Queen of Sports

Athletes On Forbes’ Most Powerful Celebrities List

Forbes just released their Most Powerful Celebrities List for 2011. Check out how athletes ranked amongst the likes of #1 Most Powerful Celebrity Lady Gaga and #2 Oprah Winfrey:

#6-Tiger Woods
#10-LeBron James
#14-Kobe Bryant
#25-Roger Federer
#35-tie between David Beckham and Phil Mickelson
#43-Cristiano Ronaldo
#46-Rafael Nadal
#49-Alex Rodriguez (he ranked higher than his girl Cameron Diaz)
#55-Tom Brady (he ranked above his wife Gisele who was #60)
#57-Dwyane Wade
#59-Dwight Howard
#62-Lionel Messi
#69-Derek Jeter
#72-Peyton Manning
#80-Maria Sharapova
#84-Serena Williams
#86-Venus Williams
#96-Danica Patrick

The rankings are based on media visibility and entertainment-related earnings. For the full list go here.

Athlete QOTD: Charles Barkley

We can’t get enough of Charles Barkley (and the rest of the TNT crew) this time of year. He has always been one of our favorites because of his outspoken nature and honest approach. Charles is currently in Chicago as he and the crew prep for game 2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Never one to shy away from an opportunity to tell the world his opinion, Charles had the following to say about LeBron James and the Miami Heat:

“Those guys are actually a whiny bunch. They said a couple times this year, ‘Well the world is happy the Miami Heat [is losing].’ Please don’t flatter yourself. C’mon man. We criticize [James] because of ‘The Decision.’ But nobody dislikes LeBron James. LeBron James is a good dude. But I love, ‘The Miami Heat is losing, the world is happy.’ First of all, nobody is thinking about the Miami Heat. You guys are good guys. You’re the guys who came out and said, ‘We’re not going to win 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 championships.’ We’re like, ‘Really.’ They never take any personal responsibility to why people take shots at them.”

Tell us how you really feel Charles.

Photo: PR Photos

Chicago Welcomes LeBron

Check out the billboard that has been put up in Chicago welcoming LeBron! Haha! Last summer when LeBron James was entertaining teams as a free agent, Chicago made a pitch for the superstar but he gave them the cold shoulder and chose to take his talents to Miami Beach. Now the two are set to face-off in the Eastern Conference Finals and we think it’s going to be a great series. Chicago has the advantage with home court and Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday since Oprah kicked them out of their own arena!

Photo: SendLeBronHome.com

Via: TerezOwens

Forbes Names Jimmie Johnson “Most Influential Athlete” in the US

Forbes Magazine has released its annual list of “most influential athletes” and there is a new number one! NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson stole the top honors from Tour de France dominator Lance Armstrong.

The list is compiled by surveys conducted by E-Poll Market Research and Nielsen Media Research.

The NFL had the most players on the list with four players, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady taking the second spot followed by Pittsburgh Steelers star Troy Polamalu at number six, Peyton Manning ranked seventh and newcomer, Broncos player Tim Tebow rounding out the bottom at number 10.

In addition to Jimmie, two other NASCAR drivers made this list, Dale Earnhardt Jr. at number three and Jeff Gordon at number eight.

Only two basketball players made the list this year down from five in 2010. Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal took the number four spot while Miami Heat superstar LeBron James claimed the number nine spot.

Michael Phelps seems to have held onto to some appeal as he was the only Olympian to make the list. The gold-medal winner locked in the number five spot.

The research suggests that athletes who are “intensely competitive without ostentation, value winning above calling attention to yourself and avoiding big controversies off the field” are the most important qualities in winning over the public.

Photos: PR Photos/Splash News

Derrick Rose Becomes Youngest MVP

Derrick Rose, starting point guard for the Chicago Bulls (and former Hot or Not? candidate), became the youngest player in NBA history to win MVP of the league today. At only 22 years old, Rose has a bright future and hopes to follow in the footsteps of legends like Michael Jordan. He will just need to earn a few titles before he gets up there. Rose ended LeBron James‘ two-year reign of the award which is voted on by sports broadcasters and writers.

Rose  beat out worthy opponent Dwight Howard for the first place position and title. The Orlando Magic center got 643 votes while Rose finished with 539 more points. LeBron James came in third, and Kobe Bryant was right behind him in fourth.

Rose is out indefinitely after an ankle sprain he suffered at the end of the Bulls’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks last night, but said he isn’t worried about being ready for Game 2 tomorrow.

Congratulations to Derrick Rose!

Photo: Jen Lowery / Splash News

Danilo Gallinari Promotes Sheets

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Ok, ok, before you think we’re not being very lady-like by posting this video let us explain what Danilo Gallinari is promoting in this locker-room skit with sports broadcaster Melanie Collins. Sheets are new energy strips that can be placed on the tongue to provide quick energy through B vitamins. In some genius marketing, they posted this video on YouTube that has been viewed almost 20 times more than this one featuring LeBron James. Way to play off the man’s accent.

Athlete Quote Of The Day: Lebron James Calls 76ers “Breakfast”

Before finishing off the Philadelphia 76ers in five games last night to advance to the next round of the playoffs, LeBron James was asked about looking ahead to the Boston Celtics. He responded,

“We’re just finishing our breakfast, honestly. Just finishing the 76ers off, we’re not looking ahead into the next round.”

However, after beating the 76ers 97-91, when LeBron was asked how breakfast was he said,

“Good. Now we’re looking forward to lunch.”

The 76ers may have been “breakfast” for the Miami Heat, but there’s always the possibility they won’t make it past lunch. The Celtics are a seasoned team with plenty of playoff experience. It’s about to get exciting!

Episode Three Of The LeBrons: Gloria

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This week on The LeBrons, Gloria comes to stay. The episode starts out with a reminder from LeBron himself that people come and go in your life but “it’s family who’s got your back.” What he really means is “it’s family who bails you out of jail.” But, this is a kid-friendly cartoon.

Hotel Valet Sues LeBron’s Mom

We told you last week that LeBron James’ mother, Gloria James was arrested after allegedly hitting a valet at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami, Florida. Well the plot thickened today because the valet, Rock Feller Sorel has filed a lawsuit against the superstars mother.

In the lawsuit, it states that Rock has suffered “emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish (and) loss of capacity for enjoyment of life” and is seeking damages in excess of $15,000. You can check out a copy of the lawsuit here.

TMZ has obtained surveillance video footage of the alleged attack, but it’s a bit hard to see what actually happened.

Gloria was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault but this isn’t her first run-in with the law, she was arrested for a DUI in Ohio in 2006.

Photo: Miami Beach Police Department

LeBron’s Jersey Is No. 1

For the first time in seven years, LeBron James has earned the top spot  for the most popular jersey. The King of South Beach took the crown from Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant who has held the number 1 spot since 2008. In the most recent list based on sales at NBAstore.com, Kobe drops to the number 2 spot and Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo moves to the number 3 spot. The Celtics have 5 players in the top 15 – Shaquille O’Neal (12), Ray Allen (13), Paul Pierce (14) and Kevin Garnett (13).

This recent list may show a rebound for LeBron’s image which was damaged last offseason when he participated in ESPN’s The Decision where he announced he would be “taking his talents” to Miami.

Rounding out the rest of the top top are the Knicks Amare Stoudemire (4), Bulls Derrick Rose (5), Miami’s Dwyane Wade (6), Kevin Durant of the Thunder (7), Carmelo Anthony who recently was traded to the Knicks (8), Orlando center Dwight Howard (9) and Wizards star rookie John Wall (10).

Whose jersey do you proudly sport on game day?