Olympic.ca is currently featuring a series exploring sports fans.
Celebrities cheer on their favourite sports teams just like you and I…except they are usually doing it from the front row (and with a lint roller handy in Drake’s case).
From sideline supporters to celebrity owners, many actors and singers have found a way to show pride in their teams.
Here is a list of some of the biggest celebrity sports fans out there:
Jack Nicholson – Los Angeles Lakers
It wouldn’t have been right to start this list with anyone else. Possibly the biggest Lakers fan out there, Jack is a courtside regular at the Staples Centre.
New Orleans Hornets coach, and former LA Laker, Byron Scott jokes with Nicholson during a game. Photo: CP
Jack cheering on Kobe. Photo: CP
Nicholson gives some tips to Denver Nugget Kenyon Martin. Photo: CP
Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler discuss life during a Lakers game. Photo: CP
Nicholson jokes around with former Laker Derek Fisher. Photo: CP
Shaquille O’Neal kisses Jack Nicholson on the head after the retirement of his jersey by the Lakers. Photo: CP
Jack is never afraid to let the refs know when they’ve blown a call. Photo: CP
Spike Lee – New York Knicks
One of the more vocal celebrity sports fans out there, director Spike Lee has been an avid Knicks fan for decades.
Spike Lee gets a hug from Michael Jordan. Photo: CP
Spike Lee shouts at Knicks guard Toney Douglas. Photo: CP
Spike enjoys a laugh with Magic Johnson. Photo: CP
Paul Pierce shakes hands with Spike during a game. Photo: CP
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr is greeted by Spike. Photo: CP
Spike has been known to sport some crazy Knicks gear. Photo: CP
Former Knicks coach Jack Nicholson talks with Spike before a ceremony. Photo: CP
Spike has been a Knicks fan for as long as we can remember. Photo: CP
Billy Murray – Chicago Bulls, Bears & Cubs
Bill Murray is a fan of every Chicago sports team that there is. He must have been jumping for joy when he was given his role alongside Michael Jordan in Space Jam.
Bill Murray supporting his Bulls. Photo: CP
Bill Murray posing with Cubs outfielder Craig Monroe. Photo: CP
Bill Murray rounding the bases at Wrigley. Photo: CP
Bill Murray sliding into home at Wrigley before he throws out the first pitch.
Billy Crystal – New York Yankees
Billy Crystal is such a big Yankees fan that they signed him to a one-day spring training contract back in 2008. Crystal struck out in his only at-bat, at the ripe age of 60. The funny thing about him being a Yankees fan is that he’s actually a part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Billy Crystal with Don Zimmer during the 2003 ALCS. Photo: CP
Billy Crystal signing his one day spring training contract. Photo: CP
Billy Crystal with manager Joe Girardi. Photo: CP
Billy Crystal laughing it up with Alex Rodriguez. Photo: CP
Derek Jeter looking for some love from Billy Crystal. Photo: CP
Billy Crystal doing a post-game interview. Photo: CP
Billy Crystal taking an at-bat as a New York Yankee. Photo: CP
Alec Baldwin – New York Yankees
John Krasinski – Boston Red Sox
I would believe that something similar to the ad below has actually happened to these two.
Ben Affleck – Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins & New England Patriots
If you didn’t know that he was a huge sports fan and from Boston then you need to get out more often.
Ben Affleck throwing the first pitch at a Red Sox game. Photo: CP
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez watching a Red Sox game. Photo: CP
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner cheering on the Red Sox. Photo: CP
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner sitting beside the home team dugout at a Red Sox game. Photo: CP
Ben Affleck talking with players in the dugout during a Red Sox game. Photo: CP
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner finding it hard to be fans at a Celtics game. Photo: CP
Drake – Toronto Raptors
Toronto-native Drake is not only a huge Raps fan, he is also their official “Global Ambassador”. They have asked him to stop bringing his lint roller to games, though.
Drake helps announce that Toronto will host the 2016 NBA All-Star game. Photo: CP
Drake shows off his Raps swag. Photo: CP
Drake chatting with the Raps announcer. Photo: CP
Drake gives Raptors guard Demar Derozan props after a game. Photo: CP
Drake can be seen disputing a call behind Raps coach Dwayne Casey. Photo: CP
Drake cheering on his Raps from his sideline post. Photo: CP
In West Philadelphia, born and raised. Part-owner of the Sixers is how he spends most of his days. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Will Smith supporting his Eagles before Super Bowl XXXIX. Photo: CP
Will Smith hanging out with ultimate Knicks fan Spike Lee. Photo: CP
Will Smith supporting his 76ers. Photo: CP
Will Smith shaking hands with Dwyane Wade. Photo: CP
Ice Cube – Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Lakers
Not only did rapper Ice Cube make wearing Raiders gear cool, he also wrote their theme song “Come and Get It” as well as directed and starred in a documentary about the Raiders called “Straight Outta LA”.
Could she really cheer for any other team? The superstar is from Nashville and her husband Mike Fisher plays for the Predators.
Carrie Underwood, right, supporting her Predators. Photo: CP
Country singers Underwood, left, Kellie Pickler, centre, and Taylor Swift cheering on the Predators. Photo: CP
Underwood and Vince Gill performing during an intermission at a Predators playoff game in 2011. Photo: CP
Underwood and Vince Gill performing during an intermission at a Predators playoff game in 2011. Photo: CP
Predator Mike Fisher accompanies Underwood to the Grammys in 2010. Photo: CP
Vince Vaughn – Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs, Bears, Bulls
Vince Vaughn is one of Chicago’s biggest sports fans and his love for the Blackhawks can’t be understated. He even finds a way to incorporate some Blackhawks support into his movies (like the clip below from “The Dilemma”).
Vaughn is one of the biggest Blackhawk fans out there. Photo: CP
After scoring a goal in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, Dave Bolland salutes the Blackhawks fans, including Vince Vaughn. Photo: CP
Vince Vaughn and his wife Kyla Weber are regulars at Blackhawk games. Photo: CP
It makes sense that Hova cheers on the Nets, since he was born in Brooklyn and once owned a minority stake in the team. Jigga was forced to sell his shares when he started his sports agency Roc Nation Sports, who represents former Yankee star Robinson Cano, among others.
Jay-Z sitting courtside at the Nets. Photo: CP
New York Knick Carmelo Anthony shakes hands with Jay-Z. Photo: CP
Hova cheering on his Nets. Photo: CP
Jay-Z represents the Nets during the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery. Photo: CP
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys waiting to perform during a 2009 World Series game. Photo: CP
Jay-Z performs during the parade to celebrate the Yankees’ 2009 World Series win. Photo: CP
Jay-Z poses with a fan. Photo: CP
Jay-Z and Alex Rodriguez celebrate the Yankees 2009 World Series win during the parade. Photo: CP
Paulina Gretzky – Dustin Johnson
The Great One’s daughter, Paulina Gretzky, is regularly spotted supporting her fiancé Dustin Johnson on and off the golf course.
Paulina gets a hug from fiancé Dustin Johnson. Photo: CP
Paulina Gretzky following Dustin at the 2013 Canadian Open. Photo: CP
Paulina Gretzky watching Dustin play at The Masters. Photo: CP
Matthew McConaughey – Texas Longhorns
McConaughey is such a big fan of the Longhorns that he was invited to a practice to give a speech to inspire the team and has even been a part of team pictures in the past.
McConaughey poses with Longhorns coach Mack Brown during a photo session at the 2006 Rose Bowl. Photo: CP
McConaughey sits with players during a team photo. Photo: CP
McConaughey celebrates the Longhorns’ 2009 Fiesta Bowl win with linebacker Rashad Bobino. Photo: CP
Cyclist Lance Armstrong hanging out with McConaughey after a Longhorns game. Photo: CP
Matthew McConaughey says hi to fans before a Longhorns game. Photo: CP
McConaughey plays some catch before a Longhorn game. Photo: CP
