Sports Word Association: What Do You Think of When You Hear...

Through countless hours spent watching their every move and listening to their every sound, sports fans have learned to associate their favorite athletes and coaches with specific things.

The lasting image of Bill Belichick, for example, will prominently and forever include the coach's humble hoodie, which he affectionately wears to every game.

Similarly, it's hard to think of the NBA's Anthony Davis without simultaneously imagining the monster brow that runs across his forehead in both dominant and overbearing fashion. 

Of course, the urge to associate exists in all sports no matter the league: In hockey, Alexander Ovechkin brings attention and new meaning to the term "gap," while in baseball, Giancarlo Stanton has justifiably become synonymous with notions of wealth and prosperity. 

Inspired by the popular figures above, we've identified 15 of the most relevant athletes and coaches in sports today in an effort to simulate our very own word-association test. For each of our chosen subjects, we've attributed a word or phrase with which he's frequently associated.  

With that in mind, then, take some time to peruse the next 15 slides and discover if your initial reaction to each athlete or coach mirrors or differs from our personal thoughts and associations.

Anthony Davis

Associated Press/Associated Press

While Anthony Davis' game continues to evolve, his brow remains unaltered.

Instant Association: The Brow, Franchise.

Explanation: Take one look at Anthony Davis, and a singular thought comes to nearly everyone's mind: The Brow.

It's long, bushy and prominent. And considering that two minutes with a simple razor could fix it all, The Brow is as much a statement as it is unfortunate growth. In an ordinary setting, we'd tell a friend to get rid of it. For Davis, however, it's much bigger—and bushier—than that. 

Of course, Davis is far more than a single eyebrow; he's one of the NBA's true franchise players too.

Case in point: Wilt Chamberlain's player efficiency rating (PER) in 1962-63—31.82, per Basketball-Reference.com—is the top single-season mark in NBA history. Davis, however, is currently on pace to set a new high, per his ESPN.com profile.

Bill Belichick

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

When all is said and done, Bill Belichick will be remembered for many things, hoodie included.

Instant Association: Hoodie, Scandal.

Explanation: Never mistaken for fashionable, from a visual standpoint, the legendary Bill Belichick will forever be associated with his trademark "homely" hoodie look. But, as long as he keeps winning, is there really anything anyone can say? 

More importantly, Belichick yet again finds himself in the middle of scandal.

And let's be clear here: True or not, "Deflategate" is a joke of an issue and one with which Belichick almost certainly had nothing to do.

Yet, when considered in conjunction with the infamous Spygate, it's hard to not at least question Belichick's overall credibility. And it all makes one wonder, if he and the Patriots have indeed been caught a second time cheating, how many transgressions have they successfully covered up?

Tom Brady

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Will we remember Tom Brady for his early success or more recent failures?

Instant Association: Evolving Legacy.

Explanation: No matter what happens from this point on, Tom Brady will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Where he ranks on that list, however, is still very much in doubt. 

Though Gisele's husband is already a three-time Super Bowl champion, he has not won The Big Game since all the way back in 2005 and, between then and now, has come up short on two separate occasions.

In truth, the outcome of Super Bowl XLIX will go a long way in determining how we remember the future Hall of Famer. While a fourth title would be huge for Brady, a third consecutive loss could prove just as costly.

Russell Wilson

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press/Associated Press

Russell Wilson is in just his third year but has already accomplished so much.

Instant Association: Resilient, Winner.  

Explanation: From finding a way to star at North Carolina State to transferring to Wisconsin and—in one offseason—finding a way to star all over again, Russell Wilson has answered the bell before and after every round.

More recently, Wilson found his Seahawks trailing the Green Bay Packers 19-7 late in the NFC Championship Game and, yet again, answered the bell. Though he was the primary source for his team's early struggles—he was picked off three times in the first half and sported a quarterback rating of 0.00—Wilson was also the main force behind its turnaround, rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter before throwing for the game-winning score in overtime. 

And, as a result of his resilient winning ways, Wilson is now set to become the first quarterback in NFL history to start two Super Bowls in his first three years in the league.

Pete Carroll

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Pete Carroll has navigated his coaching career with strategic success.

Instant Association: Opportunistic.

Explanation: We should be clear here; in no way are we minimizing all that Pete Carroll has accomplished. He's one of the best coaches in all of football, and at this point, there's really no questioning that.

It's also true, though, that Carroll has benefited from some pretty perfect settings. At USC, Carroll struck while the iron was hot—though the Trojans are always talented, Carroll had the luxury of coaching a legendary collection of college talent—but was also smart enough to exit the kitchen just before getting burned. 

Likewise, in Seattle, the energetic coach walked into yet another situation primed for success, armed with both Marshawn Lynch and bountiful cap space. 

And, sure, there's little doubt that Carroll played a major role in all the winning his teams have experienced over the years. But even the best coaches must be set up to succeed, and no one's sniffed out fertile ground—and averted disaster—quite like Coach C.

Marshawn Lynch

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press/Associated Press

Marshawn Lynch gets around defenders but can't stay out of his own way.

Instant Association: Confused, Learning. 

Explanation: It may have started small, but Marshawn Lynch's contentious relationship with the media has taken on a life of its own. Throughout it all, The Beast has grown confused and lost his way. 

For starters, the media works for the fans, getting quotes and putting together stories for their direct benefit. By boycotting the media, then, Lynch is indirectly boycotting football fans everywhere, who—oh, by the way—just so happen to pay his bills.

And speaking of bills, Lynch is going to have an increasingly difficult time dealing with them if he keeps flushing his money every time a reporter wants to chat.

In reality, dealing with the media is simply part of the NFL player's job description, and a relatively reasonable part considering how handsomely they're paid. And Lynch wouldn't be the first millionaire to tolerate an aspect of his job in the name of getting rich, would he?    

If rather than taking a meaningless stand, Lynch simply answered questions with the most generic of football cliches, he could stay rich and be done with it all in 90 seconds or less. The irony, of course, is that by trying to resist reporters, he has instead made his time with them far longer and more painful than ever necessary and is actually paying money to do so. 

Now, with all that said, there's a small chance the bulldozing 'back is actually starting to learn from the error of his ways.

Mike Budenholzer

David Goldman/Associated Press

Working wonders with the Hawks, Mike Budenholzer is finally making a name for himself in the NBA

Instant Association: Wizard.

Explanation: For those who don't know, wizards practice magic, which is exactly what head coach Mike Budenholzer has used on his Atlanta Hawks this NBA season. 

Of course, his team has some talent, including four All-Star-caliber players in Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and, this year, Kyle Korver. The roster, however, is completely devoid of true star power and far from the NBA's most talented. 

Yet, with Coach Bud roaming the sidelines, the Hawks have the NBA's second-best record, which—by the way—includes a 7-6 start to the year. Since then, Atlanta is a league-best 30-2 and is currently riding a franchise-record 16-game win streak.

On defense, the Hawks allow the fewest points in the NBA. On offense, they lead the league in assists. And for a team that's really a Horford away from mirroring last year's 38-44 bunch, it's hard to give anyone but Bud the majority of credit.

Alexander Ovechkin

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Alexander Ovechkin is known well for both his scoring prowess and signature teeth.

Instant Association: Gap, Goals. 

Explanation: When it comes to Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin, it's all about the two Gs: the Gap and the Goals.

With respect to the former, we will gladly let this image do all our talking. 

And, in reference to the glorious goals—of which the Russian has scored more than any other player over the last three years—Ovechkin's jaw-dropping play truly says it all and better than any single person ever could.

Urban Meyer

Sharon Ellman/Associated Press/Associated Press

Urban Meyer continues to win but has proved to be hypocritical along the way.

Instant Association: Champion, Hypocrite. 

Explanation: Whether you like him or not, Urban Meyer is one of college football's most accomplished winners. 

Over the last 20 years, only Nick Saban has more national championships than Meyer—the score is close at 4-3—and the latter's titles have all come in the last nine years and at two different schools. 

We'd be remiss, however, if we didn't also acknowledge that Meyer's most recent success has occurred under an umbrella of hypocrisy.

When, in January of 2011, an under-the-weather Meyer left Florida in rubble to "spend more time with family," he made the following powerful statement at a press conference:

"

If I am able to coach, I want to coach at one place, the University of Florida. It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my back and go coach. I don’t want to do that. I have too much love for this university and these players and for what we’ve built.

"

Of course, it didn't take long for Meyer to show his true colors; he was donning scarlet and gray as head coach of the Buckeyes less than one year later.

Giancarlo Stanton

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Whether he's worth the money or not, Giancarlo Stanton is set up to be one very rich man.

Instant Association: Rich, Overpaid.

Explanation: In November of 2014, Giancarlo Stanton agreed with the Miami Marlins on a new 13-year contract worth $325 million. The deal is reportedly the largest in the history of North American sports. 

For this reason, it's hard to associate Stanton with anything other than money and lots of it. 

And, at such an absurd price, the 25-year-old outfielder is grossly overpaid to be sure. 

It's no knock on Stanton either. In a sport where the game's absolute best player is way more often than not worth less than 10 wins per season, according to Baseball-Reference.com, no single player is worth such a ridiculous amount.

Roger Federer

Andy Brownbill/Associated Press/Associated Press

Roger Federer's early exit from the 2015 Aussie Open was just the most recent letdown in his long but diminishing career.

Instant Association: Farewell Tour.

Explanation: Sure, Roger Federer is still playing at a high enough level to remain competitive on the ATP World Tour. After all, he is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. 

Yet, when it comes to the tournaments that matter most—the four majors per year—Federer is a shell of his former self, no longer a true contender. 

For proof, consider these stats: The Swiss legend has won just a single major championship in the last four-plus seasons and has made only two Grand Slam finals during the same stretch of time.

And, and to begin 2015, he was prematurely ousted on yet another major stage, exiting the Australian Open in Round 3.  

No longer the factor he once was, Fed's game continues to regress. He is, however, still worth watching as he begins saying goodbye to the tennis world for good.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

John Locher/Associated Press

Both in and out of the ring, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has always embraced strategy.

Instant Association: Strategic. 

Explanation: In so many different ways, Floyd Mayweather's boxing career has been all about strategy.

Never the power puncher but always a master pugilist, Mayweather has made his mark in the ring with strategy—and a decidedly defensive one at that, dodging punches all the way to a 47-0 record. 

He also, however, has been profoundly strategic out of the ring in determining who he fights and when he fights them.

Most notably, Mayweather has become infamous over the last five or so years for "dodging" Manny Pacquiao, whom many have long considered the biggest threat to Mayweather's perfect resume.

Of course, in his true strategic fashion, Money recently decided he all of a sudden wants a piece of Pacquiao, per The Associated Press (via Fox Sports), now that Pac-Man is showing clear signs of regression—the Filipino has lost twice in his last five bouts.

Kobe Bryant

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Kobe Bryant can't seem to avoid injury, but his will to win keeps him in the league.

Instant Association: Mr. Glass, Competitive Monster. 

Explanation: Now well into his 30s—36 years of age, to be exact—Kobe Bryant is doing his best impersonation of Mr. Glass. Simply put, the future Hall of Famer can't help but get hurt; thanks to various different ailments, by the time the 2015 season comes to a close, Bryant will have appeared in only 41 games over the last two years, a span that includes three season-ending injuries.  

Most recently, Bryant was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a torn rotator cuff.

He, however, plans to return to action after making yet another full recovery, which only further speaks to the well-documented competitive monster living inside the Mamba's belly, controlling his every desire.

Jim Harbaugh

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Aside from what he's going to wear, Jim Harbaugh is one tough nut to crack.

Instant Association: Khakis, Mysterious.

Explanation: Jim Harbaugh is to oversized khakis what Bill Belichick is to humble hoodies. In fact, if you find the new Michigan head coach in anything other than the same pleated fronts, something's gone horribly wrong. 

But Harbaugh the person is far more complex and unpredictable than his wardrobe. Thanks to interviews like this—which, by the way, are the norm not the exception—the mysterious coach is impossible to truly know or understand, and he becomes increasingly so with every passing presser. 

And if you consider his recent parting with the San Francisco 49ers too, which never really seemed to add up—after all, since when does a team cut ties with a coach who, over four years, won nearly 70 percent of his games and made three NFC Championship Games plus a Super Bowl?—the Harbaugh mystique grows all the more curious by the day.

LeBron James

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Though he's still the NBA's best player, LeBron James is showing signs of regression.

Instant Association: Recession.

Explanation: In the most obvious way, the notion of recession accurately refers to LeBron James' unfortunately disappearing hairline. Made worse by his refusal to deal with it in any consistent manner——sometimes James mysteriously has hair, while on other days it seems to suddenly go missing again—the King's balding head has made many a headline over the last couple of years.

But more recently—and far more importantly—the term recession can be applied to James's aging body and diminishing game.

We should be clear: LeBron still remains the NBA's top overall player. But, at 30 years of age—not to mention four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and numerous summers spent with Team USA—James' body is starting to break down, and to a slightly lesser extent, his game is following suit.  

Thanks to mental fatigue and an ailing back, the King has already missed nine of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 45 games in 2014-15. And, even when he's present, his play has suffered too—James's efficiency rating, though still elite, is the lowest it's been since 2006-07, according to his ESPN Insider profile.