TOP TEN Sports Couples of 2013

As “Hitting A Touchdown” progresses you will quickly learn that there are two things that I love to do, stuff in honor of and countdown lists. Today will mark the first for both. In honor of today being Valentine’s Day I decided that I would have a countdown of the Top Ten Sports Couples for 2013. 

In order to qualify for this list both the male and female must have been, or is, a professional athlete. In order to decide my list the following factors were considered: career accomplishments, length of relationship, and children. 

Without any further ado, here is my Top Ten Sports Couples of 2013…

#10- Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIIroy 

Caroline and Rory

                Dating for a year or so now, Rory and Caroline became engaged just three weeks or so ago. Rory, a professional golfer since 2007, has won both the U.S. Open (2011) and the PGA Championship (2012). In 2012, Rory won PGA Player of the Year Honors and was the PGA Leading Money Winner. Caroline, who is a professional women’s tennis player is currently ranked #10 in the world and held the #1 position for a period of 67 weeks. She also holds a 352-131 record overall.

#9- Alex Ovechkin and Maria Kirlenko

Alex and Maria

                Alex is currently a hockey player for the Washington Capitals in the NHL. Drafted as the first overall pick in the 2004 draft, Alex won the Rookie of the Year honors.  He is a 5x All-Star, 2x NHL Most Valuable Player, and has won many International Competitions as a member of the Russian Hockey Team. His career statistics include over 330 goals and over 340 assist. Maria currently holds the #6 position in the world for women’s tennis and won the 2012 Olympic bronze medal.  Her current professional record is 333-232. Alex and Maria became engaged in late 2012.

AJ and Heather

#8- AJ Feeley and Heather Mitts

                AJ and Heather were married in 2010. AJ played 10 seasons in the NFL as a quarterback for five teams. His career statistics include a 55.8 completion percentage, 28 touchdowns to 31 interceptions, and a 69.1 QB rating. Heather, who carries the couple to this ranking, is a member of the National US Women’s Soccer Team and currently plays professionally for the Boston Breakers in the NWSL. In her career she has helped the National Team win three Olympic gold medals and the Silver in the World Cup.

#7- Candace Parker and Shelden Williams

Shelden and Candace with their daughter in 2012

                Candace and Shelden were married in 2008 and both currently play professional basketball. Candace was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. She went on to be the Rookie of the Year, a WNBA All-Star, and 2x rebound champion. She has also won 2 gold medals as a part of the US Women’s basketball team.  Shelden was the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He played in the NBA from 2006-2012 for seven totals teams. He is currently playing professionally in France for the Elan Chalon. The two have a three year old daughter named Lailaa.

#6- Casey Daigle and Jennie Finch 

Casey and Jennie with their sons Ace and Diesel

                Casey, a career minor league baseball pitcher, and Jennie, a US Softball star, married in 2005. In his career, Casey has only played 10 games in the MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those 10 games he is 3-4 with a 7.16 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He is currently in the San Francisco Giants minor league system. Jennie, also a pitcher, has had a much better professional career and is the reason they are this high. Her reputation as a fast thrower and intimidating pitcher helped the US Softball team win both Gold and Silver in two different Olympics. The couple has three children: Ace, six years old, Diesel, 19 months, and Paisley who is only a month old.

#5- Bret Hedican and Kristi Yamaguchi

Kristi and Bret with their Daughters in 2008

                Bret and Kristi married in 2000. Kristi is very well known figure skater who won an Olympic gold in 1992. She also one two World Championship gold medals, two junior World Championship gold medals and a Junior World Championship bronze metal.  While at the 1992 Olympic Games Kristi met Bret, who was a member of the US hockey team. Overall Bret is a two time Olympian and has also played in over 1000 career NHL games for five teams spanning 1991-2009. Bret was able to be a part of one Stanley Cup Championship team in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. Bret and Kristi have two daughters, Keara who is nine and Emma who is seven.

#4- Curtis Conway and Laila Ali

Curtis, Laila, their young children, and two of Curtis' other kids in 2011

                Curtis is a former NFL Wide Receiver who played 12 seasons for four teams, mainly the Bears. In his career Curtis has 594 receptions, 8,230 yards receiving, and 52 touchdown receptions. Daughter of legend Muhammad Ali, Laila is one of the most successful female boxers of all-time. She posts a 24-0 professional record with 21 of them being caused by knockout. In her career, she has held both the WIBA Championship Belt and the IWBF Championship Belt. Curtis and Laila married in 2007 and, along with three children from Curtis’ pervious relationship, have two children of their own. Their son is Curtis, Jr. and their daughter is Sydney, who is four and two respectfully.

#3- Matt Treanor and Misty May-Treanor 

Misty and Matt during his stint with the Marlins

                Misty, a professional beach volleyball player, has had a better career than her husband. Misty has won three Olympic gold medals, three World Championship gold medals, one World Championship silver medal, and one Pan American bronze medal. She recently retired after the 2012 Olympics. Her husband Matt is a career journeyman catcher in Major League Baseball.  Currently a free agent, Matt has played in the MLB since 2004 and for five teams. His career statistics include a .222 batting average, 18 homeruns, and 129 runs batted in. The couple married in 2004 and has no children.

#2- Aaron Ross and Sanya Richards

 

Sanya and Aaron at their Wedding

                Aaron and Sanya currently have no children and have been married since 2010. The reason they are number two on the list is because of how successful both of their individual careers have been.  Aaron, a cornerback in the National Football League, has tallied 246 tackles, 10 interceptions, and two touchdowns in his career that began in 2007 as a first round pick by the Giants. With the Giants he helped the teams win two Super Bowls for the 2007 and 2011 seasons. He is currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanya, on the other hand, is a member of the US Track and Field team. She competes both individually and a part of relays. During her career she has won four gold Olympic medals, one silver Olympic medal, five gold World championship medals, one silver World Championship medal, and both a Gold and a Silver medal in the World Indoor Championships.

And finally, the #1 sports couple on this Valentine’s Day 2013 is……. 

Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm

 

Mia and Nomar with their daughters during his stint with the Dodgers

Nomar and Mia

                Both Nomar and Mia have had stellar careers; they’ve been married since 2003 and have twin daughters, Ava and Grace, who will be five on March 28, and a son named Garrett who was born in January of 2012, making him one.  Mia is, without a doubt, the best female soccer player on the planet. She played for the US Women’s National Team from 1987-2004, joining the team when she was only 15 years old. During this period Mia started 29 of 33 international games, scored 13 goals, 15 assists, and lead the US team to two FIFA World Cup and Olympic gold medals, one Olympic Silver medal, and one FIFA World Cup bronze medal. Nomar was a professional baseball player in MLB for 14 seasons. Over that period he played with the Athletics, Dodgers, and Cubs, however he spent most of his time with the Boston Redsox. In his rookie year, Nomar was able to win the American League Rookie of the Year and was a Silver Slugger. From there the success continued as he ended up being a 6x all-star and two times he led the American League in batting average. His career stats include a .313 batting average, 229 homeruns, and 936 runs batted in.

Congrats to Nomar and Mia for being named #1… although this isn’t that cool to them considering haha

-JM

(NONE OF THESE PICTURES ARE MINE)