Tim Duncan, Tom Brady and Other Athletes Who Dig Strange Animals

Recently, pictures surfaced on the internet of the very unique experience of one Spurs season-ticket holder.

This individual not only got to spend time with Tim Duncan, but got to swim with a Beluga whale as well!

The NBA star and the whale made for yet another example of athlete/animal duos that leave us either laughing or scratching our heads.

Duncan is merely the most recent athlete to show us his softer side by posing with an animal.

10. A Not So Holy Cow

Former Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto was known for exclaiming "Holy cow!" after a great play. When the Yankees retired Rizzuto's number in August 1985, they presented the former shortstop with a "holy" cow. 

A cow was guided toward the microphone where Rizzuto addressed the crowd. Except the cow did not play nice, stepping on the 68-year-old Rizzuto's foot and knocking him to the ground.

9. Ride 'Em Cowboy

Skier Patrick Deneen is apparently big on horses...and miniature freak ponies, or donkeys, or whatever that thing is.

8. Ohlendorfs Longhorn

Pirates pitcher Russ Ohlendorf takes some time from the game to hang with his pet...longhorn steer? Is this like City Slickers?

7. A Little Kiss For Suh

The Nebraska football team visited San Diego Zoo as part of their trip to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.  At the zoo, a friendly seal gave former Cornhuskers star Ndamukong Suh a little kiss for luck.

6. Visanthe Shiacone

When asked about what kind of animals he likes, Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe answered the question by holding the friends he lives with—two ferrets. Coming home to playing with oversized rats? I don't know...

5. Swimming With Whales

Duncan did grow up in St. Croix and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was a very highly regarded swimmer before heading to Wake Forest. Maybe Duncan simply has the call of the wild when it comes to whales?

4. Lionel Messi Swims With The Dolphins

What do you get when you combine one of the world's best soccer players with one of the world's most intelligent creatures? Why a shot of Lionel Messi dancing with a dolphin of course!

3. Vizquel's Kangaroo

I always thought a Kangaroo would make an interesting pet, but Omar Vizquel is living the dream. How exactly does one build a perimeter fence for an animal that can jump 10 feet in the air?

2. Brady & The Goat

I'm still not sure what advertising wizard thought up this campaign, but I think I, like many others, was left thinking, "why exactly is Tom Brady taking a picture with a goat?"

1. A-Rod The Centaur

Perhaps A-Rod thinks of himself as a mythical creature, but I don't know what you call a guy who has paintings of himself as a centaur hanging in his house. Creepy? Egocentric? 

Either way it was left to a former fling of A-Rod's to reveal to the world just what kind of artwork the Yankees' third baseman has hanging in his house.