BASKETBALL superstar Lauren Jackson will become Canberra's highest-paid athlete on a per-minute basis should she accept a $220,000 offer to make a brief WNBL appearance this season.
The Canberra Capitals, ACT Government and local businesses are working together to lure her back from Russia.
Jackson will still stand alone at the peak of the capital's sport stars despite the ACT Brumbies forking out a considerable amount to sign Matt Giteau for the 2010 Super14 season.
If she signs with the Capitals for an 11-game stint and averages about 30minutes on the court each match, the 28-year-old will earn $666 per minute.
Given Jackson is returning from a back injury, she is unlikely to stay on court for a full 40-minute match.
Brumbies flyhalf Giteau will earn roughly $425 per minute should he play every minute of the Super 14 season, from his deal with the Brumbies plus a consortium of local businesses who helped secure his services.
Giteau also gets top-up funding from the ARU for Tests, which takes his annual salary to about $900,000.
Canberra Raiders five-eighth Terry Campese will take home about $156 every 60seconds he's on the field, if he plays all of the 24 NRL matches.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times