JUST recently, I read an interesting article about the pervasive acts of infidelity among married sporting stars across the globe.

The writer, supported by a prominent psychologist, argues that this phenomenon is inevitable in the present milieu based on a number of factors, including wealth and the ‘rock star’ status that these individuals are accorded.

While polygamy is usually frowned upon by most countries in the western hemisphere — predominantly underpinned by religious beliefs, the modern sporting star will be severely tested to remain circumspect in a fast-paced world where unfaithfulness is increasingly accepted as a symbol of machismo.

The writer suggests that the individuals involved in this practice are not restricted to a specific sport and, in, fact, are drawn from a wide cross-section of disciplines, including basketball, baseball, hockey, cricket, and football.

However, according to the report, recent sanctions brought by spouses against some of the prominent ‘practitioners’ — like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant — have triggered a ‘wising-up’ among several of these superstars, to the extent that an increasing number are insisting on a prenuptial clause in their marriage contracts to protect them against marauding laws that universally favour women.

The common denominator in these prenuptial contracts is, of course, a clause that will ensure that these superstars are not left bankrupt as a consequence of their indiscretions, with an increasing number insisting they be allowed to keep their earnings made before they got married, in the case of a divorce.

Certainly, Woods may have been the most seriously affected as far as financial losses are concerned, with reports suggesting that the amorous swinger may have had to fork out between $750 million and $833 million to his former wife and the mother of his two children — reportedly the biggest payout ever seen in a high-profile divorce case.

Lakers star Bryant is the latest in an alarmingly long list of sportsmen to have been hauled over the coals by enraged spouses who have said ‘no mas’ after stumbling upon the philandering habits of their superstar husbands.

In fact, according to an LA Times report, Vanessa Bryant stands to pocket “at least $75 million”, in addition to spousal and child support, from the imminent divorce settlement with Kobe.

Sadly for the basketball star, it is understood that the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement, which makes the ex-wife entitled to half their community property.

With Kobe’s net worth estimated at $150 million, a prominent lawyer explained that Kobe could have saved “half of his fortune” had he insisted on a prenuptial agreement.

Interestingly, basketball legend Michael Jordan — who, by the way, has managed to steer clear of this type of scandal and apart from a long-time gambling indiscretion in the 1990s, maintains a squeaky clean public image — is said to have paid over an estimated $168 million to ex-wife Juanita Vanoy Jordan in 2007 when their divorce was finalised.

In addition to the $168 million, Juanita also got the couple’s seven-acre estate in Chicago, as well as custody of their three children. Interestingly, the couple did sign a prenuptial agreement, which made Juanita entitled to half of Michael’s fortune, with the $168 million reportedly only a third of the megastar’s wealth, however.

Considering that even in retirement Michael Jordan remains among the top-earning sports figures in the world, his divorce payout should be a minor hiccup for debatably the greatest player that basketball has ever known.

Just a week ago, one of Jordan’s signature Nike Air sneakers, the Air Jordan 11 Concord — which escalated in popularity back in 1996 — was back on the market. It attracted record sales and drew hysteria in Atlanta as customers broke down the doors to sport goods stores to purchase the sneakers that is widely regarded as the most popular footwear of all time.

From a sporting viewpoint, what is most interesting in situations like these is how these sporting stars perform amid personal crises which, especially with the current upsurge in technology, will never escape the probing eyes of the media.

For Woods, it has been a miserable two years since the screen was unceremoniously removed from an outrageous and ultimately, much-publicised lifestyle that involved multiple extramarital affairs. During this torturous period, Woods, for the first time since becoming a pro, missed the cut on a few occasions and endured 749 days without a tournament victory.

Further, the former ‘poster boy’ of the sport fell to a low of 58 in early November, from his customary No 1 ranking — which he held for a record 281 weeks.

But all that was before December 4 when he rebounded to beat a field of 18 of golf’s top players to land the Chevron World Challenge title — his first on the PGA Tour in over two years, since September 2009.

Now vaulted to No 21 in the world with this long-awaited victory, Woods is obviously getting over his prolonged nightmare, no doubt healed by that crucial element known as time.

For the genuine lovers of sport — and golf in particular — and for those who understand the transience and unpredictability of life, this is a human triumph of the highest order.

Woods, an acutely sensitive individual who was stunned by the sudden turn of events two years ago, has obviously learned to forgive himself, first of all. And, like anybody who has had to deal with a personal tragedy, he has picked himself up, since the show must go on and life continues.

As for Bryant and a slew of NBA and other sporting stars, the public eye is never far away. As we enter the new year, their words for the moment is that ‘Discretion is the better part of valour’.