Ranking The WAGs: The Playboy Playmates

There are certain things in life that go well together. Peanut butter and jelly. Eggs and bacon. Cookies and milk. Two other things that seemed destined to be intertwined from the very beginning were athletes and Playmates.

Athletes love trophies and Playmates love fame. It was a lethal combination. We saw it in the past and now we're starting to see it more and more. Reggie Bush is even rumored to propose to his Playmate, Kim Kardashian, if he wins a Super Bowl this year.

So to celebrate, let's take a look at some of the hottest Playmates ever to pass through the world of sports.

No. 20: Heidi Strobel - Cole Hamels

Heidi Strobel is benefited by why I call "The Survivor Effect." She was on the show Survivor and was easily one of the hottest women ever to grace that show. Week after week we got to see her in crazy conditions, still looking super hot.

But bring her out into the real world and she loses a bit of her luster. Especially in Playboy, where she no doubt is pretty and has a great body, but she just has trouble competing with the rest of the Playmates.

Still, pretty good catch by Cole Hamels.

No. 19: Amy McCarthy - Dan Hinote

We all know the hot younger sister. She's been around. She may be overshadowed by her even hotter older sister (in this case, Jenny McCarthy), but when you look at her on her own, the hot younger sister is, well, hot.

Hugh Hefner realized it when he saw Amy McCarthy, and Dan Hinote obviously had no problem with it. She may not be Jenny, but I've certainly seen worse.

No. 18: Alicia Rickter - Mike Piazza

Playboy Playmate and Baywatch babe wasn't Piazza's first Playmate, but she was definitely his last. When you get a chance to lock this up, you take it.

I would have loved to be at the wedding. Not for them, but for the guest list. It included two other women from this list and an additional Baywatch hottie. That seems like a party to me.

No. 17: Heather Kozar - Tim Couch

Heather Kozar was named the Playmate of the Year, but I have dock her major points for who she is married to.

Come on. Tim Couch? One of the biggest busts in the NFL? A guy who cried when his fans booed him? You couldn't do better than that?

Even when another quarterback almost stole her away, it was Cade McNown. Another bust. This girl must be attracted to failure.

No. 16: Brittany Binger - Grady Sizemore

By now you've heard the story. Brittany Binger had her computer hacked and certain risque images of her boyfriend, Grady Sizemore, were leaked onto the internet.

Honestly, I thought that was cause for celebration, because before that point I didn't know who Brittany Binger was and now I think it's safe to say I'm a very big fan.

No. 15: Jennifer Walcott - Adam Archuletta

Jennifer Walcott has made quite a living from being hot. She milked the Playboy thing about as much as possible and then even appeared in some movies and TV shows despite the fact that she can't act one little bit.

Who am I kidding, that doesn't matter. When you're that hot, you don't need any skills other than the ability to photograph well.

No. 14: Meghan Allen - Devin Harris

While Devin Harris had one great year last year, he is now doomed to toil in obscurity in New Jersey on an awful Nets team for a while. But I'm doubting that he's too upset.

No, because win or lose, Devin Harris gets to come home to his smokin' hot Playmate girlfriend, Meghan Allen. That's enough to make you forget about playing with Trenton Hassell for awhile.

No. 13: Patti McGuire - Jimmy Connors

Tennis players no doubt get some super hot chicks, but to be honest they are mostly foreign. But it makes sense that the most successful American player of all time would get himself a Playmate.

Jimmy Connors was originally married to Chris Evert before marrying McGuire six years later. Which, sorry Chris, is like going from a Prius to a Corvette. Good decisions like that are what made the man a great player.

No. 12: Carmen Electra - Dennis Rodman

God bless you and your horrible decision making, Carmen Electra.

For one stupid night of being married to Dennis Rodman, I get to throw you up on lists like this for the rest of your life. And dammit, it just feels good.

We owe so much to the woman who seems intent on making the world a better place. What does she do? She only made the greatest workout series know to man.

No. 11: Willa Ford - Mike Modano

Singer, actress, Playmate. There's hardly a medium that Willa Ford has not sexed up with her presence. She's married to a hockey player and to my knowledge has never played football, but that doesn't keep her from rocking a sexy outfit like this one.

Her topless waterskiing scene was the one thing that redeemed the new Friday the 13th movie. So Willa, just keep doing what you're doing.

No. 10: Hope Dworaczyk - Jason Kidd

Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.

But you know what, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.

(This description brought to you by The Shawshank Redemption)

No. 9: Gena Lee Nolin - Cale Hulse

Yet another Baywatch/Playmate crossover, Gena Lee Nolin just had one of those bodies that was begging for either a swimsuit or a sheet strategically placed over it. One of the two.

Gena may have been a beach bunny, but she got the hots for hockey and Cale Hulse. Not that he was especially talented or anything, but then again, it's not like she really needs the money.

No. 8: Kim Kardashian - Reggie Bush

Finally, the girl who was famous for no reason gave us a reason with her spread in Playboy. Of course, she never really has to worry about not being famous ever again.

Even if she breaks up with Reggie Bush, she knows fame is just another sex tape away.

No. 7: Laura Cover - Aaron Boone

Aaron Boone may have had a fairly mediocre career, but he certainly won a hell of a trophy for it.

It's ironic that Laura's last name is cover, because this is one of the few pictures on the internet where she is actually covered.

No. 6: Lisa Dergan - Scott Podsednik

Lisa Dergan is one of my favorite Playmates because she took to sports almost immediately. After becoming a Playmate, she got a job in sports, which I feel like every Playmate should do.

Then, after she left the biz, she married baseball player Scott Podsednik to stay around sports as much as possible. That is dedication.

No. 5: Kendra Wilkinson - Hank Baskett

You have to wonder if Hank Baskett is revered or ridiculed by his teammates for his wife.

On one hand, she is ridiculously hot, like almost too hot. On the other hand, she doinked Hugh Hefner, probably multiple times, and now Hank is doomed to a life of barely making NFL teams and appearing on her TV show.

You know what? I think they still give him props anyway. Just look at her.

No. 4: Brande Roderick - Glenn Cadrez

I have Brande Roderick ranked this high because of her outstanding ability to age well. Now 35, she has overcome that whole "post-Playmate" syndrome and continues to be absolutely stunning.

And I had to give her something, because now she's married to an ex-NFLer who now owns a company that finances low-budget horror movies. Ah, the lifestyles of the rich and famous. So luxurious.

No. 3: Jodi Ann Paterson - Michael Andretti

Our first Playmate of the Year for the new millennium, Jodi Ann Paterson was also the first PMOY to have a college degree, so hats off (any everything else off) to her.

In 2006, Ms. Paterson decided to take the leap into WAGs by marrying into one of most famous families in racing, the Andrettis. Sure, Michael was on his way out when they got together, but it still counts. I'm counting it. I love being the decider.

No. 2: Carmella DeCesare - Jeff Garcia

Once one of the most desired Playmates ever, Carmella DeCesare is now trying to distance herself from the Playboy. It may have something to do with the fact that she is now running one of her husband Jeff Garcia's charities.

So I think it's safe to say that we won't be seeing any new pictures like this of her, but we'll always have the memories. Oh, and the pictures too, I forgot that those won't be going away anytime soon.

No. 1: Marilyn Monroe - Joe DiMaggio

Okay, if you really prop up Marilyn Monroe to Carmella DeCesare, most hot blooded males in the country now would go for Carmella, but I just can't pick against the legend.

All of the women on this list have been desired...a lot. But none of them could really claim to have been the most desired woman on the planet. Marilyn Monroe held that title for a while. And while her romance with Joltin' Joe didn't last very long, it lives on in the annuls of history.

The very first Playmate centerfold dating an athlete. Sex symbol, legend, innovator. Thank you, Marilyn, for showing all of these women the way.