Jay-Z’s debut album in 1996, “Reasonable Doubt” (Roc-A-Fella/Priority, 1996), put just that in artists attempting to compete with the soon-to-be rap mogul in the hip-hop game. Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson did the exact same thing in 2003 when he entered the NFL driving reasonable doubt into opposing teams by running over and around defenders on the gridiron.

It is very rare to come across a person who’s had such a significant influence in the life of millions of people and a whole culture to the point that he has become an icon.

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Shayne Graham is not your average rags-to-riches story. He doesn’t come from your average family. His parents were divorced (normal enough these days) yet got along well enough that they still ate dinner together.

There are apparently no limits to Shawne Merriman’s mental and physical abilities. In his first year in the NFL, Merriman not only collected 10 sacks, but he was also named the 2005 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and deservedly earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The self-proclaimed “Lights Out” had his biggest game of the season against the then-undefeated Indianapolis Colts, helping lead the San Diego Chargers to victory with a hand in three crucial sacks.

The New England Patriots are an interesting team. They’re a white-collar team with a blue-collar mentality. They’re the champs—the best team in the NFL. However, they don’t rest on their laurels. Not the Patriots—winners of three of the last four Super Bowls. Where others talk the talk, the Patriots quietly walk the walk. Where individuals draw attention to themselves, the Patriots share the spotlight with a collective cool.

“Superstars are born and not made,” says HBO’s orthodox prizefighter “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. while basking in the fine grain leather of his Rolls Royce Phantom’s elegant curved sofa.

Remember September? When warmth fades and a chill sets in as dusk overtakes tall, green Jersey pine trees, shading smooth suburban pavement. The smell of cold air striking fresh woods conjures up back-to-school days, wooly sweaters, Saturday afternoon football and wild pennant races leading up to the World Series.

World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar John Cena is without peer. Not only has he been the Champion of the most dominant professional wrestling circuit in the world, he’s also a bonafide rap artist whose freestyle disses before fights have earned him the respect and adulation of millions of fans. To top it all off, his first album, You Can’t See Me (Sony, 2005), debuted No. 15 on the Billboard charts, and continues to earn the admiration of anybody who thinks that the Italian American’s rapping is just a gimmick.

Being in the presence of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and hearing him laugh is like sitting near a warm fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot of warmth that comes from the man, who is bigger in person than you can ever imagine... his heart, his kindness, and his great accomplishments precede him. Nevertheless, in the end, it’s always the smile that gets you.

Yeah, go ahead, call him a “pretty boy.” Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor won’t shed you a tear. He admits it; he is a pretty boy. He will tackle and knock you clean off your cleats. He will sack you and toss you like a piece of meat. Then, he’ll tear his helmet off, smile at the cameras, and throw back a glass of milk as a bunch of kids rush him.