Professional athletes are paid millions
of dollars to take care of business on the
field of play. However, it takes a special
type of athlete to score big after the final
buzzer sounds. In this week’s edition of
ro sports, we present five athletes and
highlight what makes them hot off the
playing field. –a.r.
SEXIEST BODY:Serena Williams
Serena Williams has
never been afraid to
flaunt her statuesque
body. Since exuding
sexiness at the
2002 U.S. Open
by wearing a black
catsuit, Williams
has enhanced the
careers of many red
carpet photographers
and bloggers by
consistently showing
off her goods in a
tasteful manner.
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MOST INFLUENTIAL:
LeBron James
Kobe Bryant and the
Los Angeles Lakers
walked away as
NBA champions in
2009, but LeBron
James remains the
most influential
athlete. He continues
to be Nike’s $90
million man and
he will delve into
Hollywood in 2009 by
executive producing
a documentary
titled “More Than a
Game.”
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BEST DRESSED:
Swin Cash
The 6-foot-1
WNBA star walks
with the grace of a
supermodel. Swin
Cash remains at the
forefront of fashion
with an exquisite
style that is a perfect
blend of power and
sexiness.
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LIFE OF THE PARTY:
Shaquille O’Neal
Although Shaquille
O’Neal’s days in the
NBA are numbered,
he continues to be
the jovial giant that
made him the life
of the party during
his prime. O’Neal
probably won’t
break-dance anytime
soon, but he still
has enough spunk
to do an impromptu
freestyle about Kobe
Bryant and challenge
a fan to a game of
H-O-R-S-E on Twitter.
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MOST EXOTIC COUPLE:
Kenyon Martin
and Trina
This relationship
seems tailor-made
for reality TV. Martin,
the brazen Denver
Nuggets forward;
and Trina, hip-hop’s
favorite thick chick,
are proof that thug
love can prosper. If
Martin and Trina are
still an item by the
start of the 2009-10
NBA season, look for
the couple to become
blog sensations and
VH-1 or BET may
even hire a film crew
to follow them.
HOT CELEBRITY COUPLE
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He is a bloodless basketball assassin and the reigning undisputed NBA champion for the nation’s premier franchise. She is a Latina beauty queen with a penchant for bustier busting. Together, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant make up the dream team of sports celebrity couples.
At this moment, Bryant pretty much owns the city of Los Angeles. He is perched at the pinnacle of the sports universe after capturing his first NBA championship title without Shaquille O’Neal (fourth overall) and winning the Finals MVP Award to boot. Bryant is the one of the most prolific scorers and dynamic personalities in NBA history, the singular talent of the sports perennially premiere team in one of the world’s most glamorous cities. A former child prodigy and Naismith High School Player of the Year out of Philadelphia, Bryant surpassed the expectations of even the most seasoned pundits, placing on the first-team of the All-NBA, All-Star and All-Defensive teams almost every year of his 10-year career. His superlative ball-handling skills, high basketball I.Q., aerial acrobatics and relentless single-minded pursuit of greatness have bedazzled fans and foes alike for the past decade.
Bryant’s wife also has an interesting story line. The daughter of Mexican parents, the first lady of basketball was born Vanessa Cornejo Ubrieta in Panoma, Calif., on May 5, 1982. Her parents divorced when Vanessa was young and she eventually adopted the name of her stepfather, Stephen Lane. Bryant met her in 1999 when she was a 17-year-old background dancer in Tha Eastsidaz’s video “G’d Up.” Despite being barred from visiting her high school campus and prom because of intense media scrutiny, Kobe and Vanessa were married six months after meeting. They have two adorable daughters, Natalie Diamante, 6, and Gianna Maria-Onore, 2. –terry shropshire
BUILDING AN ENTERTAINMENT BRAND
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Carmelo Anthony and La La Vazquez are leading examples of what it means to be a power couple. Currently engaged, Anthony and Vazquez have positioned themselves to become major players in film and music with their Krossover Productions Company. Anthony also serves as a prominent endorser for Brand Jordan and TAG Body Spray. Rolling out sports recently caught up with Anthony and Vazquez at the TAG’s Signature Series Launch party in Los Angeles. –a.r.
Why is it important for you to delve into projects outside sports?
Anthony: It’s very important. I’m excited to be a part of the TAG brand and putting my own company out in the forefront. We have a production company and a record label. Our first movie was Tyson and our artists are Diego Cash and Cassidy. So we’re doing a bit of everything right now.
Your company produced the Tyson film. What was that like?
Vazquez: Working on the Tyson documentary was a great experience. It was a great way to enter the movie world and let Hollywood know that we are serious. That was our first project and we would like to thank everyone who supported it. The film did very well and there’s a lot more to come from our company.
Have either of you spoken with Mike Tyson since the death of his daughter?
Vazquez: We sent our condolences to Mike Tyson after his daughter died and let him know that we would be there for him if needed anything.
Anthony: I got a chance to talk to him at the ESPY Awards. He seemed to be in good spirits and he appreciated our condolences.
How are things coming with your wedding plans?
Vazquez: We are starting the initial process of putting the wedding together. We have picked a [wedding] date, but we’re not ready to reveal it to the public just yet. But it will be soon.
