12 Best Times Athletes Appeared on Classic TV Shows

While it might not be a life goal of a lot of athletes, when a TV show comes calling to appear on-camera, it's something that warrants serious consideration.

And surprisingly, a few of our favorite players have shown they actually know what they heck they're doing when the director yells, "Action!"

From The Simpsons to The League, here are some of the best sports cameos in TV shows.

Chase Utley (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

For those who have paid attention and watched the comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia over the years, you probably have heard of the letter Mac wrote to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Chase Utley back in Season 4 (NSFW language).

While Utley has made a cameo on the show before, his response to the letter through an MLB Fan Cave bit in relation to the show has to count for something, right?

Forget that. I'm writing the piece and I say this counts—because it's amazing and a five-year-old joke that is still funny.

Tom Brady (Family Guy)

Video contains NSFW language.

A four-time Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has shown that he actually has quite the personality when not on the football field.

Intense and almost robotic with his demeanor around coaches and teammates, Brady has let some of his comedic side come out on two animated series, Family Guy and The Simpsons in the past, with the future Hall of Famer more than holding his own as a cartoon character in each.

He might be an intense competitor on the gridiron, but off of the field, Brady has some fun.

Matt Forte (The League)

Video contains NSFW language.

There have been a handful of NFL stars who have shown up on the fantasy football TV spoof The League—and each of them have brought a unique ability to the show.

But in my opinion, one of the best was Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.

While other guys have been questioned as being cursed following their cameos, Forte has continued to perform at a high level, even if his team still struggles.

With the running back showing he was comfortable interacting with the other characters, he seems like a natural fit on-screen.

Bill Buckner (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Video contains NSFW language.

You've got to give credit to former Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner because he proved he can have a lighthearted side to him.

After making one of the most famous and polarizing mishaps in sports history when he let a ground ball squeak by him in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, Buckner hasn't let the mishap keep him down—even after receiving death threats following the play.

Making a few appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Buckner has shown, on a few occasions, that he can laugh at himself about everything—which may not have been the case had the Curse of the Bambino not been broken back in 2004.

Barry Bonds (90210)

There may be some out there who think this Barry Bonds cameo on Beverly Hills, 90210 is actually pretty pitiful, but I tend to disagree.

What makes this so great is that I don't think Bonds is actually really acting at all.

Known as one of the most arrogant and brash athletes in history, the MLB home run king* plays his role perfectly as he and his television dad take on one of the main cast members and his dad in a golf game.

Seeing as how Bonds was known for crushing baseballs, I'm sure he could demolish a golf ball off the tee, too.

Jim Harbaugh (Saved by the Bell: The New Class)

After watching this incredible cameo by former NFL quarterback and current Michigan Wolverines head football coach Jim Harbaugh on Saved By the Bell: The New Class, it's almost as if you can feel the inspiration just pour out of him.

Motivating these teens by telling them what it means to be a real hero, Harbaugh comes through in the clutch to help the entire class get an A.

Way to do it for the kids, Jim.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (The League)

Although Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a solid backup quarterback for the past decade, he hasn't quite been able to hold down a starting role whenever he does get his chance.

As one of the smartest guys in the league, though—after all, he did go to Harvard—the Amish Rifle continues to show that he can pickup any team's playbook fast, giving him nearly unlimited opportunities.

Another thing he's proven? That he can act, as he showed with his appearance on The League a couple of seasons ago in which he punked out Ruxin and reminded him that Northwestern might be a good school, but it's not an Ivy League school.

Chris Bosh (Parks and Recreation)

Want to know something that's a great sports trivia question for someone? How many roles has Miami Heat All-Star Chris Bosh been credited with?

While it might not seem like it has been that many, upon looking at his IMDb page, Bosh has somehow garnered 29 of them.

Sure, a few of them are things like All-Star Games and late-night appearances, but with others coming on TV shows like Parks and Recreation, Bosh shows that he has some acting skills.

Seriously, though, how in the hell did the 6'10" forward pass for a high schooler in this scene on the NBC comedy?

Ken Griffey Jr. (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

During the 1994 MLB strike, players had a lot of time to get into other things they didn't usually get to do.

One of those things for former MLB All-Star Ken Griffey Jr. seemed to be acting, as he made a cameo appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Showing up and throwing some snarky comments at Will Smith proved that Junior wasn't going to take a backseat to anyone while the camera was rolling.

Wade Boggs (Cheers)

Along with former Boston Celtics forward Kevin McHale, the TV show Cheers had a lot of pull in landing some of Beantown's favorite athletes.

However, the episode in which then-Boston Red Sox All-Star Wade Boggs showed up in the bar has to go down as one of the best athlete appearances in TV or film.

With the entire bar doubting he is who he claims to be, the cheesiness of patrons forcing him out of the bar by chasing him out is classic '80s humor at its finest.

Credit Boggs for being a good sport.

Larry Johnson (Family Matters)

One of the best athlete alter egos ever, former NBA All-Star Larry Johnson's Grandmama was beloved—if not bizarrely questioned—by mid-'90s hoops fans everywhere.

So when he (she) showed up on the TV show Family Matters to help Steve Urkel win a two-on-two tournament, the popularity of the Converse-created character was even better.

Dunking a basketball is tough. Dunking a basketball wearing a dress is even tougher, so props to LJ for doing it to perfection for the camera.

Paul O'Neill (Seinfeld)

Over the many years of the TV show Seinfeld, there were a number of New York Yankees players and coaches who were asked to make cameos.

From Danny Tartabull driving around New York City with George Costanza to World Series champs Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams getting hitting lessons from the little bald guy, the men who donned the pinstripes had some memorable appearances.

As great as all of them were, though, former Yanks outfielder Paul O'Neill's has to be the best, as he seemed to fit right in with the show's comedy.

Questioning why Kramer promised a kid that he would hit two homers in a game for him, O'Neill has the perfect amount of sarcasm to fit right in on set.