The Most Athletic Celebrities (Some Who You'd Never Expect)
Expect the unexpected.
Photo: Instagram/Justin Timberlake
You don't think celebs are simply good looks and character acting? Some of them have skills that far exceed our expectations (and abilities) when it comes to athleticism.
We shouldn't quit our day jobs,
The Last Night's Game Team
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Justin Timberlake is known for his dance moves, but he’s also an avid golfer. He started playing when he was 12, and rumor has it, he has a 6 handicap. (The lower, the better). Timberlake is also a partial owner of the Memphis Grizzlies (NBA – National Basketball Association) and has a stake in the Music City Grand Prix ownership group. LIKE I LOVE YOU
GEENA DAVIS
She may have played the sensitive catcher in “A League Of Their Own,” but maybe Geena Davis should’ve tried out for the role of Katniss? The six-foot-tall Academy Award-winning actress nearly qualified for the Olympics in archery. After being inspired by the 1996 Summer Olympics, she began practicing five hours a day, six days a week. After two years, she came in 24 out of 300 competitors in an Olympic qualifier. DANG GEENA
ADAM SANDLER
Adam Sandler is a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court. While he’s best known for playing a golfer in “Happy Gilmore,” it’s his basketball skills that have some NBA players talking. The 55-year-old actor has been known to delight in a pickup basketball game or two when filming. IT’S ALL IN THE HIPS
MARIA MENOUNOS
A-list celebrities and athletes alike line up to play in the Super Bowl’s “Madden Bowl,” a knock-out tournament that pits celebs against each other in a game of Madden NFL. Well, the former Access Hollywood host Maria Menounos showed them all who was boss. In 2011, she became the first woman ever to win the championship title for the Madden Bowl. TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE
JUSTIN BIEBER
We all know Justin Bieber is Canadian, and just because he’s Canadian doesn’t mean he’s great at hockey, except when he is. In 2012, he was offered an ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) contract with Bakersfield for his great puck handling skills. You might remember back in early 2020 when All-Star NHL (National Hockey League) goalie Jordan Binnington challenged Bieber to a shootout after seeing a video on the pop star’s Instagram. Bieber has also been known to pick up a game or two with a few of his NHL friends. NEVER SAY NEVER
Honorable mentions go out to Steve Carrell (hockey), Terry Crews (football) and Nelly (softball and football).
Hello Old Friend
How a male athlete found out he was pregnant, why the Biebs was enshrined on a baseball card and Tom Brady is going to be around for awhile?
Monday, we meet again.
Fresh start,
The Last Night’s Game Team
NFL (National Football League)
He may be the oldest quarterback and third oldest player in the NFL, but Tom Brady is showing no sign of slowing down. The QB, who turned 42 last week, signed a two-year, $70 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. He may be “old” but the six-time Super Bowl champion has been relatively healthy besides an ACL tear in 2008. FITNESS GOALS
Overtime
Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians (MLB - Major League Baseball) has spent much of his life in the shadow of pop star Justin Bieber. The pitcher made a name for himself, becoming the American League MVP in last month’s all-star game and one of the best in the game. That didn’t stop Topps baseball cards from a misprint on his baseball card, calling him Justin. The baseball playing Bieber thought it was hilarious and according to their Twitter conversation, the other Bieber did too. TOO LATE TO SAY SORRY?
Sideline stat
The NFL regular season kicks off in 31 days but that’s not stopping Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield from continuing the tradition of NFL players chugging beer on the big screen. Hyping up fans at a Cleveland Indians game (MLB), he joined his fellow football players and shotgunned a beer once he was put on the big screen. SURELY IT’S PART OF HIS TRAINING REGIMEN
Coaches’ corner
Well this is awkward. A European basketball player, D.J. Cooper, was suspended by FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) after his drug test revealed he was pregnant. Cooper is not some freak of nature but used his girlfriend’s urine to pass a drug test. It was likely she had no idea that she was pregnant when he tried to pass her sample for his own. ALL IN THE FAMILY
What to watch
On Wednesday, ESPN2 will yet again transform into ESPN8: The Ocho. The channel, inspired by “Dodgeball: The Movie,” will feature obscure sporting events (think Stupid Robot League and lawn mower racing). We’ll cover the big day in Wednesday’s Five Things To Know but if you want a head start on all the action, check out the special edition of the Sports Curious Podcast. LISTEN UP
5 Things To Know About The Mayweather vs. McGregor Fight
With over 50 million people projected to watch Saturday's fight in the U.S. alone, chances are you’ll cross paths with someone who will want to talk shop.
Always be prepared,
The Last Night’s Game Team
Five Things To Know About The Mayweather vs. McGregor Fight
Why is this matchup such a big deal? This fight brings together champions from two different disciplines – Mayweather is a boxer (and this is a boxing match) and McGregor is a mixed martial artist from the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
Floyd “Money” Mayweather has a 49-0 boxing record. A win on Saturday will give him the best record in boxing at 50-0 and he’s already filed five trademarks for the phrase “50-0.” It’s rumored he could make upwards of $400 million for Saturday's fight.
Experts think he doesn’t have a chance, but Irishman Conor McGregor has been dubbed “Mystic Mac” for making bold predictions and having them come true. The fighter, who made a record $3 million in a UFC fight, is predicted to make over $100 million for this fight. We’d let Mayweather punch us for that much too.
Sharing the spotlight is the “Confident” Grammy nominated Demi Lovato, who will sing the national anthem. No word on the crooner for the Irish anthem but our fingers are crossed for Bono. Lastly, while Justin Bieber is one of Mayweather’s BFFs, don’t look for him ringside as they’ve reportedly had a falling out this week.
The rules for the fight are strictly boxing rules. One exception is the weight of the gloves. (See the sideline stat below). What’s to stop McGregor from breaking out a martial arts move? Huge financial penalties and threats that Mayweather’s team will “sue him beyond belief.”
Where can I catch the fight? The match will stream live from Las Vegas on Pay-Per-View. There are also movie theaters across the country throwing watch parties. The main fight should take place closer to 11 pm EST.
If you’d like to place a bet, here are the odds. Oddly, they’re pretty comparable.
Overtime
Saddened by the violence, Spanish swimmer Fernando Alvarez wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the Barcelona attack at the Masters World Championships. Organizers told him no, so he observed his own moment of silence by standing on his platform for one minute after his race started. That’s a golden heart.
Sideline stat
Typically, UFC fighters fight with four ounce gloves and boxers fight with 10 ounce gloves, but the fighters won an appeal to change the glove weight to eight ounces for this match. This will make the punches more powerful.
Coaches’ corner
After weeks of speculation, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving away from LeBron James and to the Boston Celtics. Irving was traded for Isiah Thomas, who you might remember lost his sister in a car accident last year during the NBA (National Basketball Association) playoffs.
