The Coolest Cats in Sports

Unflappable might be the best way to describe the mentality of these athletes.

Controversy has followed them off the field, sometimes even on the field.

Yet they produce with legendary skill that just confirms they are amongst the very best at what they do.

Love them or hate them, you must respect their athletic achievements at the least.

Here are some athletes who keep pushing the envelope of excellence in their respective sports, no matter what chaos seems to surround them.

Tiger Woods

Perhaps the most well-known athlete and sex addict on the planet today.

He looked silly, stupidly listening to Nike, shooting a commercial with a remorseful look as audio of his deceased father's voice played over it. The message meant was contrition, but all the response that followed was ridicule.

Yes, Tiger prefers ugly Applebee's waitresses as sex partners over his model wife, but the guy can play golf pretty good.

After months of torrid stalking from the media scrutinizing his every breath, Woods just shot his best first round ever at the Masters.

Maybe he should keep cheating on his family, because the results are clear that he is hard to stop no matter what obstacle is before him.

Serena Williams

Serena flipped out in the 2009 US Open, got fined $175,000, made violent gestures at an official, and was put on probation. She also refused to apologize initially.

No worries—she ended up being named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press after winning five Grand Slams that year. She has 23 so far in total.

She then bought a stake in the Miami Dolphins, is developing television shows and fashion apparel, and became the first active female professional athlete to appear in a feminine hygiene product advertising campaign.

She also made the most money of any woman in sports in 2009 and has made the most money of any female athlete since 1995.

She just won her record fifth Australian Open and is just the third person ever to win one Grand Slam title in three different decades. Ken Rosewall and Martina Navratilova are the other two.

Expect more from a woman just 28 years old.

John Riggins

"I'm bored, I'm broke, and I'm back."

That is what Riggo told reporters in 1981 after taking an 11-month sabbatical from the Washington Redskins.

Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs had just visited him earlier, asking him to return under rules Gibbs had for his club.

It was a good move for Redskins Nation and the NFL. A young group of blockers would soon take the league by storm and be affectionately dubbed "The Hogs." Riggins was given the honor "Piglet" by the unit and was soon called the "Diesel" because he ran through opponents so much.

He brought the franchise their first championship in 40 years in 1982 by being named MVP in Super Bowl XVII after running for 166 yards on 38 carries.

His most famous carry came with the game in the balance in the fourth quarter with 10 minutes to go. On 4th-and-inches, Gibbs ordered his offense to go for the first down and called the play "70 chip."

Riggins broke through a tackle and took off 43 yards for the winning score.

His status as a gridiron legend was cemented not long after at a party involving Redskins and government officials.

He was intoxicated at a party that was to feature a speech by the president. He told US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to "loosen up Sandie, baby," and then fell asleep under a table during the president's speech.

Since his retirement as a player, he has continued to be outspoken. Often he is heard railing against current Redskins owner Dan Snyder, once saying that Snyder has a "dark heart."

He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Redskins' Ring of Fame. He will always be one of the most beloved figures in the DC Metro area, because he did it his way and never let his teammates down.

No matter what chaos surrounded him.

Alex Rodriguez

Where A-Rod goes, drama follows.

Especially while living in a fishbowl like New York City.

He had been caught cheating on his ex-wife with prostitutes, even famous ones like Kristin Davis and Madonna.

He admitted to cheating in baseball by taking performance-enhancing drugs and lost his wife and children under the charge of "emotional abandonment."

He also infuriated New York Yankee fans by claiming his criticisms came from the fact he made a lot of money and was biracial. He also said the Boston Red Sox were his first choice because it was the "best team and city" for him.

He kept coming from each event seemingly unscathed and producing on the baseball diamond with prodigious statistics.

Then there are the fans who often point out his inability to produce in postseason play on the same level he does in the regular season.

He burst that myth in 2009 by climbing higher on the all-time home runs list, currently ranked 10th best, and having an excellent World Series where his team won the title.

He has 12 All-Star games, 10 Silver Slugger Awards, four Hank Aaron Awards, three MVP awards, and two Gold Gloves so far. Through the hail of bad decisions made by him off the field, there seems to be very little he cannot do on it.

Joe Namath

We are going old school here.

"Broadway" Joe is the only New York Jet, who spent the majority of his career on the team, to be put on the Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

He ambled into New York City in 1965 and soon was throwing the most famous parties in the city. Anyone who was anybody made these soirees.

In 1969, he led the Jets to Super Bowl III against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

It was a battle for respect by the American Football League against the established National Football League.

Namath was already a media favorite, often seen wearing a full-length fur coat in public on the sideline during a game. He then shocked the world by guaranteeing the Jets would defeat the Colts, which was followed by a showering of criticism and ridicule.

When he made good on his guarantee, he instantly became a legend that time would not forget. His celebrity also had him soon starring in a movie called C.C. and Company shortly after the victory.

After his retirement, fans saw Joe as a broadcaster for a few years. They also saw a drunk Namath ask a reporter for a kiss on national television.

Though he had aged like fine wine, Joe Willie Namath still had that wild streak in him—one that helped propel him into Big Apple lore.

Albert Pujols

OK, not much drama here.

There has been rumblings about whether he is taking performance-enhancing drugs. But that comes from so many other athletes being caught and his machine-like production.

The man had 1,717 hits in just 1,399 games at the end of the 2009 season.

He also is heavily involved in charity, helping the poor and people with Down syndrome, along with their families.

He may not be controversial, but he is cool.

He also may be the best hitter seen since the days of Ted Williams.

You Decide

You can pick wide receiver divas like Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, or even Michael Irvin—men who are drama queens but produced on the field.

Maybe Alex Ovechkin? He is known to drive cars at 200 miles per hour on public streets, but he is the best player in hockey.

Guys like Kobe Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger are recalled for actions against women off the field of play, as well as their excellence on it.

Maybe NASCAR hothead Robby Gordon? He has been suspended, docked points, but wins. Even victories deemed controversial.

Name your cool cat in sports.