20 Athletes Who Should Take Up Acting

There have been many athletes that have tried their hand at acting over the years. Unfortunately, these little forays have often times resulted in practically unwatchable pieces of dreck, a reality that has doomed all athlete-actors to a bad reputation.

But that doesn't mean they should stop trying, dammit. After all, the sports world is chock full of colorful personalities and photogenic faces that could easily make the transition into the world of acting.

In fact, for your reading pleasure, we went ahead and compiled a list of 20 athletes who we think should give acting a shot.

Enjoy.

20. Roger Federer

Don't you think Roger Federer would be a great choice to star in the next Ocean's 11 movie?

Indeed, he would look right at home next to a couple of dudes like George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

19. David Beckham (and Friends)

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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - DECEMBER 01: David Beckham speaks to the media during an England press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 host countries annoucement at the Swissotel on December 1, 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Michael Regan/Gett

I've never really been enamored with David Beckham's personality, and his best days on the pitch have long since passed him by. But you know what, I'd pay to see him on the big screen, and would be sure to tune in if he were to get a TV gig.

After all, and this is where the "and friends" part comes in, Beckham is just like any other soccer player in the world in that acting is already half of his job.

I swear, every time a soccer player takes a dive, a little part of me dies.

And yes, by now I am quite dead.

18. Rory McIlroy

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HONG KONG - NOVEMBER 19: Rory Mcilroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the 14th hole during day two of the UBS Hong Kong Open at The Hong Kong Golf Club on November 19, 2010 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

I'll admit that I don't watch a whole lot of golf. I'm sorry, but I like to spend my free time doing things that are, you know, fun.

But I'm a huge fan of Rory McIlroy. It's not that I admire his golf skills, mind you, but I happen to think that he has the best accent in sports.

So I say put him on the big screen, preferably alongside Colin Farrell. Tell me that wouldn't be awesome.

17. Ron Artest

Ron Artest has often been accused of acting a little over-dramatically on the court during his career. And to be sure, he does seem to excel in selling refs on BS fouls.

As a total package, Artest is probably one of the more controversial figures in all of sports. But that does not, and should not, disqualify him from this discussion.

Indeed, Artest has just the right kind of look and personality of a major movie star. And like a Marlon Brando or a James Dean, he does have that kind of odd bad boy charisma.

So yeah, he'd be fun to watch.

16. Dustin Pedroia

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FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox poses during photo day at the Boston Red Sox Spring Training practice facility on February 28, 2010 in Ft. Myers, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I figure I may as well be forthcoming right here, so I'll let you in on a little secret: Dustin Pedroia is my favorite baseball player of all time.

So sure, putting him on his list might be a case of personal bias. However, you know as well as I do that the little guy is just plain fun to watch, and that he has one of the more infectious personalities in baseball. The man acts often times acts like a real bastard, but you can't help but laugh anyway.

In other words, I think he'd be great for some kind of comedy, preferably something with Seth Rogen.

15. Anna Rawson

Why do I think Anna Rawson should give acting a shot?

I suppose that's a hard question to answer. All I can really say is that there's just something about her that makes me think she would look great on the big screen.

I don't know what it is, but she just has a kind of Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct quality.

14. Manny Ramirez

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SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 28: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the San Francisco Giants during an MLB game at AT&T Park on June 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who thinks this, but I've always thought that Manny Ramirez looks like he could be a distant relative of Captain Jack Sparrow.

But that's not entirely why I think he should give acting a try.

No sir, it's because I'm sympathetic to the fact that the dude needs a job, and that nobody around the league seems very willing to give him one.

13. Chris Andersen

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DENVER - DECEMBER 28: Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets looks on as he awaits a free throw against the Portland Trail Blazers at Pepsi Center on December 28, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Blazers 95-77. NOTE TO USER: User expr

When we talk about athletes being "colorful," we don't usually mean that they are literally colorful.

Such is the case with Chris Andersen, who has to be the most tattooed man in professional sports. While that wouldn't automatically make him an intriguing possibility for some kind of movie or TV show, it just so happens that the Birdman is also a pretty interesting chap.

It would have to be the right kind of role, of course. And this may just be me, but I think he would be perfect for some kind of 80s remake.

In fact, I better get on the horn to the people in charge of the Mad Max reboot. He'd be perfect for a Thunderdome fight.

12. Brock Lesnar

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: Brock Lesnar reacts after knocking out Frank Mir during their heavyweight title bout during UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Brock Lesnar might be the most hated fighter in all of UFC, but there's no denying that he certainly grasps the entertainment aspects of the sport.

As well he should. After all, this is a guy who spent several years as a professional wrestler, so suffice it to say that he knows plenty about theatricality.

With several MMA stars already making the jump to Hollywood (Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson), I'd like nominate Lesnar as the next one to do so.

11. Nick Swisher

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Nick Swisher #33 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the locker room after the Yankees won 6-1 against the Minnesota Twins during Game Three of the ALDS part of the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2010 in the Br

I absolutely despise the [bleep]ing Yankees. And no, I don't think it's wrong for me to admit that every single one of their players just downright annoys me.

Except for Nick Swisher. He's been one of my favorite baseball players ever since he broke in with the A's, and not even the dreaded pinstripes can change that.

This has very little to do with his play on the field, of course. Instead, I just dig his personality. And you don't need me to tell you that he's pretty good on camera. Just go ahead and rewatch his ESPN commercial.

So I say give the guy a script and see what he can do.

10. Danica Patrick

Did you know what GoDaddy finds their girls based on a strict test of their acting aptitude?

No? That's because that's a lie.

Still, you can't argue that Danica Patrick has done a hell of a job capitalizing on her celebrity as the first (and only) sexy race car driver. She has a certain kind of swagger, and she sure as hell has the looks.

As a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind seeing a movie about her rise to fame. But only if she got to play herself.

9. Troy Polamalu

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PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 14: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers watches the game against the Detroit Lions from the bench during the preseason game on August 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Troy Polamalu is pretty awesome. I don't think anybody can argue that point.

But as much as his play on the field has to do with his overall awesomeness, I for one am willing to give him a few extra points because of his Head and Shoulders commercials, which are hilarious. And the reason they are just that is because the man clearly has a knack for comic timing.

So why shouldn't he take his other natural talents and see if he can't put them to further use?

8. Alexander Ovechkin

Why Alexander Ovechkin?

Because he was so incredibly convincing as a Russian spy.

I don't know when the next Tom Clancy movie is coming out, but if it doesn't have Ovi in it, I'm seeing something else.

7. Manny Pacquiao

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 13: Manny Pacquiao (white trunks) of the Philippines celebrates after he was declared the winner by a unanimous decision against Antonio Margarito (black trunks) of Mexico during their WBC World Super Welterweight Title bout at C

True enough, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer has already tried his hand at acting, as well as just about every other profession.

But come on, I can't be the only person in the world that wants Pacman to star in a Hollywood movie.

In fact, I know I'm not. Sylvester Stallone has long been rumored to want Pacman to star in one of his movies. And you know what, it just so happens that he's working on the sequel to The Expendables, which of course featured several current and former professional athletes (Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Steve Austin).

With Pacman in the fold, maybe Expendables 2 won't suck as much as the first one.

6. Brian Wilson

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 03: Pitcher Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants walks down the street during the San Francisco Giants victory parade on November 3, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

There are few people in this, or any other universe, that are as awesome as San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson.

In addition to having the most unique sense of humor in all of professional sports, Wilson himself is a damned interesting visual spectacle.

I for one would love to see him star in some kind of quirky comedy, possibly directed by Spike Jonze or Edgar Wright. But if he wants to try his hand at action, that would be cool too.

5. Ray Lewis

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 19: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates the Ravens victory after the game against the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Saints 30-24. (Photo

Ray Lewis doesn't play fantasy football. He plays for-real football, and he does it well.

But Lewis is getting up there in years, and as sad as it is to admit it, his career is going to come to a close sooner rather than later.

But like Polamalu, Lewis has also shown his acting talent in commercials, and I think he would be awesome in some kind of big-budget action movie.

The only problem is that any movie starring him wouldn't have very plausible bad guys. After all, who in their right mind would want to [bleep] with Ray Lewis?

4. LeBron James

Nobody ever accused King James of being camera shy, and he has actually shown through his various commercials and TV appearances over the years that he definitely has some natural acting chops.

It's hard to imagine what kind of project would be right for LeBron, but suffice it to say that it would have to be something grandiose, like a Michael Bay movie.

After all, do you think the dude would settle for anything less?

3. Tom Brady

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I don't know about you, but I've always thought of Tom Brady as sort of the sports world's answer to Johnny Depp. He's a guy that you really, really want to hate, but you just can't help liking him because of how good he is.

And while I don't think anybody has every accused Brady of having the kind of entertaining personality of some of the other entries on this list, I think he could easily cut it as an actor.

Somebody would probably try to stick him in some kind of romantic comedy, but I'll be damned if that would deter me from dishing out my hard-earned money to go see it.

2. Brandon Carter

We come at last to my ace in the hole for this little list.

I suspect that many of you have forgotten about Brandon Carter by now, but he was the offensive lineman for Texas Tech who made a name for himself by being flat-out crazy. You might be able to deduce that by the face paint.

The reason I think he should take up acting is because a) his football career doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and b) because he would make a decidedly awesome villain in some kind of comic book movie.

1. Dwight Howard

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PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 14: Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic emerges from a phone booth wearing a Superman cape during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Saturday Night, part of 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend at US Airways Center on February 14, 2009 in Ph

You don't need me to tell you that Dwight Howard knows how to handle himself in front of a camera, so I will keep this discussion brief.

All I want to say is this: Zack Snyder is rebooting the Superman franchise, and he hasn't cast the lead yet.

Clearly, there's only one man who was born to play the role.