Pfizer and its trademark drug Viagra has been the main sponsor of NASCAR driver Mark Martin's Winston Cup race car since 2001. Rafael Palmeiro was next in line, though in a different capacity, serving as the spokesman for Pfizer, the following year.

Pfizer capitalized on the market value of these stars to spearhead a revolution in the erectile dysfunction scene to promote their drug Viagra. While the campaign was aimed at increasing the visibility and popularity of the drug, Martin said that Pfizer took the opportunity to get more men for frequent check ups. Roughly, Pfizer gave 50,000 free medical examinations to men at a mobile screening unit that traveled to each Winston Cup race.

In the recent years, Palmeiro has been endorsing a lucrative deal with Pfizer as a spokesman for Viagra. As a 37 year old first baseman/designated hitter of Texas Ranger, he became the first athlete from among the four major sports in the United States to pitch for an erectile dysfunction drug in 2002. His signing was a much talked about affair as people began questioning if he was an erectile dysfunction patient. He was even taunted on ESPN Radio with, "(Palmeiro) Better give us a free sample."

It is not necessary for an athlete to use the product he endorses, but it is true that the appeal of the product would be heightened, if he gives a first hand account of the Drug. The best endorser of Viagra would be an athlete in his late thirties who could pass off easily as a 45 plus man with erectile dysfunction. Palmeiro exactly fall into Pfizer's scheme for Viagra. Palmeiro was fit as a fiddle to endorse Viagra.

Viagra 'n' Sports