The Infamous Hooters-Athlete Connection

Hooters is an American institution. Since 1983, the Hooters Corporation has combined man’s most prized possessions – hot women, chicken wings, and sports.

Despite their bloated contracts, incredible abilities, and third person referencing, we are just like the athletes we watch. We love Hooter, and they love Hooters.

Athletes have stopped by the restaurant for many different reasons, and this connection has not gone unnoticed. Here are the infamous Hooters/athlete connections from the past and present. 

20. Donovan McNabb

McNabb had a rough go around in his first year with the Skins. He may or may not be their starting quarterback on week 1 of 2011 but we do know where he is going when he is feeling down.

Hooters is for every man. It’s the great equalizer.

19. Casey Kingsland

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

He is a rather unsuccessful NASCAR Craftsman Truck series driver that was behind the wheel of the No. 7 Hooters Energy Drink car.

You would think that the Hooters sign would help to distract the other drivers but he was bad enough where it didn’t matter. His career, like the energy drink, was a major flop.

18. Shawn Marion

Marion used to eat at nice fancy restaurants that provided excellent service and paid him compliments on his work in the NBA.

Now that he is an NBA champion he can finally go to Hooters, a place that really respects his new NBA championship ring. 

17. Sam Bradford

Entering his second season as an NFL quarterback, he is the future of both the St. Louis Rams and the Hooters athlete combo.

With the lockout as it is right now, the team better hope that he is spending more time with his head in the playbook and not a Hooters menu.

16. Libby Offutt

Offutt is the life long girlfriend of free agent receiver Randy Moss. They have four children together and while their relationship has always caused a stir, they have stayed together.

She was at one time a Hooters waitress herself, a distinction I am sure Moss is proud of.

15. Orlando Hernandez

“El Duque” Hernandez is a Hooters blast from the past, or is it? He could be 25 or 45 years old and looks the same so how would we even know?

After his first trip to Hooters, Hernandez once again thanked his lucky stars that he left Cuba for the greatest country in the world.

14. Jay Glazer

Glazer has his hand in several areas of the sports world including his writing and television appearances.

Here he seems to be kicking back and relaxing the finer things in life – two Hooters models who like sports. This has to be what heaven is like. 

13. Rich Franklin

The former UFC middleweight champion stopped by his local Hooters for some food and left with 10 new friends.

I do not know if your aware but every great pre fight training regiment includes plenty of rest, hard work, and a plate full of wings.

12. Leeann Tweeden

Tweeden is a gorgeous model who has done hosting and correspondent work for The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

Her contribution to the Hooters would begin as a waitress and spans all the way to her inclusion in the 1994 Hooters calendar. She has since then went on to do promotional work for the company and many men’s magazines.

11. Tim Tebow

And on the seventh day, God went to Hooters…

Tebow is man of high morals and character meaning one of two things.

1. He got lost and stumbled in to use a payphone (it’s a make believe premise just go with it).

2. He realized that he is a man and man can only take so much. He needed his Hooters.

10. Eli Manning, Matt Stafford, and John Gruden

Eli Manning is usually the one who has the dumbfounded look on his face. This time John Gruden is sporting the sour face.

I cannot imagine what he could possibly be upset about considering who is standing right in front of him.

Oh hey Matt Stafford.

9. Scott Skiles

Skiles has bounced around the coaching circuit for most of his post-career life. He better keep working if he wants to pay the child support he owes a Hooters waitress for who he is not currently with.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that he pays $4,000 a month in support to former waitress Wendie Adubatto (not pictured here). That is an expensive trip to the restaurant. 

8. Danica Patrick

What do Patrick and all of the girls in this picture have in common? All of them have never won a NASCAR race.

She fits in perfectly with the girls and reminds us once again that she can be one of the guys from time to time.

7. Ali Sonoma

Sonoma is a UFC octagon girl and former Hooters Swimsuit Pageant Winner (2004).

She stayed with Hooters for several years, working as a spokesperson, but has now expanded her field and moved on to bigger and better things.

She belongs on this list, if for no other reason than how stunning she looks.

6. Tiger Woods

How could we not have known sooner??

Tiger’s pose with the ladies of Hooters had to have been a tip that he would go down a dark and dangerous road.

It may start with just an innocent picture, we know it does not end there.

5. Ricky Williams

The NFL is locked out and he does not have a new team to play for yet. What to do with all that time…

I wouldn’t be surprised if he took this picture after strolling in asking for food at 1 in the morning. 

4. Anna Burns

Burns won the 2005 Hooters International Contest and then ended up with Patriots receiver Wes Welker. Talk about a let down.

The couple has been together for a while now, making him one of the many athletes who have dated and/or married someone from the Hooters family.

3. Chipper Jones

It could be one of the biggest letdowns in a while to find out that Chipper Jones had a torrent affair with a Hooters waitress and had a son with her while he was married to someone else.

I always thought of his as such a great guy, but like the rest of us, he fell victim to that big owl.

2. John Daly

Daly has never met a restaurant he did not like, so when he heard he could get fried food, girls, and beer all at the same place, he was ecstatic.

We all know of Daly’s antics, and seeing him hanging out with Hooters girls leads me to believe that he has given up on playing quality golf for the foreseeable future and is focused on tank tops and short shorts.

1. Dick Vitale

It’s awesome baby!

Vitale has become one of the most recognizable Hooters supporters and sponsors in sports. The restaurant is famous for their wings and is a great place to watch all of college basketball’s best games, but who is Vitale kidding, it is all about the girls.

If there was ever a time when he would finally pass out from all of his exciting calls, hanging out with Hooters girls would it. They certainly make your heart skip a beat.