Valentine’s Day is two weeks away, and you know what that means.
Flowers, candy and the language of love. Throw in a hockey stick, tennis racket and boxing glove and you’ve got a recipe for romance.
In honor of this fine holiday, lets take a look at the hottest couples in sports and see how they match up on and off the playing field.
For comical purposes, I’ve referenced my personal catalog of candy conversation hearts to create a list of Cupid’s latest lovestruck victims:
“Hit Me” — Anna Kournikova and Sergei Federov
The tennis star/supermodel supposedly married fellow Russian and Detroit Red Wing hockey player in Moscow.
Kournikova, known more for her attire than her skills on the tennis court, has also been paired with hockey star Pavel Bure and Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis.
So, what’s the real story with Anna?
She claims it’s over between her and pop singer Enrique Iglesias, whose lady-charming ways forced Anna to break out the backhand.
The Federov love affair/marriage circulating around the rumor mill seems to be a match made in heaven.
“Hot Stuff” — Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi
There must be something in the air at Wimbledon. Perhaps the best male and female competitors in all of tennis, Graf and Agassi, are winding down their sizzling careers to enjoy hot monogamy off the court.
After serving up a fault with actress Brooke Shields, Agassi has seemed to find the right person in Graf. The two recently welcomed their first child into the world a few months ago.
Imagine the genotypical phenom these two are going to have on their hands in a few years. Rumor is, an unidentified American millionaire has even offered Steffi and Andre $10 million for the little tennis tyke to play in a tournament in 2017.
This relationship sure looks like money to me.
“Ice, Baby” — Bret Hedican and Kristi Yamaguchi
Put another point on the scoreboard for professional hockey.
Hedican, a defenseman for the Florida Panthers, snagged the love of former Olympic gold medalist figure skater Yamaguchi with his smooth moves.
Between his nature to compete and her grace on skates, the talented married duo could melt ice on the rink.
“Home Run” — Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra
Hamm, female soccer idol and one of People’s 50 Most Beautiful People, scored a goal with hardball hunk Boston Red Sox shortstop Garciaparra.
The attractive couple became engaged in December of 2002, though no date has been set to tie the knot.
Hamm divorced college sweetheart Christian Corey in 2001 before setting her sights on the home-run-hitting Sox stud.
“Smack Down” — Bradshaw and Tonya Harding
Not really, but the WWE superstar, whose accomplishments include being a Tag Team and Hardcore Champion, and figure skating’s former ice witch turned boxer would make a cute couple, don’t you think?
Pair up Portland’s poster child with the Texan beast, famous for his Clothesline from Hell, and you’ve got one entertaining sports show.
Okay, maybe the little cherub misfired on that one.
Love is just a game, though, isn’t it?
Amanda Manser is a senior in journalism. She thinks Necco would be better suited to produce chalk rather than candy conversation hearts, and credits cohort Matt Baker for his abnormally vast knowledge of Mia Hamm. She can be reached for comment at [email protected].
