In The Spotlight

Vinnie Jones is a former professional footballer whose penchant for knocking down opponents and literally crushing their nuts made him a legend in his native England. He has since parlayed his reputation as a remorseless thug into a gig as one of Hollywood’s most bankable brutes in films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Gone in Sixty Seconds, and X-Men: The Last Stand. So, which career does this rough-and-ready brawler prefer? “I love [football and acting], but it's all about the present and I just love what I'm doing now,” he says. “It's a great adventure and it's very exciting for me.” Learn more about Jones by clicking here.

Question of the Week

Chad, Atlanta, GA
Subj: Taking your licks
What’s the most dangerous of the “Big Four” sports of basketball, football, baseball and hockey?

Great question Chad! That dubious honor belongs to football. According to a new study, playing in the NFL is the fourth most hazardous occupation in America behind only firefighting, race-car driving, and fishing. In fact the career expectancy of an NFL player is less than four years, although sadly, Chicago Bears fans may be stuck with Rex Grossman for a little longer than that. Below is a breakdown of the average career duration by position.

Running back - 2.57 years
Wide receiver - 2.81 years
Quarterback - 4.44 years
punter/kicker - 4.87 years

Soccer's Sauciest Swingers

Henry Kissinger once observed that "power is the ultimate aphrodisiac." With all due respect to the former U.S. diplomat, he clearly never laced up a pair of cleats. Over the years, notorious bon vivants like George Best and David Beckham have made football synonymous with the playboy lifestyle, always finding ways to score both on the field and off. Read my comprehensive list of the game’s most celebrated swingers at: http://ca.askmen.com/specials/world_cup_2006/top_20/Fernando_Torres.html