season. Some say head coach Mike Woodson deserves credit for getting Anthony to step up his game. If the Knicks keep up this winning streak, Anthony may have more endorsements coming his way.

6. Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

Endorsement Total: $11 million                 Major Endorsements: Adidas, McDonald’s

Howard earned a nomination to the All-Defensive First Team four times. The question is, can Howard’s defense jolt the Lakers weak offense into motion? Until we get an answer to that, Howard is bringing in the cash from his affiliations with sneakers and Big Macs.

5. Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat

Endorsement Total: $12 million                 Major Endorsements: Li-Ning, Gatorade, Pepperidge Farms

Big news from Dwayne Wade: he won’t be sporting Jordan Brand this season. The Miami Heat star has signed on with Li-Ning, a Chinese shoe company. Prior to this, Wade and Converse enjoyed a six year relationship before he signed on with Jordan Brand.

4. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Endorsement Total: $13 million        Major Endorsements: Nike, Sprint, Gatorade, 2K Sports, Skull Candy

Durant joined the NBA in 2007 after playing college basketball at the University of Texas in Austin. He was the 2nd pick in the first round of the 2007 draft, picked by the Seattle Supersonics. The 24-year-old currently plays the small forward position for the Oklahoma City Thunder and “Forbes” reports that he’s on the brink of major stardom. Based on his current endorsement deals, he doesn’t seem to be doing bad now! It’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here.

3. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Endorsement Total: $14.2 million                              Major Endorsements: Adidas, Powerade, Skull Candy

Derrick Rose wears the No.1 jersey for the Chicago Bulls, who selected him with the 1st draft pick in 2008. In addition to playing ball and his endorsements with Adidas, Skull Candy, and Powerade, Rose recently bought a minority stake in Giordano’s pizza. Now that he has bought into the business, he is the focus of Giordano’s new ad campaign.

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Endorsement Total: $32 million                                 Major Endorsements: Nike, Vitamin Water, Smart Car

According to Lakers Nation, Bryant is the sixth highest paid athlete in the world. And a recent “Sports Illustrated” review of the 50 highest earning American athletes put Bryant 4th, when taking endorsement deals were added to the mix. Bryant has enjoyed heightened fame from his commercials for Smart Car and we have to admit, this is a pretty creative commercial.

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat

Endorsement Total: $40 million                 Major Endorsements: Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Upper Deck

LeBron James is as hot as Miami and his endorsements help prove it. In addition to making the Miami Heat the NBA champions, he came home with an Olympic gold medal as a member of Team USA this year. He earns $12,880,000 from his work on the court, but brings in $33,000,000 from heavy hitting endorsements.

People around the globe idolize American professional athletes, and the payoff is big. Do you think these athletes are worth the money they get for simply linking their name with brands?

For all you NBA super fans out there, the NBA League Pass makes it possible for you to never miss another televised game again. A subscription to the NBA League Pass gives die-hard basketball fans access to as many as 40 games per week. Available through nearly every cable and satellite provider, the Pass can be yours for only $179. And if laying down that chunk of change seems daunting, they’ve made sure that price will not prohibit you from cheering on your favorite team – NBA League Pass is also available for four payments of $44.75.

One of the best things about NBA League Pass is that it gives basketball fans exposure to games that either aren’t nationally broadcast or aren’t shown in their local viewing area. And there’s plenty of excitement on the court this season to keep subscribers glued to their Barcaloungers – here’s a look at the must-watch teams that totally make the NBA League Pass worth it.

LA Clippers

The Clippers are a must-see team if for no other reason than Blake Griffin. For fans who love watching a talented giant fly through the air and sink the ball in the net with ridiculous ferocity, catching as many Clippers games as possible is a no-brainer.

Minnesota Timberwolves

One of the most promising young teams out there, the Timberwolves are poised to shake up the NBA world this season. And with most of their games missing out on a national broadcast, the NBA League Pass is your front-row seat to all the on-court awesomeness this team is sure to deliver. Kevin Love is arguably the best power forward out there and watching his mastery of the court and everyone on it is more than enough to make fans tune in to the Timberwolves.

Indiana Pacers

After an appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, this exhilarating team is sure to deliver even more heart-pumping action this season. The Pacers deliver excitement and tension with both Paul George’s mad dunking skills and the 7’2” Roy Hibbert blocking everything that comes his way. There’s no doubt this hungry team is aiming for another shot at the Eastern Conference finals – and watching them strive to get there will be a rollicking ride.

Denver Nuggets

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the Nuggets are playing basketball or some new interpretation of track and field. This team keeps everyone on their toes – especially their opponents, as they run them up and down the court in some of the fastest-paced games you’ll ever see. Add to that their high-scoring offense and you’d be crazy to miss one second of this team that truly gives every other team a run for their money.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are sure to make some noise again this season, after taking the Heat to five games in last year’s NBA Finals. Chock full of exciting players who are on the rise to super-stardom, this team is one of the most entertaining to watch. Between James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder always put on one hell of a show. Westbrook keeps fans glued to the screen waiting to see if he’s going to pull out a fantastic dunk or choke – both of which are worth watching. And super scorer Kevin Durant never disappoints with his heart-stopping, down-to-the-wire shots that have everyone holding their breath.

Which teams make it worth it for you to have the NBA League Pass?

Everybody knows professional athletes make pretty good money; the superstars practically get their salaries delivered by the truckloads. Based on the average salary of professional basketball players—$5.15 million—you’d be hard pressed to find one of them who’d take you seriously if you told them we’re currently in a depressed economy.

To help put these types of salaries into perspective, here’s a look at the salaries of the starting five Los Angeles Lakers, as well as their per-game wages and a few other numbers that might leave you dizzy and frustrated.

Annual Salaries

Los Angeles Lakers starting five:

• Kobe Bryant makes $27,849,000 per season, or $339,622 per game.
• Dwight Howard makes $19,261,200 per season, or $234,893 per game.
• Pau Gasol makes $19,000,000 per season, or $231,707 per game.
• Steve Nash makes $8,900,000 per season, or $108,537 per game.
• Metta World Peace makes $7,258,960 per season, or $88,524 per game.

In case you forgot to carry the one, or your calculator ran out of numbers, that’s a combined annual salary of $82,268,200 for just five players!

Home Sweet Home

The Staples Center, where the Lakers have played since 1999, seats 18,997 fans, with an average ticket price of $113 per seat. To cover the per-game salaries of $1,003,270 for their starting five, the Lakers require 8,878 fans buying a ticket per game. The team has sold out every regular season home game (41 games per season) since 2007, which definitely helps pay a lot of big salaries.

To Protect and Serve

We know this isn’t a typical paycheck for most people, but how does it stack up? So we thought we’d look into what a police officer makes in the City of Angeles. At an average annual rate of $46,000 for the honor of carrying an LAPD shield—perhaps not even enough money to have spare  funds to attend a single Lakers home game—it would take one of LA’s finest 21 years to make what Kobe and friends make in a single night on the hardwood.

What do you think of this? Do you think the Laker’s deserve this kind of payout more than someone who puts their life on the line to protect the city each night?

The 2012-13 NBA season kicks off on October 30. Let’s take a look at some of the major games that fans are already clamoring about in the season’s opening week.

Celtics at Heat (10/30, 8 P.M. ET, TNT): A rematch of last season’s thrilling Eastern Conference Finals is the feature game on opening night as the Celtics travel to South Beach to face the Heat. There is plenty of animosity between the two clubs, amped by the defection of one of the league’s best three point shooters, Ray Allen, to the Heat. Expect fireworks with LeBron, D-Wade, KG and Rajon Rondo on the floor.

Nuggets at 76ers (10/31, 7:00 P.M. ET, NBA League Pass): Andre Iguodala makes his return to the city that he played the first eight years of his career in. The Nuggets were the highest scoring team in the regular season last year and are a fast paced, transition style offense. The 76ers were the league’s third-best defensive team in points per game last year, making a clash of styles matchup.

Spurs at Hornets (10/31, 8:00 P.M. ET, NBA TV): The debut of the Unibrow pits Anthony Davis and the Hornets against the best power forward of the current era in Tim Duncan. New Orleans has plenty of young talent with Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers in addition to Davis. Can New Orleans turn the corner after a run of dismal campaigns?

Grizzlies at Clippers (10/31, 10:30 P.M. ET, League Pass): A matchup of two teams that went the full seven games during the playoffs a year ago, with the Clippers emerging victorious. Both teams have plenty of talent on the floor, with Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol leading the way for the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the returning Lamar Odom are major cogs for the Clippers.

Knicks at Nets (11/1, 7 P.M. ET, TNT): The rivalry between the Knicks and Nets officially kicks off with the two teams in the same city as the Nets transition to their new digs in Brooklyn. The Knicks hope that Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are enough to lead the team to the postseason while the Nets, rebuffed in their attempt to get Dwight Howard, roll with Deron Williams, Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez and shooting guard Joe Johnson.

Thunder at Spurs (11/1, 9:30 P.M. ET, TNT): A rematch of the Western Conference Finals takes place in the Alamodome of San Antonio when the Thunder come to town. Was there a passing of the torch from Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich to the youthful Thunder? The high flying combination of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden look to run the Spurs out of the building and show that last season’s run was the start of something great.

Clippers at Lakers (11/2, 10:30 P.M., ESPN): The battle between the two Los Angeles teams gets underway in earnest. Dwight Howard and Steve Nash are the latest injections into an aging, fading rotation around Kobe Bryant, who is entering the twilight of his Hall of Fame career. Can the Lakers pull out enough magic to stop CP3 and Blake Griffin from ruining their evening? There still is lingering bitterness that the Clippers got Paul after the league vetoed a deal that had him going to the Lakers.

What game are you looking forward to watching during the opening week of the NBA season?

If you’re hearing that the fans of Carrie Bradshaw and her crew were the only ones into elite footwear, then you’ve been misinformed. Manolo Blahnik has nothing on NBA superstars like the Bulls’ Derrick Rose. The legendary point guard is approaching Michael Jordan status with a recent shoe deal that will bank him over $200 million across the next 13 years, making it the second-largest contract in the history of basketball legend signature shoe deals. With so much cash on the table, we decided to take a look at what makes these shoes so special and discovered the top eight NBA signature shoes out there.

Nike Penny 5

Who says retired players can’t still have some of the coolest kicks around? Penny Hardaway’s Penny 5 sneakers by Nike are still some of the best-looking signature shoes on the market. The latest incarnation, called Nike Air Penny 5 “Suns,” feature a grey upper with almost psychedelic purple, orange and pink accents. The “Suns” Penny 5 will be available just in time for holiday shoppers, hitting stores on November 3. But this fancy footwear costs a little bit more than a pretty penny – these colorful shoes will set you back $165.

Li-Ning WADE shoes

Dwyane “Flash” Wade continues to make a splash on and off the court with his latest signature shoe, the “Beijing Edition.” The shoe is resplendent in black and gold, with a funky translucent outsole.  This passionate point guard is bringing the heat with these slick sneakers, which mark Wade’s departure from the Jordan brand. Fans should be able to score a pair in retail outlets sometime in 2013, and it’s expected that these kicks will sell for around $120 a pair.

Nike Air Zoom Flight 95 “J Kidd Career Pack”

Jason Kidd is a 10-time NBA All-Star and he’s making certain no one forgets that with the release of the “J Kidd Career Pack” of Nike Air Zoom Flight 95 sneakers. Early in his career Kidd adopted the shoe and Nike is now honoring the quick point guard with a whole line of Zoom Flight 95s in four different color schemes that represent all the teams Kidd ran the court for during his career. Represented are the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets and the California Golden Bears; this creates a rainbow of choices that fans should be able to choose from in stores this Christmas.

Nike Zoom Hyperdunk Supreme “Galaxy”

Out-of-this world dunker, Blake Griffin, debuted these bright kicks at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. Featuring what looks like an intergalactic moonscape and plenty of bright, star-speckled touches, these shoes are doing their darnedest to outshine the superstar who inspired their creation. Taking the space theme to the extreme, Nike even included a glow-in-the-dark outsole and a custom BG32 mission patch on the tongue. Fans might have to register a complaint with mission control, however, as it is rumored that these fantastic sneakers may not be released for retail sale.

Nike KD 5

This is the fourth entry in Kevin Durant’s signature line for Nike. The Thunder forward brings the same top-notch, all-around approach to shoe design that he demonstrates on the court. This lightweight shoe is designed to enhance both performance and style. Available in a variety of designs, you can customize this kick to your personal taste. The Nike KD 5 will release on December 8th, but if you can’t wait it’ll hit NikeiD on November 6th. The retail price will be set at $110.

Under Armour Micro G Bloodline

This sleek sneaker was conceived by point guard Brandon Jennings. As a guest designer for Under Armour, Jennings decided to use his signature shoe to tell the story of his rise from Compton to the NBA. He selected colors that bring to mind his pro season in Italy as well as tributes to his little brother and his beloved mother. In addition to telling a story, the shoe also delivers high performance and maximum comfort. Bucks fans can get their hands on a pair for right around $110.

Adidas adiPower Howard

Dwight Howard’s latest Adidas signature shoe shows almost as much versatility as the six-time All-Star does on the court. These colorful kicks are available in both Magic and Lakers colorways, ensuring that every Howard fan can get what they want. The shoe is designed specifically to support the midfoot and provide ample comfort for the midsole and outsole. Whether you’re looking for Magic blue or Lakers purple, you can make your choice at adidas.com for the tidy price of $110.

LeBron James’ Nike LeBron X

Never one to hang back in the shadows, LeBron James’ latest signature sneakers scream for attention in bright green, blue and red. The design was inspired by diamonds – specifically the heat, time and pressure required to create the precious stones. James likens the process of transforming coal to diamonds to his path to becoming one of the world’s best ball players. You can get the shoes in standard and technology-enhanced versions. The Nike Plus version includes sensors that send information to a Nike smartphone app using Bluetooth technology. Depending on how much cash you’ve got to flash, you’re gonna shell out between $180 and $270 to grab this little piece of basketball glory.

Which of these kicks from our favorite NBA stars are your favorites? Do you have some that didn’t make our list?

Professional baseball players enjoy some of the highest salaries in all of professional sports. After all, they’re expected to remain healthy and effective over a 20-game pre-seasons, a 162-game regular season, and with any luck at all a postseason run that could continue well into early November.

True, it’s not the most physically demanding professional sport, but playing six out of every seven days, week in and week out, for at least six months will take its toll on body, mind, and spirit.

Fortunately, there’s a reward for players and teams who can compete at the highest level and make it into the postseason, and hopefully to a World Series victory. It’s something known as “money shares,” which is bonus money for making it into the post season. The better a player and his team perform, and the longer they continue to play, the bigger each player’s bonus becomes.

For some players, particularly younger ones who typically don’t make the same as superstar veterans, the postseason bonus can exceed their regular season salary. For others, it can be a single-digit bonus.

Here’s how postseason money shares are calculated.

Separate Bonus Pools

The postseason in Major League Baseball is broken down into three distinct tournaments: The Division Series, the League Championship Series, and the World Series. What starts as four teams from each league—The American League and National League—in their respective division series, is trimmed to two teams from each league, striving to win their League Championship Series, and eventually one team from each vying to win the World Series.

Each series has a separate pool of bonus money, which is determined by the following:

• Gate receipts. A series with two very popular teams can generate more money through ticket sales than can a one-sides or less exciting matchups
• Venue size. Not every game is a sellout, but when they are, the larger venues will obviously sell more tickets than their smaller counterparts.
• Premium seating. Choice seats and private boxes generate a lot of income for teams. The more of these types of seats available in any venue, the higher the gate receipts.
• Games played. Longer series will generate higher gross gate receipts.

It should be noted that Major League Baseball sets the ticket prices for each postseason game, which helps to stabilize the bonus pool for each series.

Winners and Losers

Nobody likes to be on the losing end of any sporting event, but in the MLB it comes with a nice consolation prize: cash. The money from each series is aggregated throughout the final game of the World Series and then divvied up as follows:

• The World Series winner gets 36 percent of the total pool, while the loser gets 24 percent.
• Both losers in the League Championship Series get 12 percent.
• Four Division Series losers each receive three percent.
• Four second place teams that did not win the Wild Card berth into the postseason each receive one percent.

Player’s Share

How each player is paid in the postseason is determined during a regular season meeting, usually sometime just after the July 31 trade deadline. Each team heading into the postseason has 25 roster spots to fill and they are the players who will receive a share of the bonus pool.

Usually, each player will receive one full share of the pool, which means available pool money will be divided into 25 equal slices per team. Players not with the team for a full season could receive less than a full share, depending on how the union votes.

Real Dollars and Cents

The 2011 World Series was between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. The series went seven games with an average attendance of 47,000 for the four games in St. Louis and 51,000 for the three games played in Arlington. Every game, as expected, was a sellout.

The Cardinals won the series, which meant its players split 36 percent of the total pool. Rangers players split 24 percent. This resulted in each player on the Cardinals roster receiving approximately $323,170, while each player on the Rangers received roughly $251,516.

In 2010, the San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series and each winning player received $317,631 while the losing side got $246,280.

The year before, the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies. The added excitement of having the Yankees in the World Series definitely had a positive impact on postseason money shares. Players in the Yankees roster each received $350,030 while the Phillies got $265,358 per player.

Winning that championship ring and all the bragging rights that come with it aside, it definitely pays well to make the postseason in Major League Baseball.

What do you think about the payout for MLB players?

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Everyone knows the biggest names in sports and that they’re making millions in salary and endorsement deals. The annual haul for guys like Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Tony Romo, and Thierry Henry are fairly well publicized. Here’s a look at some overpaid athletes who might make more money than you realize, but for whatever reasons don’t make quite as big a splash in the headlines.

Cristie Kerr

Career earnings: $14,030,373

Professional female golfer Cristie Kerr, originally from Miami, Florida but currently living in Scottsdale, Arizona, ranks fourth on the all-time LPGA list after a 16-year career that started in 1996. She’s tallied 14 LPGA wins, including the U.S. Women’s Open in 2007 and the LPGA Championship in 2010.

Andy Roddick

Career earnings: $20,517,390

This popular, now retired, tennis star has a surprising amount of career tennis earnings, considering he won only a single Grand Slam tournament, the 2003 U.S. Open. In fact, Roddick retired in 10th place on the all-time ATP money list, making his career winnings all the more impressive.

Kenny Perry

Career earnings: $31,797,536

Sports fans that don’t follow professional golf may have a hard time placing the name of Kenny Perry, but with nearly $32 million in career earnings it’s clear he was doing all the right things throughout his golf career. Ranked 10th on the all-time PGA money list, Perry never won a major tournament but did tally 14 career victories for a solid and financially rewarding effort on the links.

Albert Haynesworth

Career Earnings: $48,553,347

Albert Haynesworth, the big man from the University of Tennessee, was once described as “the most dominant defensive tackle in the NFL.” He spent the bulk of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans where he was an opposing quarterback’s worst nightmare. The two-time Pro Bowl participant made the bulk of his wealth from high salaries, including a seven-year $100 million contract with a guarantee of $41 million.

Jim Furyk

Career earnings: $52,447,459

Jim Furyk, complete with one of the most unorthodox swings in golf, has put together one of the most lucrative careers in all of professional sports. He is currently ranked 4th on the all-time PGA earnings list, which puts him in very solid company. His 16 career wins, including the 2003 U.S. Open, is not too shabby.

Shawn Green

Career earnings: $100,616,066

The first person on the list to crack the $100 million mark played professional baseball for 15 seasons with four different teams, made the MLB All-Star team twice, and appeared on several MVP ballots throughout his career. If there’s any questions about the financial upside of being a professional baseball player, Shawn Green’s career earnings place him just 51^st on the all-time MLB money list.

Carlos Boozer

Career earnings: $146,109,736

Carlos Boozer spent the bulk of his NBA career with the Utah Jazz where he was very popular but plagued with a host of post-season injuries. Still, he managed to be named to two NBA All-Star teams and was named to the third team All-NBA squad in 2007. Financially, Boozer ranks 26th of all time in the NBA.

Todd Helton

Career earnings: $151,590,000

Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, Todd Helton put together one of the most impressive Major League Baseball careers in the history of the game. His career batting average of .320 puts him in lofty company as does his 2,420 career hits. Helton has spent his entire professional baseball career (16-years and counting) with the Colorado Rockies and presently ranks 10th all-time on the MLB career earnings list.

Rashard Lewis

Career earnings: $152,580,678

Heading into his 15th season in the NBA, Rashard Lewis is currently a member of the World Champion Miami Heat. He is also the current record-holder for three-point shots made in the Seattle SuperSonics organization. Named to the NBA All-Star team twice, Lewis now ranks 21st on the league’s all-time money list.

Joe Johnson

Career earnings: $198,647,490

At 31, Joe Johnson has amassed nearly $200 million in career earnings during his 11 seasons as a professional basketball player. He’s played with three teams — the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Atlanta Hawks. He’s getting ready to start up with the Nets, making this his 12th professional season. Most noted for his game-tying buzzer-beater to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2012, and then the game-winning shot in overtime, Johnson currently ranks sixth on the NBA’s all-time earnings list.

Surprising numbers, right? Sure, there are some professional athletes who make this kind of money in a single season, but for the average athlete who can find a way to compete at a high level for many years, there’s very good money to be made.

Who do you think is the most-deserving athlete on this list?