Fansided

15 athletes who are pop culture superfans

By Bruin Belisle

BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 14, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 14, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Here is a list of the 15 athletes who are as obsessed with pop culture as the rest of us.

It’s easy to forget that world-class athletes enjoy day-to-day things like the rest of us. After all, they are human and they have to spend their down-time doing something other than obsessing over their respective sports.

When we see these athletes on television, its easy to forget that they are people too. In between training, games and events, they also enjoy wasting their time with mindless television, video games and other pop culture fads and phenomenon.

The list is long and most athletes are surprisingly candid when it comes to sharing their favorite pop culture trends. Whether its movies, trashy television, Star Wars, a certain type of food or the popular battle royale video game Fortnite, these athletes are about to get a lot more relatable.

athletes
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O’Neal (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers works against Tim Duncan (C) and David Robinson (R) of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of game four in their NBA Western Conference Finals at Staples Center 27 May 2001 in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series 3-0. AFP PHOTO/Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images) /

1. Shaquille O’Neal: Superman

How could we not kick this off with Superman himself, the Big Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq’s obsession with Superman goes way back. The Lakers (et al.) legend is known for being one of the most dominant big men in NBA history, but his obsession with Superman is no secret either.

Shaq frequently sports the “S” on his clothing, he has vehicles with Superman logos on them and a Superman-themed mansion, which is for sale, if you have a $28 million lying around somewhere (start checking between the couch cushions).

The big man even starred in pretty terrible movie called Steel in which he played a weapons designer turned super hero tasked at stopping Judd Nelson (the bad ass from The Breakfast Club) from selling illegal weapons to gangsters and bad people.

On the court, Shaq was an actual superhero. He was an unstoppable force down low and made grown men look like small children as he crushed dunks over anyone in his path. Shaq is a four-time NBA champion, three-time finals MVP, 15-time all-star, 14-time all NBA player and an Olympic and World Cup gold medallist, among countless other achievements.

His kryptonite?

Kobe

. No, Shaq will forever be known as a Los Angeles Lakers great and he went on to dominate with the Miami Heat and a young Dwyane Wade before sinking into more of a role-player position on multiple teams to round out his career.

The only real knock on Superman was his acting ability (okay, and his free throw shooting). Although he was a brutal actor, nothing can take away his super-human skills on the court. Today, his legend lives on, mostly through making fun of Charles Barkley on TNT.

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