Moonlight Madness

How the year's top cameos rank against the greatest jock TV guest star ever: Joe (Brady Bunch) Namath

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA

Portlandia

After writing a negative Yelp review of a feminist bookstore, Navratilova is confronted by the offended proprietors at a sports bar, where she is seen ordering her regular: "a burn-your-face margarita with a little splash of Tabasco and lemon, not lime." It is, bizarrely, believable.

CLAY MATTHEWS III

The Mindy Project

A bit wooden, Matthews can thank the writers for the success of his turn. Matthews reminisces with his former attorney about the time the coked-up adviser booked him in a Scary Movie entry: "I played Captain Jack Spareribs. I still don't get it." That, we'd pay to see.

ROY HIBBERT

Parks and Recreation

In an episode that also features somewhat stiff displays by Colts owner Jim Irsay, Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne, Hibbert once again proves to be a natural in front of the camera. It was his third appearance on the show—here's hoping for many more.

JAY CUTLER

The League

A show about fantasy football is bound to have players drop in (J.J. Watt and Blair Walsh), and a surprisingly chill Cutler delivers the best line by a jock this year, surveying kids playing on a large tube and asking, "Is it just me or does this playground look like a sex act?"

C.J. WILSON

The Mindy Project

Of Mindy Kaling's many athlete guest stars (Kris Humphries, Amar'e Stoudemire, et al.) Wilson made the most of his—albeit limited—role. As the eponymous doc tries to speak at a wedding, Wilson bench-jockeys her for hogging the meatballs.

HINES WARD

Walking Dead

Not the most inspired line reading, but you can only do so much with "Grrrunnnnhhhh." Ward—who was more graceful on his feet on Dancing with the Stars—landed his zombie gig thanks to cast member and former college teammate IronE Singleton.

SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Toronto mayor Rob Ford will appear every week on a Washington, D.C., radio show called The Sports Junkies.

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IFC (NAVRATILOVA)

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HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES (NAMATH)

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NBC (HIBBERT)

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FOX (WILSON)

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FOX (MATTHEWS)

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PATRICK MCELHENNEY/FXX (CUTLER)

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GENE PAGE/AMC (WARD)

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FRED THORNHILL/REUTERS (FORD)