The 10 Most Visible Celebrities at Sporting Events

10 Most Visible Celebrities at Sporting Events

The American public has always seemed to have a soft spot for celebrities who are seen doing normal, everyday things. There's something endearing about these reminders of our common humanity. Even though these larger-than-life figures may dominate the stage, the silver screen or the airwaves, we still have appreciation for those who aren't afraid to display their normal side.

Sports in particular has always been a great equalizer, an activity around which loyal fans from every class, race and creed can rally. We know celebrities from their movies, their music, or their shows (or, sometimes, we know them for no other reason than that they are who they are -- Paris Hilton, anyone?). Whether it's Kobe Bryant at a Los Angeles Angels game or Alyssa Milano putting out her own line of Los Angeles Dodgers-inspired clothing, celebrities have proven time and time again that they love the big game just as much as the rest of us. And who can blame them? Though these stars may have better seats than most, the experience of attending an important game in person is like nothing else.

Which is not to say that some of these privileged few don't mind showing off their status, even at the game. You won't see Lil' Wayne sitting courtside without his sizable entourage of bodyguards and hangers-on, and you have to believe the Kardashians love it every time the Jumbotron displays their vapid faces to the stadium and television audience (just kidding -- I'm sure they love analyzing the Xs and Os of the triangle offense and regularly debate the merits of a zone defense in the NBA).

Whether you love them or hate them, there's no denying that these celebrities have a huge presence at professional sporting events. With that, we take a look at the 10 most visible celebrities at sporting events.

Tony Baker is a Los Angeles Angels writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @tonloc_baker and on Google.

10. Jason Sudeikis

One of Kansas' favorite sons and an SNL star, Sudeikis may be more of a fixture at New York sporting events, but the man won't pass up the chance to see his favorite hometown teams either. He finally had something to cheer about at Kansas City Royals games this year, as the Royals posted their first winning season in recent memory.

9. Jessica Alba

A regular at Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers home games, Alba improves the view of the sideline at any game she attends.

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers

One of the greatest L.A.-based bands of all time (right up there with The Doors, Eagles and Beach Boys), the Chili Peppers have gone from sneaking into the Forum during their wild, youthful days to regularly sitting courtside at Staples Center.

7. Eva Longoria

The formerly Ms. Longoria-Parker may no longer be attending San Antonio Spurs games after she and Tony Parker filed for divorce, but the Desperate Housewives star still makes regular appearances at tennis events such as the U.S. Open.

6. Lil' Wayne

He's a self-proclaimed Martian, and even though his days of guzzling codeine and other substances are allegedly behind him, Weezy still looks thoroughly weird (as only he can) sitting courtside, whether he's in L.A., Miami or Oklahoma City.

5. Ashton Kutcher

The Iowa native makes regular appearances at Laker games, and appears to have fully absorbed himself into his adopted city. Notice the hat with the Harvard-Westlake logo, where Kutcher actually coached freshman football for a brief stint last decade (true story: he was known as "Coach Kutch").

4. Justin Bieber

The Floyd Mayweather thing was too much. I don't mind if throngs of pre-pubescent kids follow Bieber and scream his praises wherever he goes, but does he really have to be this visible? The less we see of him at sporting events, the better.

3. Jay Z

Hov may have removed the hyphen from his stage name, and the most celebrated rapper of all time may have sold his tiny minority stake in the Brooklyn Nets last month, but don't look for this Brooklyn son to be leaving his courtside seats any time soon. This is going to be an exciting Nets team, and I expect Jay to see as much of them as he can.

2. Spike Lee

An indelible fixture of the New York sports scene, Knicks fans will always have love for Spike, both for his undying loyalty to the Knicks even during their worst years, and for the scene in Do the Right Thing where that guy with the Larry Bird jersey scuffed up a brand-new pair of Air Jordans. His imp-like presence will remain at Knicks games as long as Spike lives.

1. Jack Nicholson

Could it be anyone but Jack? This guy rarely says a word while he sits cross-armed like a Hollywood Buddha in his courtside seat at Staples Center, yet his presence is big enough to fill the 18,997 capacity stadium all by itself. When Nicholson finally passes, I wouldn't be surprised if the Lakers retired his seat. He is simply the man.