Since I don’t have a new book to promote until June, I thought I’d make my debut blog about something fun. So let’s talk men. Specifically good-looking, athletic men. I should admit upfront that not only am I a veteran Superromance author (the title of that June book, by the way, is Twice the Chance by Darlene Gardner), I’m a sports nut. I swear it’s not because I like to look at men. It’s just a happy perk.
I stole the idea for the blog from a feature called the 25 Biggest Pretty Boys in Sports on the website bleacherreport.com. The usual suspects were present – quarterback Tom Brady (No. 2), soccer star David Beckham (No. 3) and baseball slugger Alex Rodriguez (No. 4). Cristiano Ronaldo, another soccer player, took the top spot. The website said it was partly because of his underwear shoots with super models!
Rounding out the top ten were Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati Bengals, former NFL quarterback Joey Harrington, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and tennis player Rafael Nadal.
I’m not sure why I’ve never used any of these guys as a model for a romance hero. My husband says it’s because all my heroes are based on him. :-)
So here’s the fun part. Do you especially agree with any of the athletes mentioned? Who else would be on your personal list? For the purposes of the Bleacher Report, pretty boys were those who paid attention to style and fashion. For ours, it’ll just be athletes who look good!
37 comments:
Now, being an Aussie the only one of your list I've heard of is David Beckham (and he's too much of a pretty boy for me) - but I'll definitely check out your list now!
For some hot Aussie footballers (rugby and AFL - Australia football) visit http://www.godsoffootball.com.au/profiles
Last year when we were watching FIFA held in South Africa and broadcast live on TV, I would just watch the games when Massey, Christiano, Kaka played.
I'm an Aussie too, but from a soccer family and I can't but help remember Cristiano Ronaldo of 5 yrs ago, a very pimply teen who just isn't hero material for me at all.
I will have to go check out the ones I haven't heard of... all in the name of research!
=)
I, too, only know David Beckham and he's not my cup of tea. But as for the others there some pretty goodlooking guys on that list... Have to check 'm out and get back to you on that.
My husband says it’s because all my heroes are based on him.
LOL, Darlene! My husband likes to pretend...er...I mean say the same thing :-)
My son is a huge hockey fan and has managed to get his younger sisters interested in the sport but I'm pretty sure my older daughter only watches the Pittsburgh Penguins for Jordan Staal *g* He's pretty cute!
To check out the guys on the list, just click on their names and the link will take you to a photo.
Beth, we're hockey fans here too, both the Penguins (because I'm from Pittsburgh) and the Washington Capitals. My daughter has pointed out the best-looking Cap is David Steckel. Here's a link to his pic.
http://tinyurl.com/4sveenu
I agree with most of the guys on the list at least the ones I have heard of. And if the picture on your blog is of the guy they put in the number one position I totally see why he got number one! I would add Eli Manning to list he is definitely cute!! I will have to check out some of the others that others have mentioned. Especially the Aussies! They already have one thing going for them. A sexy accent!
Hi Darlene. I agree with some of the guys on the list, but not all. Some are just too pretty, lol! One football player who I think is a hottie, but he is such a bad boy is Tennessee Titans CB Cortland Finnegan. He has the best smile and what can I say, I like bad boys. Just dont tell my hubby, lol!
Have a great day!!
Ugh, I am so tired of Tom Brady!
Do football coaches count? Like Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, Mike Tomlin?
Marcie
I tend not to think of a real person when I read a sport romance.
Well I took the tour of the 25 top pretty boys. The current crop is very good. I'm older and most of my favorites are from the past and not all of them would qualify as pretty boys. Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Mohammed Ali, Arnold Palmer, Payne Stewart, Jack Nicklaus(I watched a lot of golf with my husband), Joe Namath, Christopher Dean (who wouldn't want to skate with him?), Bjorn Borg.
Personally I like to watch live baseball ~ there is just something about a well developed butt wiggling in the batting stance that gets to me.
My all-time favorite sports guy is Patrick Rafter (and he's Australian!!) No to Tom Brady. I cannot stand him. I have heard of everyone on the list,just not that excited about any of them - Nadal is my favorite on that list (I guess I am partial to tennis players)
Tammy, I used to love watching Patrick Rafter play tennis. Not only was he handsome, he served and volleyed so he was exciting. I'm sure you Aussies remember him.
BTW, Roger Federer also made the top 25, helped along I'm sure by his Rolex commercials and GQ covers.
Have you noticed most men who aren't New England Patriots fans hate Tom Brady?
I'm not a sport fan so didn't know what a lot of these men looked like, but oh my goodness Alex Rodriguez is sweet! Look at those eyes. Thanks, Darlene, you perked up my day ;-)
Hi, Darlene,
I love sports, too. And getting to watch hunky men in tight clothes is just an added benefit.
Tom Brady is too pretty for me. I like my heroes a little more rough around the edges. A tattoo? A hint of Harley exhaust? An earring? I'm there.
I'm a San Francisco Giants fan. And as much as I love Tim Lincecum, it's not for his looks. And then there is Brian Wilson. I fear the beard, but believe me, no dyed black bushy beard will appear in the pages of a romance novel.
However, my husband grew a beard for the playoffs and World Series. It was pretty sexy and interstingly enough, one of my characters is sporting a very similar style...
Beth, we're hockey fans here too, both the Penguins (because I'm from Pittsburgh) and the Washington Capitals.
Thanks for the link, Darlene! David Steckel is definitely hero material *g*
We're only 3.5 hrs north of Pittsburgh so we're Pens/Steelers fans. And we loved the 24/7 series HBO did with the Pens and Caps! It was so great to get a behind the scenes look at the sport :-)
Speaking of Pittsburgh, my favorite Super-Bowl bound Steeler is Troy Polamalu. He was also on the pretty boy list but mostly for his hair. Even if you don't watch football, you probably know him from the funny Head and Shoulders commercial. If you haven't seen it, here's the YouTube link to the commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaJFnGGECJo
We are not sports fans here so I am sorry to say I know nothing about any of the athletes. I guess they could make good heros.
Having no athletic ability whatsoever, I never watched sports until I noticed just how pretty some athletes are, those shallow beginnings eventually led to my enjoyment of the actual sports.
I echo the love for Patrick Rafter, and hockey players, as a San Jose Sharks fan I'm partial to Patrick Marleau. And I'd add skier Bodie Miller to the list.
I can agree with A-Rod, but the others don't really do it for me. I would put Derek Jeter at the top of my list. and I think Drew Brees is adorable.
I tend to pay more attention to tv and movie stars, even thought I am a big sports fan.
Hello, Darlene! What a pleasant subject on which to spend some quality thinking time : ) Rugby star David Williams "aka Wolfman" comes to mind. Athletes with optimized physiques, killer smiles, and great personalities are a triple treat--hard to beat ; )
Two very good looking sportsmen are the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir. They are both boxers but are despite that still very good looking. ;) They are very popular here in Germany. Just google some pictures, you won't regret it! :)
Darlene, I might be the worst resource for opinions on sports guys. I did watch the Packers vs the Bears—and I do have my own Geezer Jock. The guys in my family are into fencing and that makes "foiling around" my favorite sport.
I had a hero who was an underwear model once. It's a tougher sport than you think. ;-) Nearly killed him.
I am so out of it--sports-wise--I have no idea who that cute boy in the blog is. Sad state of affairs, I admit.
Deb
Deb, the guy pictured in the blog is Cristiano Ronaldo. He's the one who does the underwear shoots.
Claudia, just googled the boxing brothers. You're right. I'm not sorry! I also laughed aloud at your comment that they're very good-looking despite being boxers!
I love Rafa and some of my hometown team favorites include Derek Jeter and Henrik Lundqvist.
Hockey! And I wouldn't call most of them pretty. I like them because they look a little rough around the edges ;)
When Patrick Roy played with the Avs I had a stalker-worthy crush on him for his accent. It didn't matter what he looked like. I just wanted to close my eyes and listen.
Claudia ~ Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir
They are big guys. Impressive!
I am a baseball fan. I think Franklin Guiterrez of the Seattle Mariners should be added to the list.
hmmm, not into checking out athletes... I like sports for the game not the eye candy! Love it that your husband thinks your heroes are all based on him. If I wrote, I'm pretty sure I'd base my heroes on my husband :)
My son is a Yankees fan and I would pick Derek Jeter since he has been a great player and someone that a young boy who has grown into a young man can watch without me thinking that he's a poor role model for young people.
I don't know most of those guys, but I do think Tom Brady is very attractive. Even though he probably doesn't count since he's "retired", I think Michael Jordan was a very attractive man, too. He had that air of confidence, too.
Having looked at all the pictures now (and having googled the #1 pick), I'm sticking with my previous comment, though I have to admit that photo of Tom Brady wasn't his best look.
Hi Darlene, enjoyed helping you with your research by looking at the pretty pics. Great post!
Karina
LOL, gorgeous guys, what's not to love about a blog on that!
Personally, the "pretty" boys don't do much for me, I like 'em a little more rugged and a lot less self-obsessed!
Amen to liking them less self-absorbed. However, the eye candy is like regular candy: great to look at but not so great for you!
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