Some players are so good in their respective sports, that everybody around the world knows them for their athleticism or record breaking performances. Others, already famous in their respective field, get caught up in things outside of the sports world that immortalizes them or turns them into symbols outside of the athletics.
For good or for bad, athletes find ways to become relevant outside of sports news.
Nowadays, with all the social networking outlets available, the lives of athletes are no longer private. As soon as reporters find something to exploit, they make sure they let everybody know.
This list compiles 10 of the world's most popular athletes who are, whether negative or positive, known for their memorable ventures outside of their respective sports.
Let me know if I left somebody out or if you think there's an athlete that doesn't belong.
Voice your opinions on Twitter: @Frankie_SWR
10. White Sammy Sosa
Not too long ago, Sammy Sosa was spotted looking very pale, his hair combed to the side and very light eyes. It almost looked like Sosa was trying to whiten himself.
The Spanish media completely blew the images up. For a while, you might have confused Sammy Sosa for some type of fashion designer and simply forgotten that he made his way to people's hearts first as a major league slugger.
9. Dennis Rodman the Prince of Basketball
Rodman was the Metta World Peace or Ron Artest of basketball in the 90's. He carried a tough guy reputation with a grenade of a personality, push his buttons in the wrong way and you wouldn't know what Rodman was capable of pulling on the court.
Off the court, however, his fashion crossed a line many ballers wouldn't dare come close to today. Russell Westbrook's postgame outfits are joyous next to Rodman outfits worn to red carpet events and made his colorful hairstyles on the basketball court look innocent.
8. Kris Humphries the Reality TV Star?
However, when Kim Kardashian laid her eyes on the then, bench player from the New Jersey Nets, nobody knew who the guy was.
They were married for 72 days and suddenly, for no logical reason, Humphries was a villain. He was heavily booed in opposing courts and it had nothing to do with the way he was playing.
Humphries is now a starter for the Nets, but many will remember him for being that non-caring husband portrayed in 'The Kardashians' following his marriage and appearance in the television show.
7. Diego Maradona and Drugs
Don't tell that to any British soccer fans though because many remember Maradona for the "Hand of God" which ultimately led to the defeat of the Britain soccer team in the 1986 World Cup.
However, years following, every time Maradona was on the news, it was in relation to drug and alcohol problems. Headlines no longer featured stories about plays made on the soccer field. His abuse of cocaine unfortunately became synonymous with the Argentinian soccer player.
As he is currently coaching Argentina's national soccer team, Maradona is recuperating his image as a soccer icon leaving more space for the new generation to search for those amazing goals scored (and didn't score) back in his prime.
6. Magic Johnson, "The HIV Messenger"
However, Johnson's image blew up after announcing his contraction of HIV. Johnson was at the peak of his career when he had to retire.
There were more questions than answers at the time, but Johnson quickly became a sign of hope for those infected by the virus.
Johnson quickly became a symbol for HIV. It was a sickness associated with the homosexual community at the time. Magic put a stop to some of the ignorance by spreading the word, sharing his story proving that anybody is/was vulnerable to the virus.
5. Michael Vick & Dog Fighting
His personal life hit the mainstream following a case that almost tarnished his football career.
Vick went from NFL quarterback star to a dog killer in many people's eyes. True fans supported the QB, but there were others who couldn't bare the site of Vick.
After Vick was charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines, people personally disliked Vick. The hatred extended beyond the football field where he was almost untouchable.
He was able to find work with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his name will forever be linked to dogfighting.
4. George Foreman and His Grills
Surprise. Surprise. George Foreman, the same guy who has cooking appliances named after himself, was one of the top heavyweights of his time. He slugged it out with Ali in probably one of the greatest and most famous boxing matches in the history of the sport.
Ever find yourself saying "Rumble in the Jungle" or wondered where the saying derived? Well Foreman and Ali fought in Zaire. Here, Ali used the rope-a-dope strategy to tire out the stronger Foreman and eventually knocked him out.
Foreman's fighting days are over with. For now, you can enjoy the tasty food you make on his grills.
Although this slot belongs to Foreman, it must be said that Muhammad Ali influenced many beyond the civil rights movements and boxing movements.
He became a symbol of individuality and though some characterize his actions as naive, his famous quote "I ain't got no quarrel with the Viet Cong" landed him respect among those opposing the war and Ali quickly became a symbol for anti-war movements.
Ultimately, Ali's resistance led to the stripping of his title belt and his expulsion from the sport of boxing while in his prime. Ali returned to boxing and despite not being the same boxer, still took place in some of the greatest matches in the history of the sport.
3. Mike Tyson's Many Faces
Many consider him the most feared boxer of all time. It was only a matter of time before opponents would go down since Mike Tyson possessed the most lethal punches in the sport.
As fast as his career blossomed, the troubled young fighter quickly lost it all as drugs, women and lack of discipline away from the ring dominated his life and headlines.
Tyson was praised in the early 90's, chastised in the late 90's and early 00's, but he's currently working his image.
This upcoming generation might know Tyson as the man with the tattoo on his face or the guy in "The Hangover" who had his tiger stolen and sang a solo in the first of the two movies.
It's an image far removed from the one many saw as Tyson was losing everything he worked and trained for.
Currently, Tyson has his one-man show that will soon hit mass audiences.
2. Tiger Woods the Addict
That was the case for Tiger Woods after his divorce hit the mainstream following claims that the world's best golfer was a sex addict and having affairs with many women outside of his marriage.
What first started as a car accident as Woods had crashed his Cadillac into a fire hydrant, unleashed the rumors of an affair and tabloids beyond ESPN began covering the story.
Suddenly, the face of the sport of golf wasn't just the Nike-wearing, fist-pumping athlete we'd seen on our television screens.
Ludacris took sometime to add a spoof of Woods' voicemail in his song "Sexting".
1. O.J. Simpson
It is a day that many remember where they were and what they were doing because it became a popular story absorbed by all television networks. Programming on channels all across the country came to a stop and covered this event that took place on the day of June 17, 1994.
ESPN made a documentary based on the date as it covered a busy day in sports. The NBA Finals were taking place, Arnold Palmer was calling it quits and the World Cup had just kicked off in the U.S.
Long gone are Simpson's days in the NFL following the case that found him the main suspect in the murder of his wife and her alleged lover, Ronald Goldman.
Simpson was already a huge public figure. He was marketable and well liked. Many believe the car chase led to the booming interest in Reality TV.
Simpson influenced many in the sport of football, however, he will be remembered for that eventful day where people became obsessed with the life of famous people. It was no longer enough to hear red carpet rumors, everybody wanted to know anything and everything happening in celebrities lives.
Simpson was eventually acquitted of murder charges, but his life went down hill after that day. He is currently serving a 33-year sentence in prison for stealing NFL memorabilia.
Honorable Mention: Hank Who?
He played 65 games, recorded 77 receptions, 1,098 receiving yards and had six touchdowns.
However, Baskett is famous for marrying Kendra Wilkinson, the former Playboy model and being an active part in her telvision show "Kendra".