Bob Marley‘s brand generates $16 million per year and he is the 11th highest earning dead musician according to Forbes in 2021. Other than music, Bob’s Brand is associated with speakers, turntables, headphones, clothing, lighters, psychedelics, thanks to an exclusive multi-year license agreement with Silo Wellness Inc. However, over the years the Africa Unite singer has inspired many sports stars and sporting activities across the world.
Marley’s influence and inspiration goes hand in hand as his music catalogue grows in value. It is hard to find a musician or sports star from boxing, track and field to cricket who is not influenced by Bob Marley. WMV takes a look at Marley’s influence on sports.
Ajax Amsterdam and Adidas, in collaboration with the Marley family, released the away kit on August 20, 2021 as a tribute to the love shared by the club and its fans for reggae legend Bob Marley and his iconic song, Three Little Birds. The team’s website crashed on release day as Ajax fans and others from around the world were trying to order the club’s new third kit.
“I am beyond touched that Ajax has taken Three Little Birds and made it their anthem,” Cedella Marley, CEO of the Marley Group Of Companies, said about the release of the kit. “Stories like this warm my heart and show how impactful songs like Three Little Birdscan be. Soccer was everything to my father. To use his words: football is freedom,” she said.
Bob Marley juggling a football in Paris on May 10, 1977. Marley and friends were due to play in a friendly match against French personalities, but due to bad weather the match was cancelled.
Bob Marley joins former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Sugar Ray Robinson on stage during a benefit concert for the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation on Nov. 27, 1979, in West Hollywood, Calif.
Neville Garrick, Bob’s graphic designer recalled how Bob met Robison on November 27, 1979 in a Facebook post in 2019 and adding how Bob had a chance to meet Muhammad Ali, but instead chose to sit in the lobby as he passed by to enter his limousine.
“Bob Marley & the Wailers performed their final concert of the California leg at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood. This show was for the legendary and iconic boxer Sugar Ray Robinson Foundation. Unknown to many Bob is a big boxing fan and an admirer of Sugar Ray and was elated to do a benefit show for his hero. Bob on the last two tours took along two pairs of boxing 
gloves and often sparred with Desi Smith in Miami and on the road. Earlier on this tour when he did 4 nights at the Apollo we were staying at the Essex House Hotel in NYC. I got word that Muhammad Ali was staying in the same hotel. I suggested to Bob that I could try to arrange a meeting with Ali. Bob being the shy superstar declined, instead we waited in the hotel lobby and waved to him like an average fan as Ali exited with his entourage to a waiting limousine. That’s Bob for you. After an outstanding performance at the Roxy one of Bob’s favorite venues he got to meet Sugar Ray Robinson at center stage making a presentation and a thank you from Sugar Ray,” Garrick shared.
John Crawley and Mark Butcher of the England cricket team in front of Bob Marley statue in Kingston, Jamaica, on Jan. 13, 1998.
San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker lies on his Harley Davidson motorcycle on the field at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on July 1, 1999. A caricature of Bob Marley is on the gas tank.
LA Galaxy midfielder Ezra Hendrickson rocks Bob Marley t-shirt under his jersey as he celebrates his team’s 3-2 win over the Honduran squad CD Olimpia in the Champions Cup final in Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 2001. Hendrickson scored two of the Galaxy’s three goals in the victory per Sports Illustrated.
South African cricketers Paul Adams and Roger Telemachus visited the Bob Marley museum for some inspiration at 56 Hope Road Kingston, Jamaica, on April 26, 2001.
Miami Heat center Brian Grant, with a tattoo of Bob Marley on his arm, as he focused on the shot during a game against the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Jan. 8, 2003.
British Boxer Lennox Lewis presents Bob Marley’s widow Rita Marley with an award for his Founding Member Induction at the UK Music Hall Of Fame in London on Nov. 11, 2004.
Florida Gators center Joakim Noah poses in front of a Marley mural in Gainesville, Fla., on Jan. 12, 2006.
Uruguayan footballer Sebastian Abreu, with an arm tattoo of Bob Marley, in a training session in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 12, 2007.
100m and 200m World Record holder Usain Bolt poses next to the legendary Bob Marley statue in Kingston, Jamaica, on Oct. 19, 2007.
Lewis Hamilton wears helmet with a Bob Marley image embossed and message on “One Love” in the center as he prepares to drive during the final practice session prior to qualifying for the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit on Oct. 29, 2011 in Noida, India.
