Contracts have bonuses and incentives. Mostly of a monetary amount. That’s a normal thing.
For instance, quarterback Baker Mayfield received a timing incentive of $1 million if he played 85 percent of the snaps during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith can get $2 million if the team makes the playoffs.
The list goes on and on.
In 1972, Oakland Athletics pitcher Rollie Fingers caused an incentive to have his teammates to grow a mustache. Owner Charlie Finley had the idea of “mustache night” for teammates to grow a mustache earning $300 each to grow one.
The result. Well, one of the most famous mustaches in the history of sports.
#OTD1972, @athletics owner Charlie Finley holds Mustache Day. Some players, like Rollie, still sport theirs today. https://t.co/qwh9LZakif pic.twitter.com/9vFwfR5NKA
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) June 18, 2017
And an extra $100 for mustache wax.
Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie’s agent, Jason Glushon, had an inside joke with him that placed a $1 (yes, just one dollar) championship bonus.
The “bonus” just so happened to be implemented during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Spencer Dinwiddie explains the $1 contract incentive bonus if the Lakers win the championship as sort of an inside joke that him and his agent, Jason Glushon of GSM, concocted pic.twitter.com/a7ni5HN28j
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 12, 2024
Hey, whatever motivates you.
For this next one, let’s hope you have a strong stomach.
In 2001, Cardiff City F.C. signed defender Spencer Prior to a three-year contract. Normal enough. Before signing it, however, he had to agree to eat sheep’s testicles — a delicacy in owner Sam Hamman’s homeland of Lebanon.
“The biggest problem was with his wife,” Hammam said in interview with Sky Sports. “She wasn’t too keen at first, but I explained to her that there was no emotional attachment involved and that it was purely a physical thing. We gave him an inflatable sheep to take home so that he can improve his technique.”
So, there’s that …
Mario Balotelli essentially had a clause in his contract to behave.
Balotelli had a tendency to be a hothead and was rewarded when he avoided red cards during matches. According to The Times, the good behavior clause is worth £1 million pounds:
“If during each season of the term of this contract the player is not dismissed from the field of play on three or more occasions for violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, for using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures and/or for dissent by word or action … then on the 30th June at the end of each season he shall receive a bonus payment of £1 million.”
