Athletes Who Hang with D-List Celebrities

One trait that star athletes often share, which separates them from other celebrities, is that they come from relatively humble beginnings if not an outright struggle.

Their fame can vaporize nearly as suddenly as it materialized.

This means a sports celebrity is usually more like one of us than someone who wants to become the first billionaire to go on a spacewalk.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that athletes seem to gravitate to what many people would consider to be "D-list celebrities"—one showbiz blogger's D-lister is another average dude's childhood memory.

We all know Saved By The Bell is far from "high art," but Zach, Kelly, A.C. Slater and the rest of the crew were there every Saturday morning.

Athletes, like us, don't let a celebrity's resume dictate his or her place on our big board of who would be awesome to hang with.

These are athletes who hang with D-list celebrities.

Blake Griffin

Instagram ID: frankiemuniz4

Caption: I very rarely ask for pictures, but had to get one with the great @blakegriffin32...

It seems Clippers star Blake Griffin has a dedicated superfan in former child star Frankie Muniz, who played the titular character in Malcolm in the Middle for seven seasons before the show ended in 2006. Apparently, he made enough money during that time that he can afford to pretend to be a race car driver indefinitely. 

Colin Kaepernick

Instagram ID: kathygriffin

Caption: I heard this gentleman lost a Super Bowl match, so I had to give him a [redacted]. #kaepernicking

The self-appointed queen of the D-list, comedian Kathy Griffin got seriously handsy with 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick at a pre-Grammy gala in February 2013. He looked uncomfortable, and she looked like she knew the PDA would generate more than a few headlines, which it did. 

Kroy Biermann

Instagram ID: kimzolciakbiermann

Caption: Sometimes I think we look like brother and sister!! They say when you meet your soul mate you will resemble each other!!

Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann doesn’t just hang with D-list celebrities—he loves the scene so much that he actually married one. His wife Kim “Tardy for the Party” Zolciak, who really does look like his sister, was once a member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo. 

Jordyn Wieber

Instagram ID: realmrbelding

Caption: USA! USA! Thx Jordan!

As it turns out, Mr. Belding (also known as actor Dennis Haskins) has an Instagram page that is loaded with celebrity faces, many of whom are athletes. Olympic gymnast Jordyn Wieber is one of many athletes who have been charmed by this D-list principal.

Brittney Griner

Instagram ID: realmrbelding

Caption: Hanging with @Brittney4Griner #WNBAALLSTAR

WNBA star Brittney Griner also got cuddly with Belding awhile back. Obviously a Saved By The Bell fan, she looks absolutely delighted. 

Ryan Braun

Instagram ID: realmrbelding

Caption: Ryan Braun - the new Slater!!!

Our final stop on the Mr. Belding’s wide world of sports tour is Brewers steroid pariah Ryan Braun, who, judging by Braun’s name tag, may or may not have met Belding at a taping of The Price is Right. As for him being cast as the new A.C. Slater? Um…thanks but no thanks, Belding. 

Andrew Luck

Instagram ID: mariolopezextra

Caption: Quarterback drills today with Andrew Luck! Fun afternoon... Cool guy. Class act.. #ColtsQB

Speaking of A.C. Slater! Mario Lopez’s job as a celebrity schmoozer has kept him constantly in the spotlight for what feels like an eternity now. The Extra host’s Instagram page is a veritable cornucopia of awkward celebrity sightings. Here he is with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, whose overly toothy grin is a dead giveaway that it’s a forced smile. 

Oscar De La Hoya

Instagram ID: mariolopezextra

Caption: With the Golden Boy @realoscardelahoya at the@goldenboyboxing fights! Great night.. Great fights.. #Boxing

Boxer Oscar De La Hoya looks a bit more excited to be in the beefcake presence of one Mario Lopez. 

Torrey Smith

Instagram ID: torreysmithwr

Caption: Last night with Willie all I could think about was the tricked out lawn mowers haha

This is Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith with who I’m assuming is one of those fellas from Duck Dynasty. Between the plaid shirts and the wood panelling on the wall, it really makes you wonder what the heck this event was.

Mark Herzlich

Instagram ID: markherzlich

Caption: The guy who literally changed my middle school experience @thescienceguy

D-list or not, Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich’s enthusiasm over meeting Bill Nye "the Science Guy" is completely understandable. I was more of a Mr. Wizard gal, God rest his soul, but Bill Nye helps fill the void in my heart. 

Mark Herzlich

Instagram ID: markherzlich

Caption: Just chilling with Flava Flav. Casual

He’s no Bill Nye "the Science Guy," but at least Flavor Flav can always provide you with the time. Herzlich’s level of enthusiasm is at the pleasant and restrained level, two things Flav has never been accused of being. 

Jon Leuer

Instagram ID: jonleuer30

Caption: Hangin out with John Mayer before his concert at The Forum tonight

Grizzlies forward Jon Leuer met up with sexually promiscuous singer and Playboy interview over-sharer John Mayer before a concert earlier this year. Presumably Mayer told Leuer his body is a wonderland and then a mediocre time was had by all in attendance. 

Robert Griffin III

Instagram ID: rgiii

Caption: #EasterEggRoll at the #WhiteHouse with my man Jared Working on some new sandwich ideas #Subway2014 @subway

Brothers (from a different mother) in hawking nasty Subway sandwiches, Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III mugs for the camera in this selfie with Jared Fogle. The enduring D-list celebrity of Jared is one of the world’s greatest mysteries.

Robert Griffin III

Instagram ID: rgiii

Caption: Friday Night Lights Camp June 13th 2014 #thisisforus #knowyourwhy

It seems '90s novelty rapper M.C. Hammer still has enough residual star power to occasionally put him in the presence of NFL stars. Back in the day he was friends and (an ill-advised) musical collaborator with Deion Sanders. He counts Washington’s RG3 among his acquaintances today. 

Coco Crisp

Instagram ID: mchammer

Caption: Coco !!!!!! Let's Goooooo !!!!! Go A's #OaklandAthletics

Also among Hammer’s acquaintances is A’s center fielder Coco Crisp. Seriously, though, how does this guy still keep getting field access to professional athletes? 

Tony Hawk

Instagram ID: tonyhawk

Caption: Getting ready (?) for @tomgreenlive on AXS TV (6pm PST). Fun fact: Tom was once pro for@birdhouseskateboards. Watch us talk the talk...live.

The friendship of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and Canadian crazy person Tom Green actually goes back a long ways for reasons already mentioned by Hawk above. Hey! Remember that time Tom Green gave his father’s car an epic custom paint job? That was awesome. 

Tony Hawk

Instagram ID: tonyhawk 

Caption: Caught @vanillaiceofficial walking by at JFK; I stopped, collaborated and listened.

Wow. Vanilla Ice is still clinging to "Ice Ice Baby"—big surprise. Poor Tony Hawk—he was just walking through the airport, minding his own business, and was probably stunned to be unexpectedly hijacked by the summer of 1990. 

Evander Holyfield

Instagram ID: vanillaiceofficial 

Caption: [No Caption]

Unfortunately, Ice didn’t provide any context for this random street selfie with boxing great Evander Holyfield, but it looks like the same situation as the Tony Hawk photo. Holyfield was just walking the street, minding his own business, and then all of a sudden the summer of 1990 sneaks up like a surprise bite to the ear. 

Gretchen Bleiler

Instagram ID: gretchenbleiler

Caption: Don't be mad, but I got to hang with #TonyTheTiger today and eat a fresh #PopTart hot off the line! Thanks #MuncyBakery @kelloggs_us #greatstartsgretchen #roadtosochi

Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler seemed pretty excited about getting to meet Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger, but alas, Tony’s star power isn’t what it once was. With whole grain this and gluten-free that, corn flakes double-dipped in sugar sludge are a much harder sell these days. 

Hanley Ramirez

Instagram ID: psy_oppaofficial

Caption: With @Hanley_13 :))

The Dodgers’ Hanley Ramirez actually met viral sensation Psy 15 months ago, when the Gangnam Style singer was squeezing out the last bit of residual public attention stemming from the release of the video that made him a global sensation nine months prior. Ramirez’s reaction to the singer’s presence was in stark contrast to that of Tommy Lasorda, who was not impressed by Psy’s brief performance at the game the same day. 

Mike Tyson

Instagram ID: miketyson

Caption: piers is a great sport

Ironically, this is probably the friendliest celebrity interaction former CNN host Piers Morgan has ever been involved in. Mike Tyson better have his cell checked for wiretaps. 

Mike Tyson

Instagram ID: miketyson

Caption: How cool. On same international flight as Johnny Knoxville.

A jackass joke seems like the obvious route here, but Mike Tyson and Johnny Knoxville both seem like nice enough guys, so we’ll just skip that one. 

Shaquille O'Neal

Instagram ID: shaq

Caption: Heeeeeeeeeeey

Here is Hall of Fame big man Shaquille O’Neal looking characteristically vacant, but not at all displeased, to be meeting the '70s ultimate cool guy (from a show that was set in the '50s) Arthur Fonzarelli. Thankfully The Fonze has enough enthusiasm for both of them.  

Deron Williams

Instagram ID: dwill8

Caption: W/ @DrOz @any0531

Nets point guard Deron Williams ran into noted TV quack Dr. Oz about two years ago, right around the time his career began to skid into the gutter. So maybe he doesn’t have a miracle weight-loss pill after all, but he’s a powerful basketball jinx—that’s gotta count for something, right? No? Okay then.

Floyd Mayweather

Instagram ID: floydmayweather

Caption: Make sure you watch All Access TONIGHT on Showtime. It's at 10PM ET/PT & earlier for the west-coast on satellite TV. Check your local listings and don't miss tonight's episode. #TMT

Scoring a sit-down with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach was a pretty big deal…in 1988. These days? Not so much. Not that it matters to boxer Floyd Mayweather, whose entire life is dedicated to bragging about how much crap he can afford to buy. 

Floyd Mayweather

Instagram ID: floydmayweather

Caption: Carrie (@lindsaylohan) and me as Freddy hanging out at the best Halloween party I've ever been to at MGM Foxwoods

Although she’s a substantial step up from Robin Leach in terms of celebrity status, train-wreck actress Lindsay Lohan has basically given up appearing in movies in favor of appearing at clubs. She and Floyd Money appeared at the MGM Foxwood’s Halloween party together last year.  

Floyd Mayweather

Instagram ID: floydmayweather

Caption: Larry King came to show support at the boxing gym today.

Of all the athletes on this list, boxer Floyd Mayweather seems to be the biggest celebrity draw. His famous admirers run the gamut from A- to D-list. I’m actually not sure that Larry King belongs on this list, but I couldn’t bring myself to post another photo of Vanilla Ice.