Sometimes the most personable athletes are those that don’t exist in real life. They make us laugh, cry, and feel a very real sense that they have a life outside their sport. Or sometimes they’re just good entertainment and provide a nice distraction from our day. In any case, athletes from TV are often seen as much more enjoyable than athletes in real life mostly because we know they’re fictional and don’t care. This makes them far easier to enjoy and less apt to be placed on a pedestal that they may or may not have earned.
Here are six of our favorite fictional athletes from television
6. Al Bundy – Married With Children
He was the star of one of the most popular and hotly debated shows on television, and for eleven seasons we always got to hear of his four touchdowns in one game. As an aged shoe salesman and former high school football player Al wasn’t much to look at or even consider worthy of note, but all the same Al Bundy is one of the best fictional athletes to ever make us laugh.
5. Payson Keeler – Make It or Break It
Gymnasts aren’t given that high of regard in some circles, but the truth is that they work harder and endure more than many other athletes. In this show Payson is one of the best among the best, and shows it continually while still attempting to have a life. While a lot of the routines are actually performed by actual gymnasts, the portrayal of the hard work and perseverance that go into the part are impressive and have gained a definite following.
4. Michael “Dauber” Dybinski – Coach
Poor Dauber. He’s so loyal, so kind, and so, well, let’s just say intelligence-challenged. Playing second fiddle to Jerry Van Dyke who plays second fiddle to Craig T. Nelson can’t be an easy role, and portraying a simpleminded assistant whose only real glory is the fact that he was a former athlete in his prime is bound to test the acting chops of any individual. But give credit to Dauber, he’s a guy that was almost always able to find a way to put a positive spin on any situation.
3. Patrick “Lights” Leary – Lights Out
Boxers are given mixed reviews a lot of times in regards to their portrayal on the big and small screens. Either their story is gripping and capable of pulling viewers in, or they are easily forgettable and aren’t able to get another season. While Lights Out only went on for one season the story of Leary was both compelling and easy to get into. Maybe one day Leary will go down as one of the greats.
2. The Rock – WWE
Some might cry foul at this entry considering that The Rock and Dwayne Johnson are essentially the same person. But truthfully one has to remember that on WWE Dwayne Johnson gets shoved aside for the persona of The Rock, the smack-talking, Jabroni-squashing, most electrifying superstar to ever grace the roster of the WWE. And if you can’t get with that then it’s time to know your role and shut your, well, you get the idea.
1. Sam Malone – Cheers
And it’s not even close.
Conclusion
TV athletes don’t often enjoy the same reputation as real athletes, and maybe that’s a good thing. They don’t have the scandals, the bad press, and the otherwise reputation-damaging issues to deal with. As actors they get to let that kind of stress go once the cameras are off, right up until the paparazzi arrive.
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