Celebrity Athlete Crossovers
Gary Coleman, former star of the television series 'Diff'rent Strokes,' signed a one-game contract with a minor league baseball team as part of a promotion. But Coleman certainly isn't the only celebrity to make a surprise appearance as an athlete in the sports world. Click through to see the others.
Richard Drew, AP
Billy Crystal took his cuts for the Yankees in an exhibition game against the Pirates in March. The life-long Yankees fan received his cameo just before his 60th birthday, and he was released on the day he blew out his candles.
Bill Kostroun, AP
Garth Brooks played in spring training games for the Padres and Mets between 1998 and 2004. Country music's biggest superstar managed to get just two hits in 47 at-bats, but his stints helped raise money for children's charities.
Mike Fiala, AFP / Getty Images
Writer George Plimpton attended training camp with the Detroit Lions in 1963 and ran a few plays at quarterback in a scrimmage. Nine years later, the 'Paper Lion' played against Detroit in a preseason game for the Colts.
Ron Galella, WireImage.com
Actor Mickey Rourke compiled a 20-6 record as an amateur boxer before he became known as a tough-guy on the silver screen. He returned to the ring in the early 1990s, but couldn't find the same success as a pro.
Steve Starr, Corbis
Paul Newman discovered a passion for auto racing while filming the 1968 film 'Winning'. He has been active in the sport ever since, competing as a driver in major sanctioned events and fielding teams as a Champ Car owner.
Everett Collection
Rap mogul Master P (Percy Miller) signed contracts with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors in the late '90s, but never made it into a regular-season game. The Grammy winner and No Limit Records founder did play, however, in the CBA.
Harry How, Allsport / Getty Images
Master P's son, Romeo (Percy Romeo Miller Jr.), released three studio albums before turning 18 and will be attending USC next fall on a basketball scholarship. The former Lil' Romeo started at point guard for four years at Beverly Hills High School.
Arnold Turner, WireImage.com
Actress Geena Davis hoped to make the US Olympic Archery team in 2000. The Academy Award winner's best shot wasn't good enough though as she placed 24th out of 28 semi-finalists.
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
'Beverly Hills 90210' star Jason Priestley was air-lifted to a hospital after slamming his Indy Pro Series car into a Kentucky Speedway wall at a high speed in 2002. The open-wheel racing fan had a full recovery and is still involved in the sport today.
Ed Reinke, AP
You will see below as someone from the team explains -- with motions -- how to swing a baseball bat. Then you will see that Coleman hid superballs inside his bat ala Sammy Sosa. Then you will see him get ejected and start a fight with the umpire. Good times all around.
Per Home Run Derby, Coleman signed a one-game contract with the Madison Mallards. Which may or may not have involved four hot dogs per at-bat.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-02-2008 @ 1:06PM
A. Nonny Mouse said...
Thought it was Graig Nettles who superball-ed his bat, not Slammin' Sammy...
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8-03-2008 @ 7:57AM
rkh said...
re: g coleman
just another has been. i should care, why?
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8-03-2008 @ 8:50AM
seemslikeyoudo said...
Seems like you do...enough to write about it.
8-03-2008 @ 8:28AM
Just Me said...
it's just sort of fun to watch these idiots show what their really like....lol
they need scripts to know how to act and what to say in real life too, it seems.
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8-03-2008 @ 8:48AM
Al Smith said...
To rkh:
I guess the Madison Marlins should have checked with you, to see if you cared, before they scheduled Gary Coleman for this "funny bit".
What's wrong with having a "little" fun at a minor league baseball game? You moron!
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8-03-2008 @ 9:03AM
Jack said...
It was a fun bit for the fans,you do have fun in your life, don't you.
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8-03-2008 @ 9:51AM
william said...
It's hard to score runs when your SHORT on
hitters......................
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8-03-2008 @ 9:58AM
Dan said...
Ask least for the peanuts they paid him he could have least said "What you takiin about Willis"!
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8-03-2008 @ 10:09AM
SLM in SC said...
Oh, I thought they used him as a hockey puck...
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8-03-2008 @ 10:29AM
Ray said...
His ego has always been three or four times his size. Typical "celebrity" garbage, but usually the celebrity actually once had talent. Coleman never did. As for the entertainment value at minor league games, teams offer too much "fun" stuff for the kids and its the adults who have to try watching a game sandwiched in between frisbee chasing dogs, water-squirting clowns and a host of other lame brain stunts. If I wanted to go to a circus event, I'd go to an actual circus.
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8-03-2008 @ 10:57AM
elvis aaron presley said...
what a disapointment an ultra elite class athlete of his caliber only comes arround once in a generation,iiiiiii must say that i am feeling all shook up.he was a role modal for millions and millions of people all around the world as i can understand all to well. now brother iiiiiii tell ya when the eyes of an entire planet are upon you then you had better deliver and mr coleman crushed the dreams of millions of his fans and made millions of children cry by his actions,iiiiii think mr coleman should get on tv and say he is sorry; thank you,thank you verry verry much
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8-03-2008 @ 11:24AM
harley said...
how dare you try to mitate elvis. elvis never once spoke against any celeberty for your info. your a disgrace
8-03-2008 @ 11:00AM
LRAdams said...
Gary just cannot stay out of trouble. He needs to go back to parking cars...
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8-03-2008 @ 11:08AM
WINNINGUGLY said...
GO HERE AND GET A VIRUS. I DID!!!!!
http://www.celebritiezvidz.com/video.php?v=Paris_Hilton's_sex_tape
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8-03-2008 @ 11:09AM
Jackie said...
that was staged
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8-03-2008 @ 11:26AM
NigletUK said...
You don't say! Was it really staged? Did you really think it might have been real? How sad. I suppose you think soaps are real life too.......
8-03-2008 @ 11:34AM
Kelly said...
How stupid of a publicity stunt! Did ANYONE find it funny, or were most people like me laughing at how stupid it all was?
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8-03-2008 @ 11:38AM
WHO CARES? said...
THIS TOO IS A BUNCH OF CRAP AS YOU ALL KNOW. GARY IS WASHED UP, ALMOST PENNILESS. HE HAS APPEARED ON DIVORCE COURT FOR MONEY & EVEN TRIED SELLING HIS CLOTHES ON EBAY, BUT NOBODY WANTED THEM. GROW UP & GET A REAL JOB GARY. ACTUALLY WORK FOR A LIVING OK?
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8-03-2008 @ 11:40AM
jamesnpost said...
WINNINGUGLY said...
GO HERE AND GET A VIRUS. I DID!!!!!
http://www.celebritiezvidz.com/video.php?v=Paris_Hilton's_sex_tape
I don't get it. You use the N-word, even in an anti-racist context, and you get TOSsed in one second. Ok, no problem, nobody needs to use it... Yet this guy "Brad" has this virus on all the chatlines on AOL EVERY DAY! It loads you up with virus-warning ads you must buy their software to get rid of... IS AOL IN ON THIS SCAM???
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8-03-2008 @ 11:41AM
marshall said...
This is garbage. Kids work hard to play professionally and they have to deal with this nonsense. Babe Ruth is spinning in his grave.
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