The 100 Most Entertaining Athletes of All Time
We watch sports to be entertained and no 100 athletes in the history of the sports we know and love have entertained us more than these people.
Whether it's because of their play or their off-the-field personalities, when you heard that you could watch these people, you tuned in.
Larger-than-life personalities abound on this list, as does talent.
One player on this list actually talked to the ball on the mound while another (two actually) have notoriously bad golf swings.
You'll find members of the Harlem Globetrotters and probably even a few people that you've never heard of.
Keep in mind that these players are sorted alphabetically and not ranked.
Enjoy the list and feel free to leave comments.
Andre Agassi
1 of 100
The eight-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1-ranked player in the world is without a doubt one of the greatest to play the game. His return game especially made him one of tennis’ elite.
Agassi was described by BBC after he retired as “perhaps the biggest worldwide star in the sport’s history.”
In addition to his incredible performance, his charisma and unrelenting attitude made him one of the most entertaining players in the sport’s history.
Along with Pete Sampras, he helped to revive tennis in the 1990s, making it popular once more.
One of his trademark hairstyles, the bushy hair he wore during the 1990s, was later revealed to be a wig, just one more chapter in the busy history of Agassi.
Muhammad Ali
2 of 100
The greatest boxer of all time made everyone stop what they were doing and either watch or listen to his fights.
Whether it was his rope-a-dope style in one match or his unorthodox “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” technique, The Greatest was simply captivating.
Ali quickly became a cultural icon, thanks to the hype that would be generated before each of his matches. During that time, Ali would trash talk his opponents, whether on television or in person.
Sports Illustrated named Ali the “Sportsman of the Century” and BBC called him the “Sports Personality of the Century.”
His fights became more than just fights. They became shows.
Lance Armstrong
3 of 100
Lance Armstrong captivated the world during his magical run of seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005.
But Armstrong was more than just a cyclist; he was someone people could relate to. After surviving testicular cancer, which was hard enough in itself, he was still able to train well enough to compete at cycling’s highest level and outrace the field.
People loved the success story, and he became an icon of success. The yellow Livestrong bands became a phenomenon. In fact, it’s still common to see people wearing them today.
Ron Artest
4 of 100
Ron Artest is not only one of the NBA’s premier defenders, but also one of the league’s most outspoken and eccentric personalities.
He raps in his free time. He once came out onto the court with purple and yellow hair that was shaved to spell out the word “defense” in different languages.
Artest is probably still most well-known for the brawl he participated in on Nov. 19, 2004. While playing the Pistons, he was a central figure in a brawl that wound up involving fans and taking place in the stands.
Recently, he won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and thanked his psychiatrist in the postgame interview.
Artest has also admitted that he drank Hennessy in the locker room at halftime of some of his games. He even attended an Indiana Pacers practice in a bath robe.
Sean Avery
5 of 100
Sean Avery is best known for his ability to distract other hockey players through a combination of antics on the ice, ridiculous quotes during interviews and interest in fashion.
He’s led the NHL in penalty minutes and seems a virtual lock to do something illegal during any given game.
Avery has called out the French before by saying, “I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not backing anything up.” That was nothing compared to the other insults he’s thrown around at fans, players and announcers alike.
Right now, Avery is most well known for his comments about Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf falling in love with his “sloppy seconds.”
Whether it’s his confrontational and widely disliked style of play on the ice or his entertaining yet controversial mouth, Avery is no doubt an entertaining athlete.
Charles Barkley
6 of 100
Sir Charles is not only a Hall of Fame basketball player, but he’s an extremely entertaining announcer for TNT.
The Round Mound of Rebound is one of the greatest power forwards of all time, noted for his versatile play, but especially his ability to clean up after other players’ misses.
Barkley was also involved in many fights on and off the court. He even said in 1993 that sports figures shouldn’t be considered role models.
As he said, “I don’t create controversies. They’re there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.”
Sir Charles is also well known for his gambling addiction, recent DUI conviction and ongoing feud with LeBron James.
His golf swing is entertaining enough to merit its own spot on this list.
David Beckham
7 of 100
Not only is he one of the better soccer players the world has seen, but Beckham has become a pop culture icon.
Beckham was Google’s most searched sports term in both 2003 and 2004. That exposure led him to become one of the primary advertising icons in the world, but also one of the top fashion influences.
He’s also married to Victoria Beckham but somehow attracts more attention than she does.
On the field, not many people could bend a soccer ball like David Beckham. Speaking of which, there’s a movie named Bend It Like Beckham.
You may have heard of it.
Yogi Berra
8 of 100
Yogi Berra, the longtime New York Yankees catcher, was arguably the greatest catcher of all time. During his 19-year MLB career, he became one of only four players to win the MVP award in the AL three times.
His play was not the only thing that made him entertaining. Due to the fact that he quit school after eighth grade, Berra was not especially well known for his grasp of the English language.
While “It ain’t over till it’s over” remains his most famous quote, it is most definitely not his only entertaining one.
“Ninety percent of the game is half mental,” “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” “It’s déjà vu all over again,” “I really didn’t say everything I said,” and “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours” are just a few more examples.
Larry Bird
9 of 100
One of the greatest players ever to play the game of basketball, Larry Bird was also a fierce competitor.
He was a noted trash talker who was never afraid to mix it up with anyone. One of my favorite basketball stories of all time tells how Bird told Chuck Person before the game with the Indiana Pacers on Christmas Day that he had a Christmas present for him.
When Person was sitting on the bench, Bird shot a three-pointer directly in front of him, then turned around to say “Merry f*****g Christmas” before the ball even got to the basket. It goes without saying that the ball found the basket.
He even told Xavier McDaniel once where he was going to make the game-winning shot from and then proceeded to score from that exact spot.
Bird was one of those players who demanded the attention of anyone watching. If you watched a Celtics game while Bird was on the floor, your eyes were on Bird.
If he put up a shot, you could blink because you expected it to go in. Especially in clutch situations, the sharpshooter was just expected to step it up and dominate the game both on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball game.
Usain Bolt
10 of 100
The fastest man in the world is known for more than simply being fast.
Usain Bolt wows people both with his blazing speed and his antics.
The Jamaican sprinter loves to ham it up in front of the crowd, always drawing back his trademark make-believe bow before a race. In fact, I would say that the motion has become associated with Bolt more than it has with archery in recent years.
Bolt has even showboated during races. When he broke the world record for the 100-meter dash, he pulled up short of the finish line when he had a sizable lead and enjoyed the moment. It was controversial because he was perceived as lazy, but Bolt was really just trying to be entertaining.
He’s also appeared on numerous talk shows and never fails to disappoint as an entertaining guest.
Barry Bonds
11 of 100
The controversy starts here.
Perhaps no player in any sport is more universally hated than the San Francisco slugger.
Bonds is commonly assumed to have used steroids even though he still vehemently denies it and nothing has been proven. He’s also known to blow off interviews and be dismissive of both the media and his fans.
Despite all that, Bonds holds arguably the most coveted record in all of sports: the career home run record. He also remains one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Bonds is entertaining simply because of the attention he demanded. During a time when the San Francisco Giants were rather irrelevant in the baseball world, I remember watching every single game just to see when Bonds would hit the home run that would break Hank Aaron’s record.
Calvin Borel
12 of 100
Calvin Borel has an amazing list of career accomplishments as a jockey.
His 2009 Kentucky Derby win while riding Mine That Bird remains the second biggest upset in Derby history and the winning margin was the greatest in the history of the race.
Borel has also ridden Street Sense and Rachel Alexandra, among other horses.
It seems as though Borel is always relevant when he sits down on top of a mount. He’s even gotten in a fistfight after a race.
How is he not entertaining?
Kobe Bryant
13 of 100
As he proved when he scored 81 points in a single game, Kobe Bryant can make any shot at any time.
He's an absolutely ruthless basketball player who wins through talent and determination. Kobe wants to win at all costs and he's great because of it.
The Black Mamba is entertaining because when you watch him, you have no doubt that he will make the shot he chooses to take. If the game is on the line, you're even more sure of it.
Plus, Bryant allows us to have plenty of entertaining conversations about the greatest basketball players of time, since he should be mentioned without a doubt.
Wilt Chamberlain
14 of 100
There are thousands of women around the country that would have called Wilt Chamberlain entertaining at some point in their lives.
Besides his ridiculous sexual conquests off the basketball court, Chamberlain was a pretty decent player on it.
He loved pursuing records, sometimes even at the cost of winning. As a result, he led the league in scoring seven times, field goal percentage nine times, rebounding 11 times and assists once.
As you all know, the center even scored 100 points in a single game, the only player in NBA history to do so.
Whether you called him Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or the Chairman of the Boards, he will always be one of the best and most entertaining players in the history of basketball.
Brandi Chastain
15 of 100
Brandi Chastain is best known for one celebration.
After scoring the game-winning goal in a penalty shootout against China in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, Chastain ran down the field while taking off her jersey. She then fell to her knees, clenching her fists towards the sky and baring her sports bra to the world.
It remains one of the most famous celebrations of all time and was featured on the cover of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated.
Chastain said about it, "Momentary insanity, nothing more, nothing less. I wasn’t thinking about anything. I thought, ‘This is the greatest moment of my life on the soccer field.’"
I'd bet there's not a person who followed sports in 1999 and can't picture Brandi Chastain's sports bra.
Bobby Cox
16 of 100
Bobby Cox only played for two seasons during his career, both with the New York Yankees, but he managed the Atlanta Braves for quite some time.
Cox was named the Manager of the Year four times and remains one of only four men to ever win the award in both the American League and the National League.
He led the Braves to a division title every year from 1991 to 2005, even winning the World Series once. He is also the fourth-winningest manager in the history of baseball.
However, Cox is entertaining because of his propensity to be thrown out of ball games. John McGraw has the second most ejections at 132 while Cox is first with 158.
During the 1990s and 2000s, part of the appeal of going to Braves games was so that you could see whether Cox would be tossed.
John Daly
17 of 100
Despite his recent lack of success, Daly remains one of the more popular players on the PGA Tour.
He crashed onto the scene out of nowhere by winning the 1991 PGA Championship and took the golf world by storm with his long, booming drives, his ridiculous appearance and his personal life.
Daly has had surgery to lose weight, takes the club past parallel to complete his unorthodox backswing, travels to tournaments in his own vehicle, has entered into alcohol addiction programs, has had three divorces, has been suspended by the PGA, has been found drunk multiple times, has had gambling problems and is sponsored by Hooters.
Trust me, that’s the shortened version of the list.
Babe Didrikson
18 of 100
As she was successful in golf, basketball and track and field, Babe Didrikson was named the most versatile female competitor by the Guinness Book of Records.
She competed against the men—the first female athlete to do so—and was still quite successful.
Didrikson really was a groundbreaking figure for female athletes in her time and paved the way for athletes like Billie Jean King.
Two contemporary sportswriters, Joe Williams and Grantland Rice, provide quotes necessary to understand both Didrikson’s ability and perception.
While Williams wrote, “It would be much better if she and her ilk stayed at home, got themselves prettied up and waited for the phone to ring,” Rice said, “She is beyond all belief until you see her perform…Then you finally understand that you are looking at the most flawless section of muscle harmony, of complete mental and physical coordination, the world of sport has ever seen.”
Due to her polarizing nature, unbelievable talent and groundbreaking athletic prowess, Didrikson was one of the most entertaining athletes of her time.
Lenny Dykstra
19 of 100
Any player with a list of nicknames that includes "Nails" and "Dude" has to be a lock for this list.
The center fielder played baseball in the late 1980s and early 1990s for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Billy Beane once related a story about Dykstra that showed how he was “perfectly designed, emotionally” to play baseball. After seeing Steve Carlton on the mound, Dykstra immediately said, “S**t, I’ll stick him.”
He was part of the Wild Boys tandem for the Mets because of his fearless play on the field and willingness to endure anything for his team.
The hard play continued throughout his career and made him one of the more entertaining ball players of his era.
Dale Earnhardt
20 of 100
The Intimidator is a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, elected along with other members of the inaugural class.
Earnhardt’s success on the racetrack was at least partially due to his aggressive driving style. He made his races particularly fun to watch and really helped increase the popularity of the sport.
He even died on the racetrack, an event which triggered a lot of changes to the sport to increase its safety.
The No. 3 car has become iconic, thanks to its legendary and entertaining driver.
Julius Erving
21 of 100
Dr. J was one of the most entertaining basketball players ever to live.
He was responsible for creating the modern, above-the-rim style of play.
Thanks to his monstrous hands, Erving was able to create a highlight reel of plays that no other human being could produce in his day and age.
The most iconic dunk of Erving’s career came in the 1976 ABA All-Star Game Dunk Contest, when he launched himself from the free throw line and slammed the ball through the hoop.
In my opinion, his most memorable play came during the 1980 NBA Finals when he made a finger-roll from behind the backboard while being guarded by Kareem Abdul-Jabaar.
Erving was blocked from the basket, jumped behind the backboard, reached under the basket and scored on the other side of the hoop despite the fact that he was already well behind the basket.
Erving also made one of the greatest dunks of all time when he cupped the ball, rocked it back and forth, then posterized Michael Cooper, leading announcer Chick Hearn to call it the “Rock the Baby” slam dunk.
If he’s not the most entertaining basketball player of all time, he’s pretty darn close to it.
Roger Federer
22 of 100
Roger Federer, in my opinion, is the best tennis player to ever grace this planet.
He dominated for such a long time and continues to play at a high level. Not to mention the fact that he owns the record for most Grand Slams.
Whether he hits a through-the-legs winner on the run or just overpowers opposing players, watching a Federer match is like watching an artist at work.
The Maestro makes the impossible look easy, and for that reason he's entertaining.
Mark Fidrych
23 of 100
The Bird had a very short Major League career because of his many injury problems. He only pitched from 1976 to 1980. However, those seasons were chock-full of entertainment.
Fidrych led the major leagues with a 2.34 ERA in 1976, winning 19 games and the AL Rookie of the Year award. He made the All-Star team both that year and the next, but then faded away due to injury.
He was most famous though for his antics on the baseball diamond. Not only would he crouch down to “manicure the mound,” but he would also talk to the ball, aim it as if he was throwing a dart, talk to himself and prance around the mound after he recorded an out.
Additionally, he would throw back balls that “had hits in them,” and required his own personal catcher.
Fidrych also started the curtain-call trend as he would re-emerge from the dugout to chants of “We want the Bird” from the “Bird Watchers,” as his fans were known.
The Bird was so popular that teams would actually ask the Detroit Tigers to alter their pitching rotation so they could treat their fans to a Fidrych sighting.
His career may have been short-lived, but Fidrych’s entertainment value was enough for a lifetime.
Wayne Gretzky
24 of 100
The Great One was entertaining simply because of his sheer brilliance on the ice.
Gretzky wasn’t flashy and didn’t utilize an entertaining style of play, but he was the best. His skill set, intelligence and ability to break down the hockey game in his head were unmatched by any player of his era. Nor were they matched by anyone from a different time, either.
Gretzky held 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records and six All-Star records when he retired in 1999. Every single team in the NHL has retired his No. 99 jersey.
People turned on their televisions to watch hockey when Gretzky was on the schedule.
They wanted to watch greatness personified and they got their wishes night in and night out.
Tony Hawk
25 of 100
Tony Hawk is the man who made skateboarding, as well as extreme sports in general, what they are today. He modernized and popularized a sport that was previously associated largely with juvenile delinquents.
Hawk, on the self-proclaimed greatest day of his life, landed the first-ever 900 in competition, which launched a whole new wave of tricks in vertical skateboarding.
He even had his own set of video games, one of the best selling sports series of all time.
When people think of skateboarding, they immediately think of Tony Hawk.
Rickey Henderson
26 of 100
Rickey Henderson was such a great player, a Hall of Famer in fact, because of the fact that he was entertaining when he played baseball. No one ever knew what he was going to do next.
There aren't many more exciting and entertaining plays in the sport than the stolen base, and Henderson is the career leader in that category by a long shot.
Henderson was also a great interview because of both his interesting quotations and his tendency to speak of himself in the third person. It was a shock when his Hall of Fame induction speech was actually normal.
The Man of Steal was one of the most passionate players in baseball history and his play showed it.
Because he was so entertaining, here are a few stories about the base-stealer.
When a teammate told him that his hitting coach, Tom Robson, had been fired, Henderson said, "Who's he?"
The Oakland A's accounting books were once off by $1 million because Henderson had framed his $1 million bonus check instead of cashing it.
After striking out he was overheard saying, "Don't worry Rickey, you're still the best."
Before every game, he would stand naked in front of a mirror and say, "Rickey's the best."
Rickey would say that Rickey was entertaining.
Bobby Hull
27 of 100
The Golden Jet was undoubtedly one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.
Hull was well known for his lightning-fast skating, his ridiculous slapshot and wrist shot alike and his trademark blonde hair.
He's considered the best left winger of all time and had a huge impact on hockey.
Besides his son Brett Hull, Bobby also contributed to the game by popularizing the curving of hockey sticks for more control and power.
His ability to both handle the puck and to electrify the crowd with his speed and power made him one of hockey's premier superstars.
Michael Irvin
28 of 100
Michael Irvin had a very successful career on the football field, then went on to compete on Dancing with the Stars while working in television.
On the field, he was known as The Playmaker, a nickname that Irvin himself came up with because of his ability to make the big plays.
He helped the Dallas Cowboys dominate on the field and in terms of popularity during the 1990s because of his ability to make tough, physical catches in traffic and his outspoken, flashy personality.
In fact, Irvin played so physically that the NFL eventually changed their rules to disadvantage Irvin-like receivers in the future.
Anyone who saw him strut around the field with his arms raised up in the air after scoring a touchdown knows that he was entertaining.
Allen Iverson
29 of 100
Despite standing only six feet tall, Allen Iverson became one of the greatest scorers in basketball history after being selected No. 1 overall in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Iverson could score at will, thanks to his fancy dribbling and unbelievable ability to break defenders' ankles with his crossover. The point guard helped to make the game more modern and helped fashion the streetball-style of play that so many love.
The Answer even crossed over Michael Jordan.
He was also well known for his comments during interviews, specifically his "Practice" rant where he said, "We're sitting here, I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're in here talking about practice."
Because of his unique style of play, Iverson was one of the most fun-to-watch players in the NBA.
Rampage Jackson
30 of 100
I'll admit that I don't know too much about MMA, but I do know that Rampage Jackson is one of the sport's most entertaining athletes.
He rose to fame through Japan's PRIDE FC and the United States' UFC, a period of time which saw his body-slamming become popular.
Since then, he's been quite successful in MMA.
Another reason for Jackson's status as an entertaining athlete is his ability to give a good interview.
It seems as though he provides at least one statement worth quoting in every interview and has even been known to hump a female reporter while answering questions.
Reggie Jackson
31 of 100
Mr. October is best known for his clutch hitting during baseball's postseason, but he was truly an incredible player all throughout the season.
He played for 21 years and helped to win five World Series titles, three in a row with the Oakland As and two in a row with the New York Yankees.
When asked once whether or not Jackson was a hot dog (or showoff), Darold Knowles replied, "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson."
Jackson himself once said, "I'm still the straw that stirs the drink. Not Munson, not nobody else on this club."
The right fielder could do it all on the field and was known for his strained relations with what seemed like everyone on each team throughout his career.
He was entertaining because you never knew when he was going to launch a home run or do something crazy but worth remembering.
Jaromir Jagr
32 of 100
The talented hockey player was one of the youngest to ever take the ice in the NHL.
He quickly became well known for both his skilled play and his trademark mullet. In fact, when he cut off the mullet in 1999, his new haircut made international headlines.
He's led the NHL in points scored five times, been the MVP once and is in the top 15 in career goals, assists and points.
Jagr also loved to celebrate after each and every goal, a tradition that drew the ire of both opposing players and fans alike.
People love offense because it's entertaining. You'd be hard pressed to find a better offensive player in recent memory. You can connect the dots for yourself.
LeBron James
33 of 100
There is no doubt that LeBron James is one of the most entertaining basketball players in the history of the sport.
From the time he takes the court, King James puts on a show. He throws his chalk up in the air in front of the crowd, he sometimes takes pictures with teammates or participates in some other goofy ceremony and then takes the court.
Whether it's a thunderous dunk or a chase-from-behind block on a fast break, LeBron James will provide a highlight in every one of his games. He's a freak of nature blessed with a bevy of physical skills.
When LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach, he announced the decision during an hour-long special on ESPN. And people watched it!
How many other athletes have entertained us to such an extent that something like that could happen?
Magic Johnson
34 of 100
Flashing his trademark smile, Magic Johnson always put on a show for his fans.
He could score, he could rebound and boy, could he pass. As Michael Cooper once said, "There have been times when he has thrown passes and I wasn't sure where he was going. Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody."
Because he was 6'9" and played point guard, Johnson was always a threat for a triple-double on any given night.
His rivalry with Larry Bird provided countless entertaining games, but truthfully, any game Magic was a part of was entertaining.
Michael Jordan
35 of 100
Has there been a little kid in recent history who didn't stick his tongue out while playing basketball in his driveway?
Air Jordan is the most popular player in NBA history and may also be the best.
Whether it was his defense, his clutch shooting or his rim-crushing dunks, Jordan was kind of entertaining.
I'd go into more detail, but come on now, you know all about Michael Jordan.
If you don't, please stop reading and look up some highlights.
Billie Jean King
36 of 100
Billie Jean King is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, regardless of gender.
King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and another 27 Grand Slam doubles titles. However, she's most famous for the Battle of the Sexes.
In that 1973 match, King took on Bobby Riggs and won. It was a groundbreaking moment for women in sports.
King was also entertaining because of her playing style. She was incredibly competitive and aggressive, never afraid to run into the net.
Evel Knievel
37 of 100
The motorcycle stuntman was the definition of entertaining.
He broke 37 bones, was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records many times and entertained countless people around the world.
Knievel tried to jump over the fountains at Caesar's Palace, over 19 cars, the Snake River Canyon (only after the government denied his request to jump over the Grand Canyon) and more.
The daredevil lived to entertain people and was willing to die to do the same.
Bob Knight
38 of 100
Bob Knight only played college basketball for Ohio State as a reserve forward during the team's 1960 championship, but he was still an athlete.
He moved on from his playing career to coach full time and became one of the best ever.
In the process of winning 902 NCAA Division I men's basketball games, the most of all time, The General developed a reputation as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable coaches.
He became notorious for throwing a chair onto the court after disagreeing with a call. It was just one of the hundreds of controversies Knight was a part of.
It's rare that a coach gets as much publicity for his stunts as Knight got during his storied career.
Takeru Kobayashi
39 of 100
Takeru Kobayashi really was the man responsible for popularizing the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July.
From 2001-06, Kobayashi won the contest six consecutive times, setting record after record in the process.
Amazingly, Kobayashi became somewhat of a household name. Even though Joey Chestnut is now the best hot dog eater in the world, Kobayashi remains the global icon.
My family and I used to turn on our television on July 4 just to watch this man gulp down hot dog after hot dog. He alone made the contest entertaining.
Anna Kournikova
40 of 100
Even though she never won a single tournament, Anna Kournikova was one of the most popular tennis players all time.
Look through some of her pictures and then tell me she didn't entertain you.
That's what I thought.
Michelle Kwan
41 of 100
The two-time Olympic medalist was one of the most popular figure skaters ever.
She competed for the United States for over a decade, showing remarkable consistency and expression throughout her time in the national spotlight.
Amazingly, that spotlight shone on Kwan even after she retired. She was consistently named one of America's most popular female athletes, regardless of sport.
Kwan even received several endorsement deals worth well over a million dollars, a remarkable sum of money for a figure skater who never won an Olympic gold medal.
Mario Lemieux
42 of 100
Despite his many injuries, Mario Lemieux was still one of the greatest players ever to lace up their skates and take to the ice with a stick in hand.
Well, sometimes he couldn't lace up his own skates because of his back problems and had to have a teammate help him out.
Lemieux's career numbers would have been much higher if he hadn't been injured so often and forced to retire early because of Hodgkin's lymphoma. In the time where he did play, Lemieux still managed to put up incredible numbers.
The longtime Penguin was known for being a great playmaker and faking out defender after defender to get to the goal. He was a three-time MVP and led the league in scoring six times.
Meadowlark Lemon
43 of 100
The Clown Prince played over 16,000 games for the Harlem Globetrotters during a career that would eventually see him inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2003 class.
Lemon was a great actor, particularly skilled at drawing laughs from the crowd. He would fake injuries, play with a ball on a string so he could shoot it like a boomerang or steal it back from the refs and talk throughout the game in a high-pitched voice.
He was an entertainer first and foremost who just happened to be incredible at basketball.
Sugar Ray Leonard
44 of 100
Sugar Ray Leonard was another athlete who was entertaining simply because he was unbelievably good.
Leonard was the first boxer of all time to earn over $100 million in purses. He was named the "Boxer of the Decade" for the 1980s and is considered to be one of the best ever.
He retired multiple times, but eventually retired for good with a 36-3-1 career record. His first loss was to Roberto Duran, a loss which he later avenged in New Orleans.
His only other two defeats came during his returns from retirement, which he admitted was a poorly conceived idea.
Leonard fought in very highly publicized matches because he was just that dominant.
Carl Lewis
45 of 100
Sports Illustrated's "Olympian of the Century" proved to people around the world that track and field events could be entertaining.
Because of his dominance and brilliance in his sport, Lewis paved the way for modern track and field athletes.
He won nine Olympic gold medals in his career and was fun to watch in the process. He was one of the few Olympic athletes that simply demanded everyone's attention.
Lewis was also known for not exactly being the most humble in the world, a character trait that grated on fellow competitors.
John Madden
46 of 100
John Madden played college football and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but injuries prevented him from ever taking the field.
He went on to have a successful coaching career, but he wasn't entertaining until he retired from coaching.
Madden made his mark in the broadcast booth, where he really helped popularize Monday Night Football. The gigantic man was known for his use of interjections, especially "Boom!" and his use of the Telestrator to diagram plays.
He also launched the Madden NFL video games, one of the most popular series of all time.
My personal favorite reason for including Madden on the list though is his use of blindingly obvious statements like, "They're going to have to score more points than the other team to win this game."
His voice will be imitated for as long as football is played.
Robbie Maddison
47 of 100
Maddo is an Australian stuntman who has electrified the world time after time.
On March 29, 2008, Maddison broke the world motorcycle jumping record on his second attempt, but wasn't satisfied so he tried a third time. On the final try, he set yet another record that night, 342 feet and seven inches.
Among other stunts, Maddison captured the nation by jumping onto Las Vegas' version of the Arc de Triomphe and then went right back off the side all the way back down to a ramp near the ground. It was done on New Year's Eve and demanded a huge audience.
Maddison's goal in life has been to break records and entertain people. He's succeeded time after time.
Peyton Manning
48 of 100
Peyton Manning is entertaining for quite a few reasons.
First of all, he's an absolutely incredible quarterback who plays well in big games. Then there's his tendency to make wild gesticulations and change plays at the line of scrimmage.
Finally, there are the commercials.
Manning seems to appear on your television every time you turn it on. How many of us have quoted his ridiculous commercials?
I know I have.
Diego Maradona
49 of 100
Maradona is unanimously called one of the greatest soccer players of all time.
His two most famous goals during his playing career both came in a 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
The first was the "Hand of God," where Maradona scored on an unpenalized handball. Then there was "The Goal of the Century," which saw the man score from 60 meters out by weaving the ball through six English defenders.
He's been suspended multiple times for failing drug tests and his inability to keep his mouth shut gives journalists an unbelievable amount of entertaining fodder.
When he became a manager, his outspoken ways continued and made him an entertaining figure to watch on the sidelines.
Pete Maravich
50 of 100
Pistol Pete is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, averaging 44.2 points per game. His scoring prowess continued at the next level when he averaged 31.1 points per game in the 1976-77 season.
The Hall of Fame called Maravich "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history."
John Havlicek called him "the best ball-handler of all time."
Moving on now...
Willie Mays
51 of 100
The Say Hey Kid is widely considered one of the greatest all-around players that the game of baseball has ever seen.
When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he said upon being asked who the best baseball player he saw play was, "I don't mean to be bashful, but I was."
Ted Williams also said, "They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays."
Mays was incredibly talented on both offensive and defense and you could count on him to either hit a home run, steal a base or make a great defensive play in any game.
The best play of Mays' career may very well have been The Catch, when he made an over-the-shoulder catch on the run in the World Series.
His awards, records and accomplishments are innumerable.
John McEnroe
52 of 100
If you say that McEnroe doesn't belong on this list, I have one thing to say to you: "You cannot be serious!"
McEnroe would shout that, along with many obscene phrases, at the umpires whenever he disagreed with a call.
The Hall of Famer was an incredible player, known for his smooth play and great volleying. But he is just as well known for his confrontational personality, one which he has carried with him to the broadcast booth.
Going to a McEnroe match was always sure to be entertaining.
Don Meredith
53 of 100
Dandy Don played in the Ice Bowl and despite his lack of success, the Cowboys quarterback was still quite popular. That fact was mostly due to his toughness and unteachable leadership skills.
His charisma and willingness to do whatever it took to win a game made him quite fun to watch back in the day.
After his playing career was over, Meredith moved into the booth and was part of the original Monday Night Football crew. He was known for his light-hearted commentary and a couple of ridiculous acts.
One such act was his tendency to sing "Turn out the lights, the party's over" whenever a game appeared to be over.
Meredith also referred to then-President Richard Nixon as "Tricky Dick," said that he was "mile-high" before a game in Denver and talked about hookers.
Lionel Messi
54 of 100
As Arsene Wenger once said, "Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace. He is the best player in the world by some distance. He's (like) a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make."
Messi is one of, if not the, best players in the world right now and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
He's frequently compared to Diego Maradona and at just 23 years of age, has a chance to become one of the all-time greats.
When you watch a soccer match and Lionel Messi touches the ball, you have no choice but to hold your breath.
Earl Monroe
55 of 100
Earl the Pearl may not have been the best basketball player in the world, but he was absolutely one of the game's flashiest players.
Monroe grew up on the playgrounds of Philadelphia, earning himself the nickname Jesus for his incredible ability with the ball. His high school teammates called him Thomas Edison due to the number of moves he created.
He was also known as Black Magic in the NBA, thanks to his unbelievable dribbling, passing and playmaking abilities.
If you've ever played the NBA Street video games, they might as well have been based on Monroe.
Joe Montana
56 of 100
Joe Cool was the definition of clutch in the NFL.
Montana was called the No. 1 clutch quarterback of all-time by Sports Illustrated in 2006, thanks in part to his 31 come-from-behind wins in the fourth quarter.
He threw the ball that Dwight Clark turned into The Catch in the 1982 NFL Championship Game and led a 92-yard touchdown drive in Super Bowl XXIII.
The Comeback Kid played best in the big moments, but the rest of his time spent at the quarterback position wasn't too shabby, either.
Joe Namath
57 of 100
Broadway Joe was professional football's first true media superstar because of his larger-than-life personality.
The most telling story of all is also the most famous. Three days before Super Bowl III, Namath responded to some heckling fans by saying, "We're gonna win the game, I guarantee it."
True to his word, Namath went on to win the game.
The quarterback popularized the fur-coat-on-the-sidelines fashion trend, which was later banned by the league.
Namath was also a sex symbol during his time in the spotlight and remained a controversial figure later into his life. In 2003, a clearly inebriated Namath told Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss you. I couldn't care less about the team strugg-a-ling."
Throughout his life, Namath has been an entertaining athlete. Who else would do a commercial for pantyhose?
Curly Neal
58 of 100
Curly Neal, much like Meadowlark Lemon, was most famous for his time spent with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Neal earned his nickname because of his shaved head, which reminded fans of the Three Stooges' Curly Howard. His bald dome made him the most recognizable of the Globetrotters.
The skilled dribbler was also the primary ballhandler for the Globetrotters, which was obviously an important role. The show ran through him.
Neal's No. 22 jersey has been retired by the Globetrotters.
Chad Ochocinco
59 of 100
When people think about sports figures known for showing off, Ochocinco's name is usually at the top of the list.
He kept a list on his locker room door so he could check off every cornerback he burned during 2005. He put on a fake Hall of Fame jacket after scoring a touchdown.
The list of post-touchdown celebrations goes on and on. Not one fails to entertain.
The wide receiver even changed his last name from Johnson to Ochocinco. Come on now.
Apolo Ohno
60 of 100
Speedskating is not a traditionally glamorous Olympic sport, yet Apollo Ohno still gained national recognition due to his athletic prowess and entertaining presence on the ice.
After becoming the youngest U.S. national champion, Ohno became the face of speedskating, especially after his performance in the 2002 Olympics.
He's well known for being controversial as well, allegedly finishing third in a qualifying race to allow teammate Shani Davis to make the U.S. Olympic Team.
The speedskater is even known for yawning religiously before each and every race.
Ohno has also parlayed his success into off-the-ice opportunities. He's become a noted motivational speaker and even competed on Dancing with the Stars.
He's made the soul patch trendy, which is quite difficult to do.
Shaquille O'Neal
61 of 100
While he's been one of the dominant players of all time, Shaq is just as well known for his personality with the media.
The most entertaining free throw shooter of all time has an infinite amount of quotes that are guaranteed to make you laugh. Click here to see them all, spend an hour reading them and come back.
Shaq = entertaining.
Alexander Ovechkin
62 of 100
The man that scored The Goal is one of the greatest modern hockey players. He may very well be the best active player.
His most famous goal came on Jan. 16, 2006, when Ovechkin was knocked down and still managed to use one hand to scoop the puck into the goal.
One of the many reasons for his success has been his reckless style of play, which has led to not only success but also injuries, suspension and pure entertainment.
He's also upset many players around the league with his overly exuberant celebrations after scoring goals.
Jesse Owens
63 of 100
Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.
Despite being depicted as racially inferior by Nazi propaganda, Owens still dominated. As Albert Sheer wrote, "Each of the German victories, and there were a surprising number of these, made (Hitler) happy, but he was highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvelous colored American runner, Jesse Owens.
"People whose antecedents came from the jungle were primitive, Hitler said with a shrug; their physiques were stronger than those of civilized whites and hence should be excluded from future games."
He was cheered as though he was white and was given the same rights as the white athletes, something unheard of at the time.
Owens entertained the nation and became a hero in the United States.
Terrell Owens
64 of 100
One of the most fined players in NFL history, Owens is also one of the most talented.
He's known not only for scoring touchdowns, but also for his ridiculous celebrations after them.
Owens celebrated on the Dallas star and was tackled by Cowboys' safety George Teague, he pulled a Sharpie out of his sock to autograph a football, he stole pom poms from cheerleaders, and more.
The receiver is also known for creating controversies with his quarterbacks and coaches, pretty much on every one of his teams. The list of controversies is just as long as the list of touchdown celebrations.
Owens is worth watching every week because he could blow up and cause a coach or quarterback to have a conniption at any moment. He could also statistically explode.
Arnold Palmer
65 of 100
The King was sport's first big superstar of the television era. His larger-than-life personality helped to put golf on the map.
His gigantic fanbase became known as Arnie's Army and he became golf's first player to earn many sponsorships.
On the course, he was renowned for his aggressive style of play and ability to try any shot at any time.
This was no more true than when he was 75 years old and playing in the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational. Palmer was 200 yards out and had a lot of water to deal with, but that didn't stop him from pulling out his driver and hitting it off the deck. The ball, of course, found the green.
Arnold Palmer was golf's first truly entertaining player.
Travis Pastrana
66 of 100
It seems as though Travis Pastrana was put on Earth to entertain us.
Just competing in Motocross events and the X Games hasn't been enough for Pastrana.
That said, Pastrana performed the single most entertaining stunt in X Games history when he landed the first-ever double backflip.
Outside of his competitions, Pastrana has jumped out of a plane without a parachute and met up with another person to share their parachute.
He's set the world record for a ramp-to-ramp car jump when he jumped from the Pine Street Pier into Rainbow Harbor in the wee hours of Jan. 1, 2010. The jump moved the record from 171 feet to 269.
As if landing wasn't enough, he did a gainer (back flip while facing forwards) into the harbor afterwards.
Max Patkin
67 of 100
The Clown Prince of Baseball pitched in the minor leagues before injuring his arm and joining the Navy.
While in service, he pitched against Joe DiMaggio and threw his glove down after DiMaggio launched a homer. With that, the fans cheered and created Patkin's career.
Patkin could morph his face into any shape. He wore a baggy baseball jersey with a question mark on the back and an always-sideways ballcap.
Between 1944 and 1993 Patkin didn't miss a single game, appearing over 4,000 times.
The Clown Prince of Baseball entertained thousands and thousands of people during his streak.
Pele
68 of 100
The greatest soccer player of all time is also the beautiful game's all-time leading scorer. Pele knocked the ball into the net 1,281 times in his career's 1,363 games.
He became a national hero in Brazil thanks to his insane playmaking abilities. He was widely known as an excellent dribbler and passer.
His pace and shot were both astounding and he could head the ball as well as anyone. But his shotmaking was the best of all time.
When people think of soccer, they think of Pele. It is doubtful that anyone has been a more entertaining soccer player.
Drazen Petrovic
69 of 100
Petrovic's life was cut short by a tragic car accident, so the majority of his career was spent in Europe.
While overseas, Petrovic dominated his four years with Cibona, scoring an average of 37.7 points per game and putting up 112 in a single game while playing in the Yugoslavian First Division and scoring 33.8 points in European competition with a high of 62.
He put up points in bunches but still found a way to tally over 20 assists in many games.
Petrovic eventually made it to the NBA and achieved success after being traded to the New Jersey Nets. He was becoming one of the top shooting guards in the league when he died.
Offensive excellence was synonymous with Petrovic's name.
Richard Petty
70 of 100
King Richard very well may be the best NASCAR driver of all time.
His records include 200 career wins, seven Daytona 500 wins, 27 wins in 1967 and more.
During his career, he was known to stand against a wall for hours signing autograph after autograph. The fact that there was such a high demand for his signature proves just how entertaining he was.
Even though he won race after race, Petty still managed to get in quite a few crashes. A couple of them barely saw him survive.
In 1980 at Pocono, Petty even broke his neck but finished the race.
Michael Phelps
71 of 100
His eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics set an all-time record, prompting many to call him the greatest Olympian ever.
Phelps captivated the United States during that time and it seemed as though every race was a national holiday.
I remember actually jumping off my couch and screaming at my television during his comeback against Milorad Cavic. Phelps won by one hundredth of a second in the 100 meter butterfly, giving him his seventh gold.
No one who watched Michael Phelps will ever forget him.
Manny Ramirez
72 of 100
Manny Ramirez, while a great baseball player, was known first and foremost for being Manny.
"Manny being Manny" became quite a popular phrase whenever the 12-time All-Star decided to display another lapse in concentration or enthusiasm.
He was known for making errors while running the bases or patrolling the outfield, simply because he was lost in another world.
After leading the Red Sox to the World Series, he eventually caused his organization to grow tired of his stunts, and the talented outfielder was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His dreadlocks remain one of the most recognizable hairstyles in all of sports. Manny will entertain on any given night, maybe with a home run or maybe with a boneheaded play.
Mary Lou Retton
73 of 100
Mary Lou Retton took home five medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and catapulted her way to the front of America's collective conscience.
Her comprehensive talent, as demonstrated by her gold medal in the all-around competition, was undeniable and she captivated the nation with each of her performances.
In her all-around competition, Retton showed off her flair for the dramatic by scoring perfect 10s in the final two events, the floor exercise and the vault, to beat Ecaterina Szabo by 0.05 points.
She became Sports Illustrated's "Sportswoman of the Year" and became Wheaties' first official spokesperson.
Retton may have only entertained people for a short time, but she was quite entertaining during that period.
Jerry Rice
74 of 100
Jerry Rice was entertaining simply because he was the absolute best at what he did, which just happened to be playing wide receiver at a very high level.
The Sporting News ranked him as the second-best football player of all-time in 1999 while The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players, an NFL Network production, had Rice at No. 1 in 2010.
Rice's 1,549 receptions are the most of all time, as are his 22,895 receiving yards. In fact, the latter is considered one of sports' most unbreakable records.
Rice had over 7,000 more receiving yards than anyone else in history and his 22,895 receiving yards would have been second on the all-time all-purpose yardage list. Keep in mind that the all-purpose list includes running, receiving and returning yards.
He didn't do anything notable on the field besides just play football, but he was damn good at catching the ball.
Oscar Robertson
75 of 100
The man averaged a triple-double in the NBA.
Ummmm...moving on now.
Dennis Rodman
76 of 100
Dennis Rodman exemplifies everything that this list is about.
Whether it was his flamboyant styling of his hair, his crazy fashion sense or his insane ability to crash the boards, Rodman was the pinnacle of entertaining during his career.
Dennis the Menace, or the Worm as many called him, would deal with one controversy only to create another 10 seconds later.
You watched him for his fearless and tenacious defense, his ability to rebound over taller players, and the off-chance that Rodman would do something crazy.
Chi-Chi Rodriguez
77 of 100
Anyone who has ever played golf has probably imitated Chi-Chi Rodriguez, either intentionally or accidentally.
When you're handed a big, long metal stick, it's pretty difficult not to pretend it's a sword.
Rodriguez was one of the first golfers to decide that he needed to celebrate in a dramatic way every time he made a birdie or an eagle.
At first, he would take off his hat and put it over the cup, but that drew too many complaints. It was the start of the toreador dance.
Rodriguez would pretend his putter was a sword, kill the imaginary bull and then thrust it back into its imaginary sheath at his side.
Chi-Chi knew how to work the crowd.
Ronaldinho
78 of 100
Gaucho is one of the greatest soccer players in the world, primarily because of his ability to score on free-kicks and dribble the ball.
He helped make Brazil's "Joga Bonito" style of play successful and became one of the country's most popular players. However, he entertained millions of people all around the world.
Take for example, the advertisement he made with Nike in 2005 where he receives a new pair of shoes and proceeds to not only juggle a soccer ball, but kick it off the crossbar of a goal over and over again. The ball never touches the ground.
The video of this commercial went viral and became YouTube's first video with over a million hits.
WIth his trademark smile, Ronaldinho has entertained people quite well.
Cristiano Ronaldo
79 of 100
Although he has a notorious penchant for flopping, the Portuguese footballer is undoubtedly one of the most talented and entertaining players ever to play the game.
Sometimes it seems as though there's a string attaching the soccer ball to Ronaldo's foot when he's pulling off some of his insane dribbling maneuvers.
For anyone that's played EA Sport's FIFA 11, I'm sure you've taken Ronaldo up and down the field and faked out defender after defender. There's no one in the game that can pull of the moves Ronaldo can.
Watching him in real life is like watching a video game.
Plus, the girls tell me that he's entertaining for another reason.
Pete Rose
80 of 100
Pete Rose was nicknamed Charlie Hustle for a reason.
It was entertaining enough that he seemed to get more hits than anyone else, probably because he did. But then, he added the hustle aspect.
Who else would slide into first base?
The whole betting on baseball scandal has given us a whole new form of entertainment: debating whether Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.
Personally, I think he should.
Babe Ruth
81 of 100
Not only was the Sultan of Swat baseball's best player of all time, he was also its most entertaining.
Ruth was the reason that baseball became popular. It went from being a simple pastime to "the national pastime" because of his influence.
People flocked to ballparks to see him pitch, hit home runs, win games and simply just play baseball.
He was the first athlete to truly transcend his sport.
See, I haven't even mentioned the whole thing about him calling his shot and I've already convinced you.
Nolan Ryan
82 of 100
Whether it was teaching Robin Ventura not to charge the mound or dominating every hitter he faced, Ryan was quite an entertaining pitcher.
He has two of the truly unbreakable records in sports, both of which captivated people across the country as he was achieving the milestones.
When watching a pitcher, no play is more entertaining than seeing him strike out the hitter. Ryan did that 5,714 times in his career, 839 times more than Randy Johnson, who is in second place on the career list.
As for the other, no-hitters are tough to beat in terms of entertainment and excitement. The fact that Ryan threw seven in his career is simply astounding.
Deion Sanders
83 of 100
Prime Time was entertaining because of his versatility.
Not only could Sanders return kicks, play wide receiver and play cornerback, but he could also play baseball at a high level.
His 4.1 40-yard dash time is still the fastest ever, so Sanders remains one of the most explosive players in football history. Similarly, he was quite adept at stealing bases in the MLB.
Sanders was more than just fast, he was one of the best shutdown corners of his generation. With the exception of Jerry Rice, not too many people were successful against him.
He is also known for his flashy dressing style, capitalizing immensely on his nickname. He was one of the most outspoken players in NFL history and loved to showboat as well, frequently high-stepping his way into the end zone.
Fabrice Santoro
84 of 100
The tennis player from Tahiti wowed crowds for the duration of his lengthy career with his positive attitude and ability to make incredible shots.
Pete Sampras gave Santoro the nickname he carries with him to this day: the Magician.
He may not have been the best player on tour, but Santoro won over crowd after crowd with his incredible array of trick shots.
Any player nicknamed the Magician has to be on the list of most entertaining players.
Michael Schumacher
85 of 100
According to Formula One's website, Michael Schumacher is "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen. He holds too many records to count."
To make it simple, Schumacher drives really, really, really fast and does it well.
That's a good recipe for entertainment right there.
Maria Sharapova
86 of 100
In 2004, Sharapova took down Serena Williams and won Wimbledon at age 17. At that moment, she took the world by storm.
Despite the fact that she's only won two more Grand Slams, Sharapova remains one of the most popular players in tennis.
She's parlayed this success into modeling, where she has most definitely continued to entertain large portions of the male population.
O.J. Simpson
87 of 100
The Juice was the first player to break the 2,000-yard mark for rushing in a single season. He was one of the greatest running backs that the game of football has ever seen.
Unfortunately, he wasn't exactly the greatest person.
After he finished entertaining us on the field, Simpson kept entertaining the country, but in a whole new way. People v. Simpson kept everyone on pins and needles, waiting for news and results in the double murder trial.
Even after that was done, Simpson wrote If I Did It, a supposedly fictional account of how he would've committed the murder he was accused of.
Although those last few things are decidedly negative, they still provided a type of entertainment for the entire country.
Kelly Slater
88 of 100
Kelly Slater is the man most associated with popularizing surfing and making it stylish. When people think of surfing competitions, his is the first name to pop into their heads.
In 2005, Slater was the first person to ever be awarded two perfect scores under the ASP two-wave scoring system. This was just a microcosm of his competitive excellence.
Slater has shattered the record for the most world championships, winning 10 over his career. Those 10 include a remarkable five straight from 1994-98.
He even had his own video game: Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer.
Rod Smart
89 of 100
After being cut from the San Diego Chargers, Smart went and joined the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws. He was a great running back for the team, but became incredibly popular for his nickname: "HE HATE ME."
Smart eventually made it back to the NFL and was moderately successful, but nothing could match the entertainment value of his XFL jersey.
The running back himself explained the phrase's origins, saying, ""Basically, my brother's my opponent. After I win, he's gonna hate me. It is what it is. It's a saying I was saying when I'd feel something wasn't going my way. For example, I was on the squad in Vegas and coach was putting other guys in, I felt I'm better than them, you know, hey, 'he hate me.' See what I'm saying? Give me a chance. That's all I ask. It came from the heart. Within. The way I felt. My buddy Greg Kates always used to use it, so I took it from him."
The jersey even inspired other players to change their jersey names to things like "I Hate He" and "Still Hate He."
Ozzie Smith
90 of 100
The Wizard is probably the best defensive shortstop of all time and was a virtual lock to make one web gem per game.
He won 13 Gold Gloves in his career and was selected to a ridiculous 15 All-Star Games.
However, he's on this list mostly because of his tendency to do a backflip when he took to the infield later in his career.
Baseball players doing backflips? I think that merits a spot on the list.
Annika Sorenstam
91 of 100
Annika Sorenstam may very well be the best female golfer in history. She certainly has the records to back it up.
In addition to shooting a 59 in competition, Sorenstam won 90 international competitions, the most wins of any female golfer ever. Those wins include 10 major championships.
She also was named the LPGA's Player of the Year eight times in her career and led the tour in scoring average six times. Her 68.6969 in 2004 is the best of all time.
Sorenstam was entertaining just because she was so ridiculously good.
Fran Tarkenton
92 of 100
Tarkenton was one of the first truly great quarterbacks in football's history.
When he retired, he possessed every single major record that a quarterback could have: pass attempts, completions, passing yardage, passing touchdowns, rushing yards by a quarterback and wins by a starting quarterback.
He was nicknamed The Mad Scrambler because of his ability to run around in the backfield to avoid being sacked. Tarkenton also loved to throw the ball deep, especially on third-down plays.
Because of the big-play tendency, the greatness and the running ability, Tarkenton was undoubtedly entertaining.
Isiah Thomas
93 of 100
Isiah Thomas was an absolutely incredible point guard that led the Pistons during the "Bad Boys" era. He was one of the toughest and most tenacious players in the game. Thomas would never, under any circumstances, give up on a play.
His dribbling ability and scoring prowess both managed to absolutely dazzle fans.
After Thomas' playing career was over, he remained involved in basketball.
He's been the part-owner of the Toronto Raptors, worked as a broadcaster, owned the CBA, coached the Indiana Pacers, was the president of basketball operations for the Knicks and currently coaches FIU.
I know that if you don't like the Knicks, you considered his tenure there to be very entertaining.
Mike Tyson
94 of 100
Between Iron Mike's famous ear-biting episode with Evander Holyfield, his tattoos on his face, his boxing prowess and his appearance in The Hangover, do I really need to say anything else?
Spud Webb
95 of 100
Even though he was just 5'7", Spud Webb still managed to win a Slam Dunk Contest in the NBA.
How's that for entertaining? He's probably shorter than you, whoever happens to be reading this, AND HE COULD DUNK!
Until Earl Boykins and Muggsy Bogues, Webb was the shortest player in NBA history.
He averaged only 9.9 points per game, but watching him get buckets was entertaining. It was like watching an ant weaving its way through a forest to get to the basket.
Jerry West
96 of 100
Mr. Clutch is another player who was entertaining because of his brilliance with a basketball.
West made All-NBA teams 12 times in his career, made the All-Star team 14 times and made four All-Defensive teams. That last fact is particularly impressive because the team was only created when he was 32.
The Logo even averaged 46.3 points per game in a playoff series once, giving him the all-time record in that statistic.
He remains one of the greatest all-around players ever.
Shaun White
97 of 100
The Flying Tomato has won two Olympic golds and another 19 medals at the X Games.
Thanks to his big air and gnarly (I can use that word when talking about snowboarding and skateboarding, right?) tricks, White has become an extreme sports icon. His red hair is very recognizable.
He's created so many new tricks in the sport that they should write a new trick book and name it after him.
If I hear that Shaun White is competing, I'm going to turn on my television.
Dominique Wilkins
98 of 100
Dominique Wilkins' nickname was The Human Highlight Film.
Moving on.
Serena Williams
99 of 100
Even though her career has been shortened significantly by injury, Serena Williams has still proven to be one of tennis' all-time greats.
Her powerful groundstrokes and serves make people think of Williams as an offensive powerhouse, but she possesses great defensive skills as well. Only her sister, Venus, has hit a harder serve in the history of women's tennis.
Serena is also known for her controversial and interesting outfit choices, her incredible physique, her outburst at a chair umpire and her quotability.
Tiger Woods
100 of 100
You all knew it was coming.
When Tiger was playing at a high level he was unstoppable and seemed a virtual lock to break Jack Nicklaus' record. We couldn't stop watching him and reading about him. Hell, ESPN even had their own Tiger Tracker.
Then came the scandal, arguably the biggest sports story of the entire 21st century to this point. Everyone wanted to hear the latest updates and offer their own opinions on what the ramifications would be.
Now, no one knows if Tiger can return to his pre-scandal level of dominance. Yet we still have to watch to find out.
Tiger Woods may be the most well-known athlete on the planet.
There is no doubt that he has entertained us.
.jpg?w=600 "Most Likely Post-June 1 Trade Candidates 👋")
