Sports Stars Hobbies
Paul Aitken looks at the surprising hobbies and talents of famous sports stars.
It takes thousands of hours of practice to master something truly. Where the sport is concerned, this endless practice needs to be supplemented with natural talent, an abundance of knowledge, and excellent physical fitness. They must devote most of their spare time to their craft to achieve this mastery, leaving little time for anything other than sleeping, eating, exercising, and maybe a few golf games. But some sports stars turn down the golf course, the gaming consoles, and other typical ways to relax in favour of more surprising pursuits.
Neil Robertson
Robertson is currently the best snooker player to ever hail from Australia. He is one of the most significant global players, scoring over 100 centuries in a single season, a record that no one can top.
When not potting balls at the table, he paints intricate fantasy figurines and plays fantasy computer games because Robertson is a self-proclaimed geek. In the past, he has admitted to being a little too obsessed with gaming, saying that it affected his performance at the table at one point.
Ronaldo
The Portuguese and Juventus forward is one of the greatest players ever to kick a ball. He is iconic, a sex symbol, and he also loves an occasional bingo game.
It is not something you would associate with a young footballer; it is more something you would expect from your grandmother or great-aunt. Ronaldo once professed his love of the game in a Portuguese newspaper and tried to play as much as possible.
He is not the only player to love gambling, either. Former players like Matthew Etherington and Keith Gillespie admitted to having massive gambling problems in the past, focusing more on the best online casino ratings than pregame tactical analysis.
Shane Ward
The former cricket superstar is currently one of the biggest names on the live poker scene. He has racked up many wins and endorses the 888 Poker brand, among other things. Although he seems to spend most of his time playing online games, he has also made a few appearances in top live poker tournaments.
He is not the only sports star to switch to poker; many have done it before him, and actors like Jennifer Tilly and musicians like Kirk Hammett also appear on the scene regularly.
Mike Tyson
Tyson was one of the most feared men for many years. He fought the heavyweight division champion at the very top and beat some of the best fighters ever to put on a pair of gloves. He also spent time in jail and had a private life rarely seen in the newspapers.
It may surprise some to learn that Tyson is a pigeon fancier and a big animal lover in general. When he is not collecting exotic pets, such as Bengal Tigers, he looks after his flock of pigeons.
David Beckham
He had one hell of a right foot and used it to fire Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy to the top. But when you put him in fetching attire and give him a sword.
He is a keen fencer and is also pretty adept at the sport, having taken it up several years ago and mastering the craft.
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About the Author
Paul Aitken is a freelance writer and the author of The Online Writer's Companion. He writes under several pseudonyms, and his work has been featured on many of the web's most prominent sites, including many major print publications in the UK and US.