Athletes With Snakes

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 30, 2011

Athletes With Snakes

Julio Franco

While officials at the Bronx Zoo continued to search (as of March 29) for the Egyptian cobra that escaped, SI takes a look at athletes and snakes. In this 1988 photo, Cleveland Indians infielder Julio Franco holds a snake around his neck before a game against Seattle.

Muhammad Ali

Days before his 1977 fight against Alfredo Evangelista, Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali clowns around with a snake held by Gladys Rosa of Don King Productions.

Chad Brown

Chad Brown, a former linebacker and amateur herpetologist, poses with a snake for this 1997 SI profile.

Errict Rhett

Gators RB Errict Rhett poses with his snake and dog during a 1992 SI photo shoot.

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade and a group of Young Heat fans meet a new friend at the 2005 Miami HEAT Family Festival in Miami Beach.

Marion Jones

Marion Jones meets a giant python snake at Australia's Zoo during a visit with the late Steve Irwin. Jones was in Australia for the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Omar Vizquel

Rangers infielder Omar Vizquel laughs as he shows a photo of himself holding an 11-foot anaconda that he caught during the 2008 offseason.

Kameron Loe

Texas Rangers pitcher Kameron Loe poses with his pet snake Angel.

Lee Trevino

Lee Trevino takes a hatchet to a snake he found in his bag during a practice round before the 1971 U.S. Open.

Lee Trevino

Years later, Trevino has a laugh as he shows off the picture of him taking the hatchet to the snake. Trevino is laughing because it was all a joke and the reptile he pretended to slice was just a toy snake made of rubber.

Mikki Moore

Mikki Moore, who played with 10 teams over his 13-year career, shows off his pet alligator and snake during a 2006 SI photo shoot.

Joel Anthony

Heat center Joel Anthony poses with a python during the 2009 Miami Heat Family Festival.

Heidi Klum

She's not exactly an athlete, but Heidi Klum shows she has no fear of snakes during a photo shoot for the 2000 SI Swimsuit issue.

Amelie Mauresmo

French tennis star Amelie Mauresmo is introduced to "Hercules" during an offday at the 2005 Australian Open.

Jarmila Groth and Juan Ignacio Chela

Jarmila Groth of Australia and Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina hold a snake from the Miami Metro Zoo during the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Juan Sebastian Veron

Argentine soccer player Juan Sebastian Veron plays with a python during a trip to the Buenos Aires Zoo.

Maurice Brantley

Maurice Brantley poses with a snake at the weigh-in for his 2002 fight against Shibata Flores. The snake didn't help Brantley, who lost by TKO in the third round.

Nicole Vaidisova

Nicole Vaidisova spends some quality time with Ringo the Python during an offday at the 2006 Australian Open.

Tony Stallings

Former Louisville running back Tony Stallings poses with his pet snake and alligator during a 2001 SI photo shoot.

Darren Maddy

English cricketer Darren Maddy plays with a python during a trip to Durban, South Africa.

Gino Borsoi

Former Italian Grand Prix racer Gino Borsoi clowns around with a cobra that was caught slithering onto the track during qualifying for a race.

Snake Warning

Snakes were such a problem at the 1999 Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan, organizers issued this warning to members of the media.