World Simpsons Day: 17 great athletes who were satirized in the series

In 2017, April 19 was chosen as World Simpsons Day, because that day, but in 1987, Good Night was released, a short film that aired on The Tracey Ullman Show and which marked the first appearance of the yellow family on television. After 48 shorts, Matt Groening managed to transform his creation into a series that was released on April 17, 1989 and that is still valid to this day. Since then Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie have become icons of American culture and dozens of stars have passed through the city of Springfield, among which several athletes stand out.

Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Serena and Venus Williams

In Season 12's Tennis the Menace episode, Homer wanted to give his family's social life a quality leap by building a tennis court in his backyard (even though he believed that mud wrestling was practiced in court). So much was the fanaticism of their loved ones for the sport that they scored in a doubles tournament in which several stars who dominated the ATP and WTA rankings at the time were invited.

Because of his obsession with winning, Homer replaces Lisa with Venus and Marge does the same with Bart to make place for Serena. Finally, the Williams sisters invite Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras to the duel, so the popular couple also ends up watching the game from the stands.

Magic Johnson

In the third season of the series takes place the episode Homer Defined, in which the patriarch of the family makes a mistake that makes him a national hero. The nuclear plant run by the malevolent Mr. Burns is about to suffer a nuclear fusion and Homer, in charge of security, turns to the “De tin marin de do pingüé”, to touch the button that prevents the catastrophe.

That's why the protagonist becomes an idol and receives the congratulatory call from Magic Johnson himself, star of the Los Angeles Lakers at the time, in the middle of an NBA game.

Tony Hawk

One of the few athletes to have played a stellar role in The Simpsons was the skateboarding legend in season 14's episode Barting Over. In that chapter, Bart gets tired of living under his father's tutelage and is emancipated by moving to an apartment where a skate court operates. There he meets Hawk, who becomes his friend, being the envy of all his classmates at school.

Finally, everything is defined in a skateboard battle between the athlete and Homer, who is the winner of the duel by using a smart board that allows him to do tricks that defy the laws of gravity.

Mike Tyson

The Simpsons created a character inspired by the former world boxing champion who first appeared in season eight, when Homer decided to venture into boxing on the recommendation of his friend and then-manager Moe. There, he faces the dreaded Drederick (or Rufo) Tatum, a former heavyweight title winner who had recently been released from prison.

Tatum is a clear parody of Tyson, not only because of his physical resemblance and his record (both champions who went through prison), but also because his representative Lucius Sweet, is inspired by Don King. The match is, as expected, victory for the boxer by abandonment of Homer, who is taken out of the ring by Moe just before the knockout.

Ronaldo Nazario

Among his many professions, Homer Simpson was also a football referee. It happened during the episode Marge Gamer of the 18th season, in which he has to direct several games of his daughter Lisa, who, taking advantage of her father's love, constantly feigns infractions that are charged by him until Ronaldo Nazario takes over. The Brazilian, who wears the Real Madrid shirt, accuses the girl of being a “cheat”, who is angry with her father. “Another family separated by Ronaldo”, says the former gunner champion of the 1994 and 2002 World Cup happily.

Joe Namath

Whoever knew how to be an NFL figure had a rough pass through the backyard of the house of Avenida Siempreviva 742 after a malfunction with his car. His appearance occurred in the episode Bart Star of the ninth season of the series at a key moment for Bart, who at the time was playing quarterback for a children's team, but his terrible performances were bringing him problems with his teammates.

That's when the former player who led the New York Jets to win the only Super Bowl in their history tells him: “There is only one thing you need to know to be a great quarterback,” but he is just interrupted by the cry of his wife to let him know that they had already fixed the vehicle and that therefore they could leave. The secret was never revealed.

Pelé

The former Brazilian footballer considered by several experts to be the best of all time also had a brief but fun experience at The Simpsons. During the ninth season, the figure of O Rei had a stellar moment in The Cartridge Family, an episode in which the family attends a soccer match in Springfield between Mexico and Portugal.

In the preview of the match, Pelé approaches the center of the court, picks up a microphone and recommends the use of a cleaning product just before receiving a bag full of money. It is clear that his time in the MLS Cosmos in the mid-70s is more remembered for his appearance in advertisements than for his game.

Tonya Harding

In one of the Halloween specials, a mistake by Homer causes machines to rebel against humanity and destroy planet Earth. The only way out for Homer and Bart is a ship that escapes Earth's orbit towards the sun, although they learn the destination when they are already aboard it.

There they meet “second class” celebrities, among which former figure skater Tonya Harding stands out. In the United States, his name has been tarnished after, in 1994, someone around him hired a hit man to attack his greatest adversary, Nancy Kerrigan.

LeBron James, Yao Ming, Tom Brady, Michelle Kwan y Warren Sapp

During season 16, Homer gains popularity in the United States for dancing in a funny way in a video that goes viral. For this reason, in the episode Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass, several North American sports figures turn to him to win the public's sympathy. “My fans love my notes, but they hate my dance,” LeBron James explains to Mr. Simpson in a phrase that sums up why everyone needs his help.

After training, Homer teaches LeBron James, Warren Sapp (American Football Hall of Famer), Yao Ming (former Chinese player for the Houston Rockets), Tom Brady (NFL legend) and Michelle Kwan (world figure skating champion) original celebrations to win the public's love. In return, they help him put on a show at the Super Bowl halftime.

Neymar

Like Mike Tyson, Neymar also has a character inspired by him within the yellow universe. In the preview of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, football fever invaded the United States and The Simpsons had Homer referee to referee no less than the final of that contest in the episode You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee of season 25.

The match that defines the champion is played by Brazil and Germany. During an attack by the local team, the striker nicknamed 'El Divo', who wears a haircut similar to that of Neymar, collapses in the area looking for the referee to collect infringement, but Homer, despite being bribed to do so, does not validate the foul. The simulation of the footballer, something common in the current PSG player, is taken to the extent that he even fakes his death.

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