The idea of being one of the best in your respective profession and being anonymous to the general public isn’t far-fetched. The world’s best dermatologist was probably waiting in the same Starbucks line as you this morning. What is interesting is when someone is viewed as one of the best in a profession where their face is broadcasted to millions every year and can go under the radar in a public setting.
What makes an elite athlete pass for an Average Joe? Usually it comes down to some combination of about average height, quiet demeanor, consistent-but-not-in-your-face brilliance, lack of PR or meme-worthy moments, and so on.Basically, the criteria comes down to the high likelihood that these superstars would go unnoticed in the supermarket. Here are the top 8 professional athletes who look like they could be playing in your ZogSports league:
LOOKS LIKE: American Ninja Warrior contestant training in public transit
ACTUALLY: Two-time MVP; 8-time All-Star; arguably the greatest baseball player of his generation
Mike Trout is everyman but no man is Mike Trout. Just mention his name to a baseball-loving friend and watch their brains break trying to explain how good he is. He’s gained some popularity in recent years but, relative to his standing in the sport, he is the athlete most likely to get ignored at your local farmer’s market.
LOOKS LIKE: A local attorney with commercials showing off his broken Spanish
ACTUALLY: Super Bowl MVP; holder of 8 all-time NFL records
He’s been around the block, sure. The accolades speak for themselves. Be honest though--if you see him in Saints gear in public, would you be absolutely sure he’s not an assistant coach on the team? In a sport where the average athlete is about 6’3 and 250 lbs, Brees’ presence doesn’t necessarily scream “future Hall of Fame football player.”
LOOKS LIKE: She would start an hour-long story about her hiking the Appalachian Trail within 5 minutes of meeting her
ACTUALLY: Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion; two-time Olympic gold medalist
She could pass as the woman you see running every day on the way to work. She also happens to be the only woman who has ever dropped a hat trick in a World Cup final faster than your typical morning run. So there’s that. Though, it’ll be hard to keep her on this list if she becomes the first female NFL player.
LOOKS LIKE: A rising star realtor who has impeccable taste in open house hors d’oeuvres
ACTUALLY: World Series champion; 2017 AL MVP; 6-time All-Star
It’s going to be tough, but let’s try to ignore the fact that Alex Bregman is dressed as a hot dog dressed as Pharrell. Okay, great. There’s no denying that Altuve’s recent playoff heroics have boosted his profile as one of the best in baseball. However, his unassuming personality and 5’6 frame mean he could easily go on a hummus run completely undeterred and unrecognized at your nearest Trader Joe’s.
LOOKS LIKE: The high school science teacher-assistant football coach who isn’t afraid to lay down some “real talk”
ACTUALLY: Super Bowl champion; 5-time Pro Bowler
The fact is that he doesn’t look like your prototypical NFL quarterback in stature and he’s arguably one of the best five pigskin passers in the world right now. Maybe another Super Bowl would help his Q Score? Hey, it worked for Eli Manning.
LOOKS LIKE: She has a horticulture magazine subscription
ACTUALLY: Three-time WNBA champion; 11-time All-Star; WNBA all-time assist leader
She’s a three-time WNBA champion and has been playing professional basketball at the highest level for almost two decades. Still, she could probably be sitting next to you at a restaurant and you wouldn’t know it.
LOOKS LIKE: He rocks a fanny pack unironically
ACTUALLY: NBA champion; 5-time All-Star; Olympic gold medalist
As someone who had to deal with being called “too small and slow” for the NBA, Lowry is used to being overlooked. Now, he is one of the very best guards in the world even if his name usually isn’t among the first ones mentioned. The only reason you know for certain that you didn’t walk by him today is he lives in Toronto.
LOOKS LIKE: Your friend’s kid brother who has grown into his own and made you feel super old in the process
ACTUALLY: USMNT wunderkind; the current best American soccer player in the world
Having just turned 21 in September, Pulisic’s popularity has plenty of time to catch up to his talent. Still, you can’t help but feel like the name and face of U.S. soccer should ring more bells given soccer’s rising popularity stateside.
Do you agree with this list? Who’s missing? Let us know in the comments below!