Jason Collins was the first NBA player to come out as gay while still playing. John Amaechi was the first NBA player to come out as gay in history. His career had been over for some time when he released his tell-all memoir 'Man in The Middle' in 2007; his final NBA season was with Utah Jazz in 2003.
The reaction to the British-American's revealing statement was mixed. Wider society was supportive, and heralded him for his courage, but there were those within the sport who had a less-than-positive response. Fellow former player Tom Hardaway said that he'd never want a gay man on his team or in his locker room, although he later apologized for his comments. Bigger names like Charles Barkley were more supportive, saying that he was aware that he'd had gay teammates in the past and also that he'd played against gay players, but none of them had been brave enough to make the matter public.
To insure one’s house, one’s car or to underwrite a life insurance policy, that is common practice. But who would pay an insurance premium for his/her thumb, legs or smile? Stars, of course.
At the top of the ranking are the legs of Mariah Carey, worth 810 million USD: The diva became, in 2006, the Gillette brand muse for the advertising campaign «Legs of a Goddess». She then took out an insurance policy with London Lloyds to protect her legs, a decision that is far from being insignificant. Among its customers, the London insurer then included several icons of music, such as Bob Dylan or Rod Stewart.
David Beckham’s body insured for 195 million USD: European champion with Manchester United in 1999, David Beckham was in 2006 the most renowned footballer of the planet. In relation to his sporting activities, he took out an insurance cover for his legs. The huge amount paid for his insurance would reportedly exceed the 103 million USD disbursed by Real Madrid for the cover of Christiano Ronaldo in 2009. The fashion model would later extend his insurance cover to his entire body.
15 million USD in insurance for Kim Kardashian’s curves: The curves of Kim Kardashian are her number one beauty asset. The reality TV star, who is crazy about plastic surgery, has underwritten an insurance policy worth 15 million USD to protect her famous butt.
The culinary critic Egon Ronay assured his taste buds: The famous Hungarian culinary critic has insured his taste buds since 1957, for the amount of 400 000 USD. An original insurance policy which allows him to cover his sense of taste without which he will no longer be able to practice his job.