Today, tattoos are as ubiquitous in sport as sneakers in basketball, pads in football, and, um, sunflower seeds in baseball. They’re big, they’re bold, and–with the salaries professional athletes are making in 2014–they’re elaborate.
With spring coming and beach weather on its way existing in our memories, it’s a great time to look at the best ink in sports. From ill-placed tribals to timeless flames to Sistine Chapel-like epics, this list has it all.
Top 10 Tattoos in Sports
10. Wilson Chandler
Almost every square inch of Wilson Chandler’s body has been covered by tattoos. The Denver Nuggets’ most notable tattoos are on his back, where his enormous ode to Juggernaut reminds us of his “unstoppable” drive to finish at the basket, block shots, and, you know, get large tattoos.
9. Fernando Torres
Chelsea’s much-maligned striker hasn’t contributed to his team the way they were hoping he would after a £50 million transfer brought him to the Premiership. Perhaps he should add “goals” to his armful of personal reminders.
8. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson told Katie Couric he chose a tribal tattoo for his face because his tattoo artist wouldn’t put anything on his face that wouldn’t “represent him well.” Thankfully, the tattoo they chose now represents both Tyson and sorority girls everywhere.
7. Josh Hamilton
Josh Hamilton has been through a lot, including, evidently, a period in which tattoos seemed a good outlet for his troubled past. The home run bashing outfielder has 26 tattoos, including the classic combo of flames and tribals on his left arm. The bar has been raised.
6. Manti Te’o
Unlike his girlfriend, Te’o’s tats are for real. The Heisman finalist has a series of different Samoan arrangements on his left arm that should stand as a reminder to his fellow athletes that being authentic with your tattoos (and public persona) can be worthwhile.
5. Chris Leben
Chris Leben is called “The Crippler” because of his knockout power. The sweet, visceral samurai tattoo on his back, however, suggests he’s comfortable with a wide array of crippling attacks.
4. Renato Sobral
Babalu is retired now, but the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion will live on in MMA fans’ memories as a man who had a tribal tattoo that didn’t suck. The spiraling, sharply-crafted ink runs from his neck to his dominant fighting hand, an effect that would be visually devastating in the ring.
3. Dennis Rodman
North Korea’s unlikely spokesman has some of the best tattoos in NBA history, which is saying something. The two angry bulls about to lock horns on his chest draw you in, but it’s combination of tats, pearcings, hair dye, and above all attitude that made Rodman one of the most memorable players in the league.
2. Colin Kaepernick
The sprawling tattoos on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s back made him an automatic for this list. The artwork harkens the Sistine Chapel, and depicts a war between angels and demons that would put Dan Brown to shame.
1. Chris Andersen
The “Bird Man” has picked up where Rodman left off as the go-to walking tattoo-mosaic in the NBA. He wasn’t always inked up, however. After being banned from the league after violating its drug policy, Andersen worked hard to clean up his act and fill out his tats. In 2009 he returned to help the Nuggets make a surprise run in the playoffs.
With tats that include a massive skull wearing a crown, signature red wings under his arms and the massive “FREE BIRD” on his neck, the man earns the (skull) crown as the most tattooed man in sports, and it isn’t close.
Did we miss any tatted up athletes that you feel should have made this list? Let us know via the Facebook or Twitter links below!
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