FEBRUARY 28, 2005 ARKANSAS BUSINESS 17

Athletes on Top cornerback Eric Warfield’s $2.5 million salary was more Made $48 Million than any other Arkansas football play- er’s. Warfield, who turns 29 this week, (Continued From Page 1) just finished his seventh season in the league, all with a Kansas City team that defensive work. While better known signed him to a seven-year contract in for his outfield acrobatics than his bat, 2002. Hunter’s offensive numbers were better The Texarkana native was the lone than respectable last season. He batted bright spot last year on the league’s worst .271 while swatting 23 home runs and secondary. Despite Warfield’s four inter- stealing 21 bases. ceptions, Kansas City ranked last in pass The Twins made Hunter its first pick defense. Greg Wesley, who played for the (20th overall) in the 1993 draft and in at Pine Bluff, con- January 2003 awarded him with a four- tributed to the Chiefs’ defensive demise year, $32 million contract. despite being rewarded with a six-year Another major leaguer from Ark- contract extension before the season. ansas, Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Wesley started only 11 games last year Burnett, could be due for a hefty multiyear after starting 16 in three of the last four contract of his own following the 2005 seasons. season — but only if he can stay healthy. He will need to step up his game to

The former Central Arkansas MICHAEL PIRNIQUE keep from being cut before his big payoff Christian School star is just two years season in 2006, when he is set to make removed from elbow surgery and spent $2.5 million. Wesley will earn $865,000 the first two months of last season and all next season. but four games of 2003 recovering. Offensive and potential Hall of Burnett has a one-year, $3.65 million Famer Willie Roaf of Pine Bluff and line- deal this season with the Marlins, a team BEAT BOY: Little Rock’s Jermain Taylor is on the verge of some serious paydays. backer Quinton Caver of the University now trying to lock up the talented, Unfortunately, the middleweight’s management would not disclose his earnings. of Arkansas at Fayetteville also play for young starter for even longer. Earlier this the Chiefs. month the club offered the 28-year-old bring me another contract.” caliber wrangled this past offseason. Minnesota Vikings $15 million over three years before rais- The Marlins might be compelled to Burnett will first have to show the Kevin Williams of Fordyce did not make ing the offer to $16 million. oblige after losing another quality starter, Marlins and other possible suitors his body the top 25 but is worth noting because Burnett, however, has said through his Carl Pavano, to the Yankees this offseason. can hold up for a whole season. If he does, there’s only one season left on his three- agent that he’s holding out for something And but for a few exceptions, next year’s Burnett has a good shot to one day top the year deal with the Vikings. in the neighborhood of $21 million over free-agent class is pretty thin on pitchers. list of Arkansas’ highest-paid athletes. Last season, only his second in the three years. He will be a free agent at the A three- or four-year deal worth league, Williams was selected to the Pro end of this season. something between $7 million and $10 Gridiron Green Bowl and tied for fifth in the league in Burnett told The Herald, million a season would be in line with NFL players are the most numerous “Hopefully, when I start off 9-0, they’ll what pitchers of a similar and even lesser on the list of the state’s highest-paid jocks. HIGHEST PAY (Continued on Page 18)

Highest Paid Athletes

Ranked by number of employees in Arkansas Athlete 2004 Salary/Winnings 2003 Salary/Winnings Sport Team/Sponsor Hometown/College 1 Torii Hunter $6,500,000 $4,750,000 Baseball Minnesota Twins Pine Bluff 2 Corliss Williamson $5,500,000 $5,000,000 Russellville, University of Arkansas 3 * $5,165,000 $4,917,000 Basketball Chicago Bulls Hamburg, University of Central Arkansas 4 Derek Fisher $4,900,000 $3,000,000 Basketball Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Little Rock 5 Mark Martin $3,948,500 $4,048,850 Nascar Viagra Batesville 6 Eric Warfield $2,500,000 $1,500,000 Football Kansas City Chiefs Texarkana 7 A.J. Burnett $2,500,000 $2,500,000 Baseball Florida Marlins North Little Rock 8 Joe Johnson $2,358,954 $1,850,000 Basketball Little Rock, UA 9 John Daly $2,359,507 $220,647 Golf Dardanelle, UA 10 William Roaf $2,000,000 $800,000 Football Kansas City Chiefs Pine Bluff 11 Rod Smith $1,892,858 $655,000 Football Denver BroncosTexarkana 12 Eric Hinske $900,000 $600,000 Baseball Toronto Blue Jays UA 13 Ray Brown $760,000 $781,200 Football Washington Redskins Marion, Arkansas State University 14 Ray Lee Johnson $760,000 $3,802,100 Football Fordyce, UA 15 Keith Traylor $760,000 $1,603,300 Football Malvern 16 Carlos Emmons $660,000 $1,700,800 Football New York Giants ASU 17 Bobbie Williams $650,000 $1,553,600 Football Cincinnati BengalsUA 18 Quinton Caver $628,000 $375,000 Football Kansas City Chiefs UA 19 Tag Ridings $623,262 $31,275 Golf UA 20 Kenoy Kennedy $600,000 $530,000 Football Denver BroncosUA 21 Greg Wesley $535,000 $1,322,300 Football Kansas City Chiefs England, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 22 Steve Foley $535,000 $690,000 Football San Diego Chargers Little Rock 23 David Barrett $535,000 $1,321,200 Football New York Jets Osceola, UA 24 Brenden Pappas $524,905 $1,307,809 Golf UA 25 Glen Day $519,935 $788,557 Golf Little Rock NR Jermain Taylor DND DND Boxing Little Rock

Sources: Players Association, USA Today.com salaries database, Nascar Football and basketball players’ salaries are for 2004/05 and 2003/04 seasons. NR: Not ranked because did not disclose complete winnings (DND). *Retired due to injuries with a year left on his contract. Research by Chip Taulbee and Nate Hinkel