The 15 Craziest Extracurricular Activities Undertaken by Pro Athletes

Some professional athletes are talented beyond the field. Or the court. Or the course.

You get the point.

But some of what athletes do in their spare time is downright quirky, nerdy, zany, boneheaded or nuts.

From writing poetry to mountain climbing, pro athletes certainly find a way to mix up the fun in their spare time.

Here's a look at the 15 craziest (and coolest) extracurricular activities undertaken by pro athletes.

Shaq the Sheriff

You knew Shaquille O'Neal was an accomplished actor, but did you know that he fights crime in his spare time as well?

Despite this All-Star's former full-time gig at center, O'Neal has a passion for public service.

And it's not just for show. Shaq assured abc.com that he took the process seriously. 

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"I went to the regular academy. I got Maced, had to go through the gas house, got shot with the Taser twice. I did everything they did. So they know that I am serious and, when I am done playing, I will be sheriff somewhere in some city in some county."

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Shaq pursued this passion in almost every city where he worked. He was even sworn in as a reserve deputy sherriff in Worcester, Mass. during his brief stint with the Boston Celtics.

Etan Thomas, Keeping the Peace

Etan Thomas ended his career with the Atlanta Hawks last year after nine seasons in the NBA.

And even though he played center, his politics tend to lean left.

Off the court, Thomas is a peace activist and a poet. Last spring, he penned a pro-Obama op-ed entitled "Trump's disrespect for President Obama."

It's hard to picture guys who exhibit such physical toughness having any semblance of a softer side.

But it's nice to know that Thomas does.

Preaching peace is a pretty cool hobby.

Tiger Woods, the Spearfisher

When Tiger Woods steals away from the green, he enjoys free diving and spearfishing.

In an interview with CNN, Tiger explained his need to relieve himself from the world of golf:

"You've got to have hobbies and distractions. You've got to get away from the game. We go fishing all the time...We go snow-skiing...I love spear fishing."

Relaxing seems incompatible with stabbing fish for sport.

Hey, whatever works.

Ryan Klesko, S.W.A.T.

In 16 years as a major-league baseball player, Ryan Klesko amassed 278 home runs.

But the first baseman enjoyed a different type of run: S.W.A.T. team runs.

During his baseball career and beyond, Klesko kept officers company during drug busts and raids.

While he did not directly participate in these raids, he put himself in very real danger simply by being in the van.

Klesko explained to Sports Illustrated, "There's no doubt in my mind that this is what I would be doing if I weren't playing ball. I really have a lot of respect for these guys because they risk their lives every day to keep scum off the streets and keep the cities safe." 

Klesko isn't in it just for the adrenaline rush. He has a genuine stake in the community.

Gareth Raynor, Con Artist

Professional rugby player Gareth Raynor has a hobby that's not as altruistic as others on this list.

The Bradford Bulls winger sold fake software on Ebay.com using a company called Genuine Ink.

The hair-brained hobby ultimately set him back £120,000—or jail time for failure to pay.

Baron Davis, the Next Steven Spielberg

Baron Davis had a tough background growing up in South Central LA.

But Davis found solace in another side of Los Angeles—the entertainment industry.

The New York Knick has spent his free time blogging movie reviews on the NBA's website.

He's even done some work producing.

It's nice to see athletes interested in the arts.

Serena Wiliams, Fashion Designer

Grand-slammer Serena Williams enjoys designing clothing off the court.

I know you're thinking that a woman in the fashion business is not "crazy" or anomalous at all.

On the surface, it seems quite normal.

But female athletes are subject to constant tension between the body society portrays as ideally feminine and the realistic shape female athletes take on.

Women athletes are thick, strong and sturdy, words not often associated with societal notions of "sexy."

So it's nice to see a woman with a true athletic shape help shatter the traditional portrait of what's "feminine" by pursuing the fashion industry.

Sean Avery, Vogue Intern

Former New York Ranger Sean Avery worked as an unpaid intern at Vogue magazine in the 2008 offseason.

I hope I don't have to explain why you wouldn't expect this one.

The left wing, who was ranked by FoxSports.com as the second dirtiest player in the NHL last February, is obsessed with fashion.

According to ABCNews.com, Avery "has said he wants to be a fashion magazine editor."

Avery dresses to the nines off the ice and hopes to create his own line of designer athletic wear one day.

R.A. Dickey, Mountain Climber

New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey ventured to Africa this offseason to scale Mount Kilimanjaro.

Dickey went on the trip as part of the Bombay Teen Challenge, a charity that assists women forced into prostitution.

The New York Mets discouraged the excursion, warning that the pitcher might put his $4.5 million right arm at risk.

Dickey returned safely. While it may have been a crazy risk to take, it was all for a good cause.

Todd Marinovich, Artist

Todd Marinovich played quarterback for the Los Angeles Raiders in the early 1990s, but drug abuse ended his NFL career by 1993.

Though he putzed around the Canadian and Arena Football leagues after the NFL, Marinovich also pursued his passion for art.

He now runs an online gallery featuring paintings and prints, many of which have sports-related themes.

Tim Green, Mystery Novelist

Tim Green played linebacker and defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1980s and 1990s.

Green enjoys penning mystery novels in his spare time.

And his writing is not too shabby either. Green's 2010 release False Convictions racked up four stars on Amazon.com.

Check out his website for his full collection.

Will Witherspoon, Organic Farmer

Tennessee Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon is an organic farmer off the field.

The NFL player is also enrolled in the George Washington University School of Business's STAR E.M.B.A program, a program geared specifically toward pro athletes.

It's nice to see pros pursue enriching hobbies.

Karl Malone, 18-Wheeling

After 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz (and one season with the Los Angeles Lakers), Karl Malone focused his subsequent years on a set of 18 wheels.

Malone owns a 72-foot-long, 34,000-pound 18-wheeler.

And he loves to spend his spare time riding it.

John Daly, Gambler

File gambling under the "crazy dangerous" category for hobbies.

Professional golfer John Daly admitted that he has a gambling problem.

Daly revealed that he lost between $50 and $60 million over a 12-year stretch, meaning that gambling has become more than a hobby for him—it is an addiction.

LeBron James, the King...of Headbands

The King himself loves to collect headbands.

And while it's a suspect hobby—perhaps he is using the headgear to cover up a receding hairline—headband hoarding is just quirky enough of a hobby to make this list.

Collect on, LeBron.