Top 10 Sports Team Entourages

Seeing as this weekend not only marks Marky Mark's  “Invincible” movie premiere but it also marks the season finale of Entourage (which Wahlberg also executive produces) it got thewadeblogs.com thinking what are the best sports team Entourages of all-time?

A quick note on our methodology. Extra points went to teams and players who actually hung out and partied together. Check it out as we went through and matched each player's personalities with those of the now famous HBO posse.

Keep in mind this is only what we think are the Top Sports Entourages. Feel free to fire off your comments (dislikes) below and please point out any Entourage which you think was inadvertantly overlooked.

1. Yankees of the 1950's & early 1960's
Vince - Mickey Mantle
Drama - Billy Martin
Eric - Whitey Ford
Turtle - Yogi Berra
Ari - Casey Stengal

Comments: Move over Frank, Dean, Sammy et al. this crew was tighter and cooler than even the "rat pack."

2. 1986 Mets

Vince - Kieth Hernandez (kind of resembles Vince) over Gary Carter (who was more of a legend in his own mind)

Drama - Doc Gooden & D. Strawberry

Eric - Ray Knight (was a straight laced church goer)

Turtle - Lenny Dykstra

Ari - Davey Johnson

Comments: Before you '86 our pick... for those of you who have any doubts on just how wild and crazy the 86 crew was we suggest you check out the recent read The Bad Guys Won.
 

3. 1985 Chicago Bears

Vince - "Sweetness" Walter Payton

Drama - Jim McMahon (bears an uncanny resemblance to Kevin Dillon - see picture)

Eric - Mike Singletary

Turtle - William "The Refrigerator" Perry

Ari - Mike Ditka

Comments: They score extra points for their "Superbowl Shuffle." Also as a buddy of ours pointed out Buddy Ryan is the loyal Llyod to Ditka's Ari. (Props to Patty for that)

4. (tie) Pat Riley Teams.. (he makes the ultimate Ari)

New York Knicks - 1990s

Vince - Patrick Ewing

Drama - John Starks

Eric - Mark Jackson

Turtle - Oakly with his nerd glasses or Jeff Van Gundy (both resemble Turtle)

Ari - Pat Riley

Los Angles Lakers - 1980's

Vince -  Magic

Drama - Kareem

Eric - Michael Cooper (along with Magic and Kareem he was only other member of all 5 of th eLaker 80's championships)

Turtle - Kurt Rambis

Ari - Pat Riley

Miami Heat - 2000's

Vince - Dwayne Wade (pure talent even over Shaq)

Drama - Shaq  (Since he is more like an older bother.. plus his "Shazaam" is like Johnny Drama's "Viking Ques")

Eric - Zo Mourning & Gary Payton (both more down to businees all about winning a ring)

Turtle - Stan Van gundy

Ari - Pat Riley

5. Michigan Fab Five

Vince - Chris Webber

Drama - Jalen Rose

Eric - Juan Howard

Turtle - Steve Fisher

Ari -  Chris Webber's agent and lawyer*

Comments:  *Whoever manager to get Webber off despite the fact that he lied to a grand jury about taking $280K from a Wolervine booster is slicker than even Ari.

6. Chicago Bulls 1990's Dynasty

Vince - Michael Jordan

Drama - Pippen/Rodman

Eric - John Paxton & Steve Kerr

Turtle- Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley or the white guy who only was on the team for Rodman

Ari - Jerry Reisndorff

Comments : Almost too easy to match up all the different players and personalities from the two threepeats.

7. Oakland Raiders of late 1970s

Vince - Fred Blientnikoff

Drama - Ken Stabler

Eric - Art shell / Gene Upshaw

Turtle - John Madden

Ari - Al Davis

Comments : Madden and Davis are perfect matches for Turtle and Ari.

8. 2003 Chicago Cubs
Vince - M. Prior & K. Wood

Drama - Sammy Sosa

Eric -  Mosies Alou

Turtle - Steve Bartman

Ari - Dusty Baker is obvious chocie here but we opt for Governor Jeb Bush*

Comments: * The last minute wheeling and dealing Governor Bush made when offered Bartman aslylum in Florida would make Ari proud.

9. 2005 USC team & subsequent 2006 NFL draft
Vince - Reggie Bush (all the talent)
Drama - Matt Leinart (hold-out drama)
Eric - Pete Carroll (seems more like a talent manager than a coach at times)
Turtle - LenDale White (getting picked on at practice.. causes fight)
Ari - Pete Caroll would be the obvious pick but we're going former USC O-coordinator Norm Chow*.

Comments: * Chow made a Titan move picking Texas QB Vince Young in the draft over his former protege Leinart (only later to pick up Lendale) seems to be the guy really pulling the strings

10. 2004 - 2006 Baseball All Steriod Team

Vince - Barry Bonds

Drama- Jose Canseco

Eric - Raffey (his straight forward denial hanged him in the end)

Turtle - Mark McGwire (sammy Sosa seems to have hidden under a shell himself)

Ari -- Sen. Mitchell and Bud Selig*

Comments: * Their desperate scrambling at the last minute to put something together mirrors the actions of Ari. Also note you could easily do an all another all steriod Entourage featuring Justin Gatlin Landis, Marion Jones, and Floyd Landis.

Here are some other topical Entourages to watch for specifically this September...

2006 Ryder Cup Entourage
Vince - Tiger Woods
Drama - Phil M.
Eric - rest of the 10 players on the team
Turtle (or in this case 'penquin') : Ass't Coach and near qualifer Corey Pavin (who looks like a penquin)
Ari - Tom Lehman

2006 US Open Entourage

Vince - Roger Federer (all th etalent)

Drama - Andre Agassi

Eric - Andy Roddick (plays perfect straight man.. watch him go down in straight sets early)

Turtle - Martina N. (she's also retiring and with her cokebottle glasses looks like a turtle)

Ari - Jimmy Conners (he's now serving as Andy Roddick's coach)

2006 Dallas Cowboys

Vince - Drew Bledsoe (although 2004-05 QB Vinny Testeverde kind of resembles Vince)

Drama - T.O.

Eric - Tony Romo quietly waiting in the wings while Drew Henson gets dropped

Turtle - Bill Parcells

Ari - Jerry Jones

2006 NY Giants
Vince - Tiki Barber (thas alent in front of the camera as a sportscaster)

Drama - Jermey Shockey

Eric - Eli Manning

Turtle - Jimm Finn

Ari's Assitant (Llyod) : Michael Strahan (rampant rumors started by his ex)

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Keep in mind once you come up with one Sports Entourage Team its hard to stop riffing as it can almost become addicting. Here are some other Entourages we came up (keep in mind they are rough and we're still filling them out). Anyway the following teams didn't quite make our cut. Comment below to add your own.

 

1980's Celtics

Vince - Larry Bird

Drama - Len Bias

Eric - Danny Ainge

Turtle - Chief

Ari - Red

Lakers 2000s
Vince - Shaq
Drama - Kobe
Eric - Walton
Turtle - Horry
Ari - Jerry Bus / No phil

Early 1980s Redskins/Hogs

Vince - Theisman

Drama - Smurfs

Eric - Joe gibbs (responsible nerdy one)

Turtle - Riggins, O-line - Hogs

Ari - Jack Kent Cook

Vikings of recent years
Vince - Culpepper
Drama - Moss and/or peed boat drama
Eric -
Turtle - Tice (scalping away tickets)
Ari - Player who arranged boat ride

LA dodgers late 70's early 80s

vince -- Dusty Baker. Pedro Guerro

Drama - Fernando / Steve Gaevey

Eric - Bill Russel / Mike Soccossica / Davey Lopes

Turtle - Ron cey /Tommy LaSorda

Ari - Steve Garvey (guy managed to have like two wives at once)

Mavericks (before trade)

Vince - Nash

Drama - Cuban (fan)

Eric -

Turtle - Dirk Notwitzki

Ari - Cuban (owner)

1999 - 2003 Spurs

Vince - Tim Duncan

Drama - Tony Parker / Eva Longoria

Eric - David Robinson (Danny Ferry and Steve Kerr come in close second)

Turtle - Kevin Willis - Avery Johnson - Rodman

Ari - Gregg Popovich

Classic Duke Teams

Vince - Lattner

Drama - Hurley

Eric - Grant Hill

Turtle - Hurley... later Wojo

Ari -  Coach K.

1970's Steelers Championship Teams

Vince: Steel Curtain Sefense

Drama: Terry bradshaw

Eric: Stallworth/ Swan

Turtle: Mean Joe Green

Ari : Chuck Knoll

ari's assisat: franco harris

1970's Men's Tennis
Vince: jimmy conners

drama: johhny mac

eric: bjorn borg

turtle: bobby riggs (lost to Billy Jean King)

Ari: bobby riggs

2005 Steelers

Vince: Big Ben QB

Drama : Big Ben Motorcyle Incident

Eric: Hines ward (mvp and now Korean ambassador)

turtle: Jerome Bettis

Ari: Cowher & Rooney

Women's USA Soccer

Vince - Mia Hamm

Drama - Brandy Chastain

Eric - 

Turtle - 

Ari -

Comments

[Mung]

Just wanted to let you know that this was one of the b blogs I have ever read.

[Sean]

In my opinion, Derek Fisher would be the Eric of the Lakers 2000s not Luke Walton. And Dennis Johnson would be the Drama for the 1980's Celtics. Chief=Eric, Kevin McHale=Turtle(shady deals on the sly like Joe Smith)