Alex Ovechkin and the Most Bizarre Sports Commercials of All Time

If you've seen this recent commercial starring Washington Capitals great Alexander Ovechkin, you probably thought, "What does that have to do with ice skates?"

For decades, sports figures are great pitchmen and pitchwomen. But because the standard "hold-the-product-and-say-how-great-it-is" format is tired and lame, commercials are becoming wackier and more elaborate.

They usually leave us laughing or just plain confused. And oftentimes, the product gets grossly overshadowed by the shtick.

Here are 10 great examples of bizarre sports commercials.

Honorable Mention: Alex Ovechkin Stuffed in a Locker

Who came up with this premise?

Honorable Mention: That Creepy Russian Guy and His Mini-Giraffe

For the most part this Direct Ticket, NFL Sunday commercial is funny. The miniature giraffe on a pillow makes it pretty odd, however.

No. 10: Ironhead Heyward and "This Thingy"

You've got to fast forward to the 6:27 mark to see it but here's a stroll down memory lane. Big, tough NFL fullback, the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, in the shower soaping up with a loofa. If that's not bizarre, what is?

No. 9: Emmitt Smith's Grey Hair

Forget that Emmitt Smith is way younger than Keith Hernandez and Walt Frazier.

Forget that this commercial features a "Running Back's Resting Home" employed by only scantily clad nurses/cheerleaders.

Forget that this may have been the audition tape that got Emmitt on Dancing With The Stars.

Consider this: Emmitt only retired because of his grey facial hair. Someone get that coloring stuff for Brett Favre's beard, please.

No. 8: Charles Barkley and Flakey White Stuff!

Hulk Hogan and Scottie Pippen couldn't hold a candle to Chuck's rendition of this classic mid-1990s deodorant commercial. (Although Rick Vaughn in Major League 2 nailed it!).

When did Barkley become some sort of treasure hunter/archaeologist. More importantly, what does that have to do with armpit sweat?

No. 7: Michael Strahan and Jared

Michael Strahan and Jared of Subway fame do a whole set of these commercials together. What makes this weird however is the chemistry between Jared and Strahan. They're always laughing it up, and having a good time. Do Jared and Michael Strahan hang out together? Text each other? If so, that's bizarre.

No. 6: Phil Mickelson, The Stalker

Just the thought of Phil Mickelson watching your every move is creepy. And the way he gets all up in that guy's face is equal parts hilarious and scary.

No. 5: Chicks Dig the Long Ball

A decade later, it's bizarre to look at Mark McGwire as anything but a pariah, let alone a sex symbol. Still, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux almost naked in a sauna: weird.

No. 4: The Double Stuff Racing League

Eli and Peyton Manning (notice the "middle" on Peyton's chin) are hilarious in this, and it gets better when Venus, Serena, and all those others join them in the sequels.

This is pretty weird, but the most bizarre element is that they actually got Archie and Olivia Manning to appear in it. That is one endorsement-happy family.

No. 3: Pick Me For Fantasy Football

Ok, these are really cool, but there's something spooky about them. Everyone wants to know if the inhuman feats accomplished are real (they're not).

Watching professional football players lobby for a spot on your fantasy football roster is pretty bizarre too.

No. 2: Half Magic, Half Bird Face

Like the others that accompany it (Shaq-Kobe, Derek Fisher-Deron Williams, etc) these are off-putting. As bad as the visual image is of these two, the blended voices (which sound some kind of Scooby Doo monster voice) is just as weird.

No. 1: Tiger Woods' Dad's Ghost

The ghost of Earl Woods not-so-subtly chastising him (remember, this is post-scandal, spring 2010) for all his off-the-course mistakes. That makes for a bizarre advertisement for Nike shoes or golf balls.