The Starting XI: Sports stars in film and TV

With the news that Dale Steyn will have a cameo role in Adam Sandler's new film, Family Moon, it got us thinking about other sports persons who have made appearances in Hollywood and TV Land, whether wooden or wonderful.

With the news that Dale Steyn will have a cameo role in Adam Sandler's new film, Family Moon, it got us thinking about other sports persons who have made appearances in Hollywood and TV Land, whether wooden or wonderful.

<b>1. Chuck Norris</b>

If Chuck Norris were playing in the Ashes for Australia, they would have won each Test on the first day and be part of the way to a 10-0 whitewash. Most people consider Norris an actor (if a somewhat awkward one) but he's a bona fide Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do, and a Martial Arts Hall of Famer. He was a tournament fighter way before he was an actor, and it was his skill as a sportsman that got him on screen in the first place. His first, and most famous role (aside from Walker! Texas Ranger!) is that of Bruce Lee's opponent in Way of the Dragon. Watch that famous fight scene <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUfuZJI9LK4' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a>.

<b>2. Vinnie Jones</b>

Like with Norris, it's probably not fair to have former footballer Vinnie Jones on this list. He's a legitimate actor, with roles in films like Snatch, X-Men and Mean Machine. He was most recently seen in the Sherlock Holmes adaptation, Elementary, as serial killer Sebastian Moran, in which he was chillingly good/scary. But one of his first roles was playing a version of himself, the hard man footballer, in stoner comedy Eurotrip. Watch <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN239G6aJZo' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a> as the lead characters walk into a Manchester United supporters bar, catching Vinnie's attention. He's no stranger to playing 'himself' though, and was on Celebrity Big Brother in 2010.

<b>3. David Beckham</b>

The world's most beautiful footballer has a film named after him (Bend it like Beckham) though he doesn't make an appearance in it. But he does pop up in football movie Goal!, where he reverses the situation he faces in real life. Instead of playing the fawned-over star, Becks cameos as an eager fan, complimenting the lead character on his performance. Why it didn't crack the Academy nod is beyond us. Watch that very pretty cameo <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBIZeK-Vleo' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a>. But the funniest thing Beck has ever done on screen is this <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In9XbjyCbnY' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>hidden camera prank</b></a> on the Ellen Degeneres show. He's freaking' hilarious.

<b>4. Mike Tyson</b>

The controversial, and oddly-voiced, boxer has made a name for himself lately by appearing in various films and shows, most famously in buddy caper The Hangover. He's hilarious as 'himself' while singing the Phil Collins song 'In the air tonight', air drums and all. Watch that clip <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELc9Aw3fS-g' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a>. More recently, he made appearances on How I Met Your Mother and Law and Order:SVU. The best though was his turn on stage at this year's Tony awards, singing with Neil Patrick Harris. Check it out the brilliant opening monologue/song <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3IpegKvdt0' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a>, where Iron Mike appears at the 3.17 minute mark.

<b>5. OJ Simpson</b>

Speaking of sportsmen with criminal histories, former NFL player OJ 'Not guilty' Simpson appeared in a number of films once his playing career ended. Most famously, he appeared in the Naked Gun franchise, alongside Leslie Nielsen. He also had a lead role in a TV film called… A Killing Affair. Anyway… <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08mNz9f0FQ' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here's</b></a> OJ in Naked Gun.

<b>6. Brett Favre</b>

One of the funniest, and grossest, films of the late 1990s was There's Something About Mary, starring a young Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller. In this movie, Stiller's character is envious of Favre, who is dating Diaz's character. The NFL star is hilariously bad at delivering the one line he has, as <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSYioH0Njw8' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>this video</b></a> discussion points out. Sit through the first bit about baseballer Alex Rodriguez for the Favre scenes.

<b>7. Michael Jordan</b>

The NBA legend's most famous turn off the court is the 1996 film Space Jam. In what is actually a pretty cute film for kids, Jordan is recruited by the Loony Tunes characters to help them beat the baddy aliens via a winner-gets-freedom game of basketball. Considering proper actors have a tough time acting opposite the green-screen ball that becomes animated characters, Jordan does a pretty decent job. Watch <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O93ZjQ10gI8' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>this cute clip</b></a> as the Toon characters show MJ the gym, and proceed to spit more than an Aussie on a hot day in Perth.

<b>8. Wayne Gretzky</b>

The ice hockey legend, nicknamed The Great One, played in the NHL for decades, most notably with the Edmonton Oilers and the LA Kings. He's made a number of appearances on talk shows, but his film credits are short. He popped up in children's ice hockey film D2: The Mighty Ducks (Quack!… Quack!… Quack!) and gave a pep-talk to the team. The film was pretty abject, so much so that there isn't a clip to be found of Gretzky's appearance. Also not found: His appearance in an episode of The Young and the Restless. Let's assume he's hardly Emmy material.

<b>9. John McEnroe</b>

The infamously aggressive tennis legend is usually found in the commentary box these days, but he has had a number of cameo roles in film and on TV, usually playing a caricatured version of himself. Screaming, angry, 'You CANNOT BE SERIOUS!' etc. He played a commentator in the Paul Bettany rom-com Wimledon, but most amusingly he featured in the Adam Sandler/Jack Nicholson venture, Anger Management. Watch the relevant clip <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea2TgSCs03Y' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>here</b></a>. LOLZ when he chucks the pink bunny away. He's also had appearances in CSI: New York, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Frasier, and 30 Rock, as well as this jaunty little <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wDzPvNzbzE' target='_blank' class='instorylink'><b>advert</b></a> for Tesco with Bjorn Borg.

<b>10. Serena Williams</b>

The tennis star and 16-time Grand Slam singles winner is one of the more famous sports people in terms of branching out off the court. Like Beckham, she has a keen interest in fashion, and also has a number of TV and film credits. And not just playing 'herself'. She has appeared in episodes of Drop Dead Diva, Avatar: The Last Airbender, ER, Law and Order: SVU and The Bernie Mac Show. She also has an ownership stake in the Miami Dolphins and is BFFs with the band Greenday. In <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EaJW_w0w8M' target='_blank' class='

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