Some of the Most Inspiring Pets in Sports

Thunder superstar Kevin Durant comes home to these adorable faces each night. This photo is of Diego and Carpone, who look to be Pitbulls (or mixes), kicking back and relaxing on Thanksgiving in 2011. This past NBA season wasn't exactly a memorable one for Wizards star John Wall—certainly not for anything good. But at least he's got a couple of friendly faces to come home to! Well at least one of them looks friendly, the other looks a little bored. The Colts signed wide receiver Jeremy Ross to a reserve/future contract in February 2012. He was signed with the Patriots in 2011, but has packed up the dog bed and toys and moved a few time zones west recently. Usually Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes seems a bit on the unlikable side—at least to me. But it's amazing how much seeing him snuggle with his pet Bulldog, Bella, can change my mind. Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia has got that whole domestic bliss thing happening in New York. He's got the wife, the kids and of course no family is complete without an awesome pet. The Sabathias adopted Raider in early 2012, he's an Old English Sheepdog. NASCAR's Martin Truex Jr. drives the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. Lexi is his yellow Labrador and she obviously knows how to kick back and relax, and sometimes she wears a trucker cap. Kelly Kelly is one of the WWE's sexiest Divas and, like many sexy girls, she's got a very teeny dog that accompanies her most places. I'm not sure what kind of dog that is—perhaps a Pomeranian and/or Chihuahua mix—but I know her name is Daisy! Oakland A's pitcher Dallas Braden has two monstrously sized dogs. I'm sure the white one is a Great Dane, but not entirely sure about the other. The white one is definitely his favorite—he got him stylish tall boots for Christmas last year. Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher is a self-proclaimed ninja, besties with Rob Gronkowski and he straight up loves this dog. Looks like Frank still live at home with Dane's parents, but he and Frank live it up together over the holidays. And by "live it up," naturally I mean "stand outside in the snow barefoot, wearing nothing but swim trunks, holding the dog." This adorable little cherub doesn't belong to surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, but they're in the same family. Sally's brother adopted this Pitbull in May 2012, so I guess that makes her an aunt! The Braves' Jason Heyward really loves this dog—his Twitter background photo is actually this very photo. I didn't catch the pup's name, but he looks to be a Lab mix that he adopted in late December 2011. Considering most of his Twitter photos have been of the dog since then, I'm guessing these two hit it off right away. Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire had his dog flown in from Phoenix, no clue what he was doing there, to New York in March. But poor Spudd arrived sick as a dog with pneumonia—but he eventually recovered. Spudd may have had pneumonia, but at least he was traveling to the vet by limo or chauffeured town car. Former WWE Diva Maryse Ouellet's little Chihuahua looking dog, Flake, is hands-down one of the most spoiled dogs in sports. She takes him absolutely everywhere with her and he's even got his very own wardrobe of formal attire for the red carpet. Swedish Olympic swimmer Sarah Sjöström is a world record holder in the 100m butterfly. She's also got the record for the biggest dog I've ever seen! But if you think that size stops her for holding that dog on her lap on public transportation, you're wrong. Swedish Olympic swimmer Sarah Sjöström is a world record holder in the 100m butterfly. She's also got the record for the biggest dog I've ever seen! But if you think that size stops her for holding that dog on her lap on public transportation, you're wrong. After the most successful season of his career in 2011, we all know Dolphins running back Reggie Bush is bound for a major letdown this season. Thankfully he'll still have his beautiful boxer Rock