20 Athletes Who Could Have Been American Ninja Warriors

Wrapped in black robes, vertical blades glistening in the moonlight, quiet toe-steps lightly pounding across rooftops: This was the nightly routine of a ninja during the 15th century, just looking to annihilate blissful Samurai.

Heavily trained mercenaries and masters of disguise, these ninjas represented the athletically gifted, the physically blessed.

Hmm...sounds awfully familiar.

Today's sports world continues to drip with potential and ooze promise. But after studying today's crop of athletes a bit further, it became clear that several of these skilled warriors could've actually been actual covert agents in feudal Japan.

Let's get right to it and check out 20 athletes who could've easily been ninjas.

But these are no normal ninjas, for these mythical legends had powers never seen before.

Time to be one with the universe.

20. Blake Griffin

Type: Deadly Assassin

Abilities: Shatter rims, intimidate smaller defenders, stare for hours

With his trademark stare, redheaded sensation Blake Griffin can silence any opposing army of trained Samurai.

But his ferociousness on the court prompts us to believe he'd been released from his cave and told to thrash all who stand in his way.

So essentially nothing would change.

19. Clinton Portis

Type: Master of Disguise

Abilities: Wear strange outfits, carry a pigskin into the end zone, be quirky

Throughout his odd career, Clinton Portis has fashioned quite the array of costumes.

But it's not indecisiveness; he's just looking to keep spies on their feet.

18. Tim Duncan

Type: Silent but Wise

Abilities: Score in the most boring fashion possible, succeed

Nothing about Tim Duncan's game is pretty, but it's always effective.

The aging superstar has already begun training the young grasshoppers for battle.

17. Manu Ginobili

Type: Slash and Smash

Abilities: Swat bats to the floor, weave his way to the basket, get injured

After destroying a speedy bat in 2009, Manu Ginobili handed the creature off to a security guard and stepped back onto the court.

But underneath it all, we suspect he killed a trained spy who was searching for answers during the Spurs' game against the Kings.

16. Marta

Type: Controversially Talented

Abilities: Put soccer balls in nets, heckling, faking injuries, diving to run out the clock

Seemingly Pele with a skirt, Marta has become Brazil's pride and joy.

Few could lead a troop of disguised clansmen like this fierce battler.

15. Ichiro Suzuki

Type: Armed and Dangerous

Abilities: Gunning runners out at home plate, getting on base with ease, not talking trash

With the talent to silently glide across housetops and properly handle large wooden sticks, the legend known as Ichiro would've made a prolific disguised assassin.

Inconspicuous, yet deadly.

14. Roger Federer

Type: Infiltrating

Abilities: Enter any well-secured facility, surprise the enemy, win a Grand Slam tournament

With between-the-leg returns and endless victories, Roger Federer continues to show the tennis world that he is indeed a sports legend.

But we're not fooled, it's all part of his plan. 

13. Tim Lincecum

Type: Quirky

Abilities: Blow baseballs past opposing hitters, grow a mangy mane

As if this pose doesn't speak for itself, Tim Lincecum was made for unorthodox warfare.

His obtuse delivery offers his enemies an intriguing new perspective on failure.

12. Nicklas Lidstrom

Type: Crafty Veteran

Abilities: Do everything right, stay loyal to one team

He's not flashy, but 20-year defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom continues to flourish on the ice at the tender age of 42.

The silent killer is digging through greatness as we speak.

11. Nyjer Morgan

Type: Self Obsessed

Abilities: Creating his own nickname (Tony Plush), tossing his helmet in anger

While certainly entertaining in today's media-flooded culture, Nyjer Morgan seems a perfect fit to infiltrate any unsuspecting Samurai-filled house.

The relentless stare speaks volumes of his skill.

10. Shaun White

Type: Rebellious

Abilities: Win gold medals, grow a red mane, bro-ing out

This X-Games legend is still building a healthy resume with every new victory. But oh, what could have been for Shaun White?

A tight mask, stealthy approach and ferocious blade. The possibilities for espionage are endless.

9. Rick DiPietro

Type: Salary Cap Eater

Abilities: Get knocked out by opposing goalies, earn 15-year contracts, stay injured

As he quietly travels his 15-year path to ultimate wealth, Isles goalie Rick DiPietro can bask in his masterful ability to break Islanders fans' hearts.

Six years in, he's yet to reward any optimism.

8. Brian Scalabrine

Type: Subtle

Abilities: Warm the bench, hold a basketball, cheer

Perhaps the most beloved backup in history, Celtic backup Brian Scalabrine has an odd flow about him that reeks of secrets.

We believe that secretly this innocent fan favorite is a potent mercenary.

If he were to mail a letter without postage, it would still get there. Fact.

7. Jamie Moyer

Type: Ageless

Abilities: Defy age, avoid chest-high trousers, throw 80 miles per hour occasionally

This 49-year-old pitcher is already the oldest pitcher in MLB history to win a game, so perusing rooftops seems like the proper next step.

A crafty veteran to some, a wise man to others.

6. Manny Pacquiao

Type: Prideful

Abilities: Destroy trash talkers, toss up iron fisticuffs, smile unnecessarily

Pac-Man may run counter to the typical ninja in his pursuit of approval and respect, but his gifted physicality can't be questioned.

A silent killer, Pacquiao ends lives with but a quiet smirk and honorable bow.

5. Jeremy Lin

Type: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Bandwagon

Abilities: Somehow creating offense, acing tests, being kind

Few believe it, even fewer understand it. The anomaly that is Jeremy Lin may be on hold until next season, but the basketball world has seen the possibilities.

Stealthy and quiet...until the right time.

4. Ronaldinho

Type: Thoroughbred

Abilities: Perform tricks with soccer balls, impress YouTube viewers

Brazil's main man never fails to impress the crowd, but under stealthy conditions he'd naturally thrive.

As he glides through the night with but a reflecting blade and eager pair of eyes, Ronaldinho's approach remains potent.

3. Marshawn Lynch

Type: Earth-shattering

Abilities: Rocking the planet, turning the adrenaline on at any time, sporting shiny mouth grills 

After destroying the Saints with an array of stealthy, powerful and shocking moves two postseasons ago, it was clear Marshawn Lynch had mythical powers.

Seemingly creating his own earthquake gets him a shinobi tryout.

2. Jason Pierre-Paul

Type: Beastly

Abilities: Complete endless back flips for no reason, block field goals at crucial times

After 16.5 sacks and a Super Bowl ring in his rookie year, this warrior must search deep within for a masterful encore.

His defensive-end disguises last year were potent. And let's not forget the back flip performance.

1. Steve Nash

Type: Slice-and-Dice

Abilities: Knife through opposing defenses, chuck head-sized objects with precision

This Canadian sensation has never failed to shock an audience, that much is certain. But in every game he presents a new skill, a more powerful defiance of gravity.

He is the most interesting man in the world.