Beyond the Sporting Life For pro athletes, entrepreneurial endeavors are a natural play.

Just as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is entering the business realm and helping shore up the Crescent City's post-Katrina recovery, former Detroit Pistons guard and NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing is helping drive Motown's rebirth--and his approach is even more hands-on: Last November, Bing (who launched his own automotive product supply firm after retiring from pro basketball) was elected as mayor of Detroit, vowing to rejuvenate the crumbling local economy by simplifying licensing and permits for new businesses.

Few athletes are able to achieve the levels of influence as Brees or Bing, but a growing number of pros is following an entrepreneurial path--and not always after their playing days end, either.

Mark Schlereth