Athletes Standing Next to Art
For the most part, athletes lead much different lives than the rest of us. They’re richer than us. They’re more famous than us. They have better jobs than us. They travel to more exotic places than us. Honestly, the list goes on and on.
That being said, athletes are still human. They get arrested like us. They mismanage their money like us. They get fired like us. They have bad days at work like us. It’s just that they usually do it on a much grander scale than us because they have a much bigger stage.
One way in which athletes are exactly like us is that they enjoy taking ridiculous photos of themselves pretty much everywhere they go. And when it comes to taking such photos, there are few things that seem to inspire us humans more than art.
That’s not to say we know anything about art or that we want to know anything about art. What we do want to do, however, is stand next to it with a cheesy smile and post the photo to Instagram. It’s one of the few threads that connects us in the digital age.
Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions
1 of 17Instagram ID: reggiebush
Caption: Had to snap a pic in front of some local street art! #RioDeJaneiro #Carnival
That street art in Brazil is way busier than Lions running back Reggie Bush has been through the first three games of the NFL season.
Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
3 of 17Instagram ID: mikenapoli25
Caption: Yup just hanging with bill
Mike Napoli visited the White House with the rest of his Red Sox teammates following their World Series championship in 2013. The Bill Clinton portrait is very popular among visiting athletes.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Justin Tuck, Oakland Raiders
4 of 17Instagram ID: therealjustintuck91
Caption: You know what it is
Then with the Super Bowl champion Giants, Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck also paid former President Clinton a little respect at the White House.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
6 of 17Instagram ID: andydalton
Caption: [No caption]
OK, so we’re really stretching the boundaries of what constitutes as art here, but just because it’s corporate and creepy as heck doesn’t mean it’s definitely not art. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton embracing his ginger dome and gleefully posing with Ronald McDonald might actually elevate it to performance art of some sort.
Sydney Leroux, U.S. Women’s Soccer
7 of 17Instagram ID: sydneyleroux
Caption: Exploring Portugal with my bestie.
American soccer star Sydney Leroux had to get her picture taken next to that public sculpture in Portugal because there’s no way that words alone would’ve done that creepy thing justice when referencing her trip in the future.
Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers
9 of 17Instagram ID: puigyasiel
Caption: visiting the zoo today my friend haha Uribe goodtime #goribe #goodday #iseeyou i like this picture haha
Are there bronze animal statues at every zoo? They have plenty at the zoo where I live, and I must commend Dodgers slugger Yasiel Puig for resisting the urge to piggyback-ride that gorilla. Few people in my neighborhood exercise the same type of self control.
Devon Still, Cincinnati Bengals
10 of 17Instagram ID: man_of_still75
Caption: A day at the dinosaur museum
Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still has been in the news recently because his amazing little girl is being treated for pediatric cancer. This pic of them at the museum is just too adorable for words. You know they probably had the best day ever.
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
11 of 17Instagram ID: mchalmers15
Caption: Me and honest Abe. Abraham Lincoln
Heat point guard Mario Chalmers looking stately during a championship visit to the White House under a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Chalmers really could’ve elevated this whole thing by mimicking Lincoln’s thinking-man pose, which feels like a real missed opportunity.
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
12 of 17Instagram ID: rgiii
Caption: So honored! All Family, All Friends, All Teammates & Baylor Nation #ThisIsForUs
It’s not often that the statue you’re posing next to is...you. Such was the case for former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was recently honored with a massive bronze statue on campus.
McKayla Maroney, U.S. Women’s Gymnastics
13 of 17Instagram ID: mckaylamaroney
Caption: i love chicago
[Insert obligatory McKayla Maroney is impressed by Chicago line here.]
I’m pretty sure that everyone who visits Chicago has a photo at the giant bean. It might as well be mandatory for tourists to show airport security one upon leaving Midway or O’Hare.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
15 of 17Instagram ID: kingjames
Caption: By @beatsbydre ""Single greatest monument I've ever been around thus far in my life!" - @KingJames#StriveForGreatness #ChristTheRedeemer #RiodeJaneiro
He has more money than God, but NBA superstar LeBron James’ entire life is basically funded by corporate sponsors. WWJW? (What would Jesus wear?) Probably Beats by Dre.
Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens
16 of 17Instagram ID: torreysmithwr
Caption: Shoutouts to @shawnf10 for hooking up @tjtakesover_play room...check out his work
Check that out! Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith didn’t have to go far for that photo—he didn’t even have to leave the comfort of his own home. Smith definitely went above and beyond on the playroom decor for his adorable young son.
Nick Young, Los Angeles Lakers
17 of 17Instagram ID: swaggyp1
Caption: Me and my boo in Miami chillin
In the age of camera phones, if you’ve ever seen a massive naked statue and haven’t stopped to take a photo of it or next to it, well then, you’re a more mature person than me...and Lakers forward Nick Young.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
