Athletes and Their WAGs: '80s Edition

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2011

Athletes and Their WAGs: '80s Edition

Mark Gastineau and Brigitte Nielsen

Mark Gastineau, a key cog in the Jets' "New York Sack Exchange" defense of the '80s, started dating Nielsen in early 1988 after her divorce from Sylvester Stallone. Midway through the '88 season, the Jets linebacker announced that he was retiring to take care of Nielsen, whom he feared had uterine cancer. He later admitted the real reason for his retirement was out of fear that he'd fail another steroid test. The couple had a son, Killian, in 1989, but the relationship ended soon after.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Cheryl Pistono

Fresh off a divorce, the NBA's all-time leader in points dated Cheryl Pistono in 1979. The duo, seen here in a 1980 SI photo shoot, had a brief courtship that resulted in the birth of Jabbar's second son, Amir.

Jerry and Jackie Rice

The couple were all smiles when Rice received the 1987 Most Valuable Player Award. They divorced in 2007 after 20 years of marriage.

Dan and Clare Marino

Just weeks after finishing a record-setting season in which he threw for 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns, Marino married longtime girlfriend Clare. The couple has six children.

Mike Tyson and Robin Givens

The rollercoaster relationship between Tyson and Givens began in early 1987. The two were married a year later and divorced within eight months.

John and Janet Elway

Janet Buchan was a member of the swimming team at Stanford when she met her future husband, the school's star QB. The couple married in 1984 and had four children before divorcing in 2003. Elway walked down the aisle for a second time in 2009, when he married former Oakland Raiders cheerleader Paige Green.

Jimmy and Patti Connors

After dating fellow tennis star Chris Evert for much of the '70s, Connors found true love when he met former Playboy model Patti McGuire. They married in 1979 and have two children.

Ron Greschner and Carol Alt

Carol Alt was on top of the modeling world when she met Ron Greschner, a defenseman on the New York Rangers. The couple wed in 1983 and were married for 13 years before divorcing. Alt has remained loyal to her hockey roots and is currently dating former Senator and Islander Alexei Yashin.

Roger and Debbie Clemens

Roger and Debbie Clemens in their Texas home with 11-month-old son Kody. The two have been married since 1984 and have four children.

Vinny Testaverde and Jacqui Alleque

The 1986 Heisman Trophy winner, Vinny Testaverde arrives at New York's LaGuardia Airport with girlfriend Jacqui Alleque. Surprisingly, the Miami QB was wearing a Penn State sweatshirt.

Yannick Noah and Cecilia Rodhe

Tennis legend Yannick Noah gazes into the eyes of then-girlfriend Cecilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden 1978. The couple were married three years and are parents to Joakim, a center for the Bulls.

Stefan and Annette Edberg

Stefan Edberg, who was always popular among female tennis fans, married Annette Olson in 1992. The couple have two children.

Wayne and Janet Gretzky

Before she was Mrs. Great One, Janet Jones was an actress who appeared in Annie, Snow White Live, The Flamingo Kid and A Chorus Line . The two met at a Lakers game in 1987, got married a year later and now have five children.

Bjorn and Mariana Borg

Bjorn Borg was known not only for his skill on the tennis court, but also his busy social life off it. In 1980 he married Romanian tennis star Mariana Simionescu. The couple were married for four years before getting a divorce.

Bjorn Borg and Jannike Bjorling

After his marriage with Mariana Simionescu came to an end, Bjorn Borg started dating Swedish model Jannike Bjorling. The two never married but had a son named Robin.

Bruce and Linda Jenner

Before he was keeping up with the Kardashians, Bruce Jenner was married to Linda Thompson. The couple had two children before divorcing in 1985. He married Kris Kardashian in 1991.

Edwin and Myrella Moses

Moses is best known for winning gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, but he also won the heart of Myrella Bordt, a West German costume designer. The couple were married in 1982 but divorced nine years later.

Archie and Olivia Manning

A two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Archie Manning married his college sweetheart, Olivia, in October 1974. The couple have been married for 37 years and have two sons you may have heard of (Peyton and Eli).

Frank and Kathy Viola

Frank Viola shares a kiss with his wife, Kathy, after the Twins captured the 1987 World Series.

Al and Shelly Unser Jr.

Al Unser Jr. poses with his wife, Shelly, in 1989. The couple were divorced in 1999 after nearly 20 years of marriage.

Franco and Dana Harris

Franco Harris met his common-law wife, Dana Dokmanovich, in college and the two have been an item ever since. They have one son and still live in Pittsburgh.

Greg and Laura Norman

The Shark married Laura Andrassy, a flight attendant, in 1981 and the couple had two children. After divorcing in 2006, Norman dated Chris Evert and the two were married in 2008 and divorced the next year. The third time is hopefully the charm for Norman, who married Kirsten Kutner last November.

Joe and Jennifer Montana

After his first two marriages failed, Joe Montana met Jennifer Wallace, an actress and model, when the two worked on a Schick commercial together. They married in 1985 and have four children, including 21-year-old Nate, a quarterback at Notre Dame, and 19-year old Nick, a redshirt freshman at Washington.

John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal

Known for his prickly demeanor on the court, John McEnroe captured the heart of actress Tatum O'Neal and the couple wed in the summer of 1986. The marriage lasted eight years; they have three children.

Diego and Claudia Maradona

Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, married his longtime girlfriend, Claudia, in 1989. The two already had two children at the time of the marriage. The couple divorced 15 years later but remain close.

Mike and Lucie Bossy

The Islanders' legend married his teenage sweetheart, Lucie, in 1978. They have two daughters.

Pele and Xuxa

Pele was a legend on the field, but also made headlines during his five-year relationship with Brazilian actress and singer Xuxa in the mid-80s.

Ray Knight and Nancy Lopez

The relationship between the golfing great and the baseball jock was a match made in sports heaven. The couple, who were married in 1982, have three daughters.

Tito Horford and Arelis Reynoso

Tito Horford, the first Dominican-born NBA player, poses with girlfriend, Arelis Reynoso, during a 1985 photo shoot. The family genes paid off as Al Horford is currently a center for the Atlanta Hawks and his brother, Jon, plays forward for Michigan.

Tony and Julie Dorsett

Cowboys defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones stands between teammate Tony Dorsett and Julie Simon on the couple's wedding day. The romance didn't last long as the couple divorced four years later.

Nolan and Mary Cromwell

Nolan Cromwell, a former Pro Bowl safety and current Rams receivers coach, poses with his wife, Mary, in 1985. The couple are still married and have two children.

Wade and Debbie Boggs

Few athletes had a more scandal-plagued marriage than Wade Boggs. The Hall of Fame third baseman was famously sued by former mistress Margo Adams, who revealed her exploits with Boggs in a 1988 Penthouse interview. Despite the controversy, Debbie and Wade remain married and have two children.

Mark and Susan Spitz

Mark Spitz captured a then-record seven gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics and was proclaimed an American hero. Two years later, he was introduced to Susan Weiner because their dads worked in the scrap metal business. The couple were engaged within two months and have been married 28 years.