Fact or Fiction: The 25 Biggest Sports Dating Rumors of the Year

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Every week I am bombarded with emails from people claiming to have inside information about a certain athlete being spotted at a local bar kissing on some female celebrity. Most of them are a waste of time, while some actually turn out to be true.

Thanks to the internet and countless emails, phone calls and tweets, I have put together a list of the 25 biggest sports dating rumors of the year.

Oh, and I have decided to give you the 411 and tell you if they were fact or fiction. Enjoy.

25. Gerard Pique and Shakira: Fact

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For months, people were asking if she was dating Gerard Pique. The internet was filled with maybes and possiblys, but no one confirmed it right away.

Well, now that she is five months pregnant with Gerard's child (via Emily Sheridan of the Daily Mail), I think it is safe to say this is a factual rumor.

24. Michael Phelps and Megan Rossee: Fact

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What happens to a man after he wins 22 Olympic gold medals? He not only becomes famous, he becomes the most popular dude in school. Every school.

The rumors that Megan Rossee is only dating Phelps for her own selfish reasons (via Jon Boon of the Radar Online)—to be famous—is just sad to hear.

How does anyone know this? Just because she isn't famous herself? Grow up people.

23. Serena Williams and Coach Patrick Mouratoglou: Fiction

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According to Serena Williams on Twitter, she is not dating tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

The tweet, posted on September 25 during a shopping spree with Patrick in Milan reads, "Dear camera man in Milan please stop following my around! Your pictures will have people assuming false things!!!! Ugh #Overit"

I think that gives us all a good idea where she stands.

22. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: Fact

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I felt obligated to include Kim Kardashian in a list of athletes and dating rumors. It is my duty as a writer.

And she might not be dating any athletes right now, but how much longer do you think this Kanye West thing will last? Honestly?

21. Lolo Jones and Ndamukong Suh: Fiction

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This is why I stay away from breaking news, I just can't trust sources anymore. There are too many social avenues and media outlets for people to get news out there that rumors happen sometimes just for fun.

But Lolo actually broke the news that she was not dating Suh to ESPN.

20. Christian Ponder and Samantha Steele: Undecided

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Much like the millions of people who haven't decided on who to vote for in the upcoming Presidential election, I have no clue what to do with this one. Yet.

Our friends over at BustedCoverage.com have done all the research and broke down a few innocent tweets between Christian Ponder and Samantha Steele.

It might take a few months, but I am starting to think this one might end up holding true.

19. Robert Kraft and Ricki Noel Lander: Fact

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This is one of those pairs that makes you take a second look. 

At first, it was nothing more than a rumor. But now, both of them are not trying to hide it anymore (via the Boston Globe). This is what a billionaire is supposed to do with his free time: date beautiful models.

18. Brian Urlacher and Jenny McCarthy: Fact

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Before I even had a chance to report that these two lovebirds are officially dating, they break up.

I guess that is what happens when you are an All-Pro NFL linebacker from Chicago with millions of dollars at your disposal. 

Now they just claim to be friends (via Julie Jordan of People Magazine). Friends with benefits? You decide.

17. Tim Tebow and Taylor Swift, Dianna Agron, Katy Perry: Fiction

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Tim Tebow has done more with his NFL career than most talented athletes do during their entire lives, thanks to the world's obsession with Tebow.

He has been attached to more female celebrities than George Clooney (via The Huffington Post). Although he does deny all the rumors, it is still funny to see his name always pop up everywhere. He is a backup QB, why do so many people care?

Does anyone even know who Tom Brady's backup is? What about Peyton Manning's?

16. Hope Solo and Kwame Darko: Fiction

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All it takes is one picture posted on Twitter and the internet goes nuts over it. At least, that is what happened with Hope Solo and Kwame Darko after he posted a picture of them at a party where he called her his boo. 

The internet ran with it. 

So now that we know it isn't true, I can sleep better at night not having to worry about Hope Solo being taken. 

15. Rihanna and J.R. Smith: Fact

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This relationship might read fact, but it was merely just a fling since Rihanna still has a thing for Chris Brown (via Holly Frith of Entertainment Wise).

It is rare to see an athlete and a pop star last longer than a few months. Things like scheduling conflicts, tours and infidelity usually lead to a breakup. These two might have fun, but this might go no further than that.

14. Erin Andrews and Chace Crawford: Fiction

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It is never a good idea to go with one source, but I did find a solid one from Sports Illustrated that claims Erin Andrews was never dating Chace Crawford.

But this isn't the first time Andrews was allegedly attached to a big-name celebrity. She has been linked to so many different men, it would take all night to list them. I just wish my name would have been on that list.

13. Kevin Durant and Letoya Luckett: Fact

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We are going to run with this one too. 

I haven't found any confirmation of the two of them dating because both Kevin Durant and Letoya Luckett are staying quiet and not revealing anything to the public (via Bobby Pollier of EnStarz).

But it will only be a few months into the season before this one becomes official. Trust me.

12. Ryan Lochte and K Michelle: Fiction

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How do you end speculation to a rumor? By asking one of the two people involved.

K. Michelle came out in August claiming that both her and Ryan Lochte are nothing more than just good friends. More like friends with benefits.

But I will let you make that call.

11. Tyler Seguin and Aly Raisman: Fiction

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This was just one of those moments when I was found laying in a pool of my own laughter after falling ill to the media's attempt to fool us into believing everything they feed us.

Aly Raisman is coming off one of the greatest Olympics from any female in U.S. history, so of course, she is going to have her name dropped on many different websites as a possible mate. It just comes with the territory.

10. Kobe Bryant and Stephanie Rice: Fiction

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Stephanie Rice is a gorgeous female athlete. She is also one of the most popular people to come out of Australia since Crocodile Dundee, so being put into a relationship with Kobe Bryant is nothing new.

It started off as a simple rumor and thanks to Kobe's history of infidelity, people rolled with it and the next thing we knew, it was all over the place.

Thankfully, it wasn't true (via The Inquisitr) and now we can all go about our happy lives knowing Stephanie Rice is as single today as she was then.

9. Gio Gonzalez and Angela Rypien: Fiction

Image via twitter.com

Why would any man turn down Angela Rypien? I don't care how many women you can get, this is one of those moments when you say yes. Always say yes.

Gio Gonzalez came out and shot down this rumor almost as fast as it started (via Sarah Kogod of The Washington Post). Again, thanks to Twitter, the rumor mill got going after one tweet.

What would we do without Twitter?

8. Elin Nordegren and Douglas Murray: Fiction

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Douglas Murray must be the one wearing the pants in this relationship or lack thereof because he was the one, not Elin, who came out and told everyone they were just friends (via Fox News).

When will Elin ever learn? Maybe she should stick to dating business men and non-athletes.

7. Dwight Howard and Ciara: Fiction

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Thank you Jesus. If you hear applause, it is because I am clapping like a redneck at a rodeo after hearing that Ciara was NOT dating Dwight Howard (via Necole Bitchie).

It isn't that I hate Dwight Howard, I could care less, it is that I have always wanted to be her Goodies.

6. Mark Sanchez and Eva Longoria: Fact

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Before I even have a chance to explain the results of this relationship, I get a message about a baby possibly being involved and Mark Sanchez isn't the father (via The Inquisitr). 

OK, so maybe I read that wrong. Yes, Mark Sanchez isn't the father, but it's not because she went elsewhere for the kitchen supplies, Eva Longoria isn't pregnant. Yet.

I don't want to sound like a complete doucher, but who would want a baby with Mark Sanchez? He isn't even responsible enough to run an NFL offense, how do you think he will be able to raise a child.

Boom!

5. Alex Rodriguez and Kyna Treacy: ????

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Alex Rodriguez was once a 40/115/.305 player. Everyone in MLB wanted to get to him. His defensive skills were outstanding. I saw him play SS for Texas back in the day, and he threw a runner out from deep short as he was running away from the infield without stepping into the throw. The man could play.

But much like The Blair Witch Project 2, things change. Nothing stays the same, and he has progressively gone downhill in production and that is the reason he was benched during the ALCS. But being benched didn't slow down his game.

While sitting in the dugout during game one of the ALCS, he began flirting with Kyna Treacy (via USA TODAY), an Australian bikini model, and even gave her a baseball with his number on it.

Pretty ballsy for a man with a famous girlfriend, Torrie Wilson. Only time will tell before we figure out if this is true or not. 

4. Paulina Gretzky and Jarret Stoll: Fact

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I am no medical doctor, but even I can tell you that Paulina Gretzky is one of the sexiest women on the planet and should have been considered for Esquire's sexiest woman alive.

But now she is confirmed to be dating LA Kings star Jarret Stoll (via NESN), fresh off his Stanley Cup victory.

3. Shaun White and Bar Refaeli: Fact

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From every place I searched, I couldn't find a single website to confirm or deny this relationship. But I did run into a few places that called Shaun White the ex-boyfriend of Bar Refaeli (via the Miami Herald). That is good enough.

Maybe next time these celebrities won't play hide and seek with our emotions and just enjoy being open about their relationships.

2. Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis: Fact

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Derek Jeter didn't end the 2012 MLB season the way he or any of his fans wanted him to, thanks to a broken ankle he suffered during game one of the ALCS.

Now, all anyone can talk about is his rumored new girl toy, Hannah Davis. DJ dates women for a few months and then moves on. This might be just another one of his future ex-girlfriends, but the rumors are sounding more and more true each day (via Danica Bellini of Mstarz).

1. Kate Upton and Justin Verlander: Fact

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It wasn't until Justin Verlander's grandfather told Celebuzz.com that his grandson was dating a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model that we believed it to be true.

Now we are 100 percent sure these two lovebirds are a pair. Now all he needs is a World Series ring, and he will put Charlie Sheen to shame.

 

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