Pop Culture Hot List

SI Staff | Jan 8, 2009

Pop Culture Hot List /

Pop Culture Hot List

Michael Phelps and Warren Sapp

First Warren Sapp comes up just short of winning "Dancing with the Stars" and now he finishes a close second to beating Michael Phelps in a swimming duel. Well, kind of. While Sapp was hanging out with Phelps at the Gansevoort South in South Beach, he challenged him to a race but got a major head start. It didn't matter as Phelps edged out Sapp in a close finish that was captured by TMZ.

Alyssa Milano

Quite possibly the biggest upset so far in 2009 isn't Milano getting engaged, but that she isn't getting hitched to an athlete. After being linked to a starting rotation a few years ago that would have made most teams jealous (Carl Pavano, Barry Zito and Brad Penny), Milano got engaged to CAA agent David Bugliari, who I can only imagine looks like an athlete.

Rey Maualuga and Erin Andrews

Well, apparently not everybody was a fan of Maualuga's "dance" with Andrews, which became a YouTube sensation after the Rose Bowl. USC and the All-American linebacker issued an apology, which still wasn't enough for Donna Lopiano, former CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation. She called Maualuga "my first-round pick for 'offensive' player of the year." Get it, he's a defensive player but she means offensive like, oh, forget it.

Jessica Simpson

She might not be engaged to Tony Romo yet, but Jessica Simpson is officially part of the Dallas Cowboys family. Simpson's recipes are featured in the 2008 Cowboys Family Cookbook, presented by the wives of the Dallas Cowboys. Wait, does that mean Jessica Simpson may soon be Jessica Romo? Well, not exactly. The book's organizers use the term "wives" a little loosely, working with whomever they're currently living with. Simpson and Romo contributed recipes for a "banana breakfast fruit smoothie" and "no-fat broccoli and cherry tomatoes." Hopefully neither will cause you to choke come December.

Eli Manning

Life is good for Eli Manning, who recently celebrated his 28th birthday. Not only was the Giants quarterback joined by his teammates Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl, Amani Toomer, Brandon Jacobs and Kevin Boss at Tenjune club, but also Eli's wife, Abby, gave him a special lap dance, apparently after a few rounds of tequila shots, while Beyonce hit, "Single Ladies," blared.

Kurt Warner

Taking a page out of Barack Obama's playbook, Warner has promised his daughters puppies if he ends up winning the Super Bowl. "My wife [Brenda] kind of put words in my mouth and told them if we won the Super Bowl, they could get a puppy," he said. "I want to win the Super Bowl, but I still don't want to get a puppy." Don't worry Kurt, you won't have to worry about getting puppies when you're sitting at home watching the Super Bowl this year.

Nadine Coyle and Jason Bell

Nadine Coyle, from the pop group The Girls Aloud, enjoyed her first romantic holiday with her boyfriend, New York Giants cornerback Jason Bell, who was enjoying a bye week last weekend. The happy couple was apparently kissing and couldn't keep their hands off each other as they lounged poolside in Miami. "He plays American football, he played in the Super Bowl, and he is so smart. Not showbiz at all," said Coyle. "He had never heard of our band when we met through a mutual friend." That's funny, neither had I.

Kevin Durant

The Cartoon Network will use Kevin Durant and four other NBA players, including Deron Williams and Ray Allen, in a promotional spot for the animated channel. It was a treat for Durant, who said, "I'm a big kid myself." When asked what kind of cereal he eats, Durant said, "Fruity Pebbles and Trix." Ah yes, the breakfast of champions.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher

Move over Tony Romo, Carrie Underwood is apparently dating Ottawa Senators center Mike Fisher. Underwood was at a Senators game last week, when the Jumbotron "Hug Cam" caught her with her boyfriend's family in a private VIP box. While neither will comment on their relationship, Underwood and Fisher first met backstage at her concert in Ottawa last March.

Utah Utes

Sure, the 13-0 Utah Utes, the only undefeated team in college football, should have a shot to be the national champions after beating Alabama, ranked No. 1 for much of the season, in the Sugar Bowl. But the last thing sports needs is an attorney general getting involved in the situation. The BCS isn't fair but it isn't illegal.

Published Jan 8, 2009

SI STAFF