Here Are The Funniest Sports Star Cameos In TV History
What are the funniest TV cameos by athletes?
Being a professional athlete is hard, requiring countless hours of commitment. Which is why it isn’t shocking that so few pro athletes can act — you try learning a brand-new craft after a lifetime in the gym. But certain athletes can pull it off on the strength of their charm alone, particularly in the comedy arena. And likewise, some showrunners are masters of bringing the funny out of jocks who otherwise couldn’t draw a laugh from their own parents. Check out our list of the funniest TV cameos by athletes, in no particular order.Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams in "Seinfeld"
When George’s girlfriend gets mono in “The Abstinence,” he’s forced into celibacy for six weeks. But the imposed dry spell has a side effect — undistracted by sex, George masters everything from Portuguese to hitting home runs. “Hitting is not about muscle. It’s simple physics.
Calculate the velocity, V, in relation to the trajectory, T, in which G, gravity, of course remains a constant,” he tells Jeter and Williams before smacking a dinger. “It’s not complicated.”
Keith Hernandez in "Seinfeld"
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In his arc on two-part episode “The Boyfriend,” Keith and Jerry become friends when the 1979 NL MVP tells the comedian he’s a fan, to the disbelief of George. But Jerry gets jealous when Keith starts dating Elaine and spending more time with her. Illustrated by a “JFK”
spoof, Kramer and Newman accuse Keith of spitting on them at a past Mets game, but the first baseman unveils the real culprit: Mets teammate Roger McDowell, or the “second spitter.”
Shaquille O’Neal in "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Apprently, Larry David is the patron saint of working hilarious athlete cameos into his TV shows. In “Shaq,”
Larry draws the ire of the entire city of Los Angeles when he attends a Lakers game and stretches out his legs while in the front row, tripping and injuring the legendary center in the process. Then Shaq reveals he’s a huge “Seinfeld” fan, and Larry exposes Shaq’s doctor as a “
Scattergories” cheater, so the two make up.
Muggsy Bogues in "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Richard Lewis’ new girlfriend is black, and he’s insecure because of a stereotype about black men. After some brutally cringeworthy research, Larry assures Richard he has nothing to worry about. But that all changes when the pair of friends run into the retired 5’3″
NBA point guard in a men’s bathroom.