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Jay Leno and athletes over the years

by Ted Bauer

Getty Images

'The Chin' often entertains athletes on the couch.

As ya probably know, tomorrow is Jay Leno's final stint as host of The Tonight Show; on Monday, Conan O' Brien takes over (if you're a Simpsons fan, that dude can never ever do wrong just because of Marge vs. the Monorail) and in the fall, Leno moves to a variety-type show at 10pm. We will honor Leno twice on this site, to which someone will comment "THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPORTS! ESPN FAIL!" But ah, this actually has everything to do with sports: it's a look at athletes on his show over the years. Arguably the most famous athlete moment on Leno was when Jason Sehorn proposed to Angie Harmon on the show. (Video of that is nearly impossible to find.) Michael Buffer, oddly, also proposed to his girl on the show, and there is that whole Barack Obama 'Special Olympics' bowling issue. Anyway, here we go now.

Gotta start here: Chris Bosh as a correspondent for Leno during the NBA Finals this year. Amazing.
Becks on Leno.
Derek Jeter gets the tough questions in a Leno segment.
Is this Pete Carroll mocking Jay Leno?
Leno talkin' NASCAR for kids.
Basketball related monologue.
Hulk Hogan on the show, saying he'll be President.
Patriots segment on Leno.
Carolina Panthers Super Bowl segment.
Oakland Raiders Super Bowl segment.
Jay with his turbine-powered motorcycle.
Mark Lenzi once appeared.
Kournikova's been on there.
Michael Phelps appeared this past April.
Since most Leno videos are taken down off YouTube, his official site is the best place to find him interviewing athletes (and anyone else).
Leno's Wiki.
The Tonight Show's Wiki.
Leno and Lance Armstrong.
Our recent feature subject Reese Hoffa has hit the couch.
Terry Bradshaw going nuts on Leno.
Pat Summitt drops by Burbank.
Jet Li and Jay Leno demonstrating martial arts.
Leno hosted a big comedy bash this year at the Super Bowl.
And just because we're talking Leno, would he be this big right now without the "What were you thinking?" line to Hugh Grant?


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