Home Runs & Horan: June 2015

I am always trying to think of ways to combine my love for sports and One Direction. Whether it's Niall at a soccer match or Harry at a Dodgers game, it is guaranteed that I love when my worlds collide. When watching the NBA Finals and observing the sass that Draymond Green exudes, I immediately thought of Louis Tomlinson. I realized that the members of One Direction and some of my favorite athletes share the same personality traits. So I thought, what better way to combine my loves than to highlight Louis, Liam, Harry, and Niall's personality traits and compare them to the world's most popular athletes. First up, my beloved English Muffin, Tommo,

Louis Tomlinson:

Trait- Sassiness
Athlete Comparison- Draymond Green

Whether he is roasting Dahntay Jones or making fun of the Cavs at the Warriors Championship parade, you can always be 100% sure that Draymond Green has his sassy pants on.

Between owning Naughty Boy on Twitter and his famous line "Have you quite finished", Louis always makes you feel the want to join the Sassy Club. I mean, his nickname is "Sassmaster from Doncaster", so that pretty much explains it all.

Trait- Ass
Athlete- Brett Lawrie

If you are like my mom, you make sure to get to A's games early enough so you can see Brett Lawrie stretch. There is no doubt that the A's have some booty at the hot corner.

Louis definitely has some ass to go along with his sass, that's for sure.

Trait- Big Heart
Athlete- Sean Doolittle

Sean Doolittle and his girlfriend, Eireann recently took part in A's Pride Night, in a partnership with "Our Space" to help bring LGBT issues to light. Sean also does a lot of charity work having to do with military families in honor of his family.

Louis is very passionate about "The Eden Dora Trust". He has become a patron of Eden's charity and meets with her to lift her spirits and raises awareness for her brain injury. He is always tweeting about charity and works with the other boys to help give back as well. Charity soccer matches in his hometown, among other events show that he uses the resources that he has been given to help others.

Trait- Height
Athlete- Jose Altuve

The Astros second baseman may be "vertically challenged" at 5' 5", but his offensive and defensive capabilities overshadow that small detail.

Louis may be the oldest member of the group, but he is also the shortest. He says he is 5' 9", but fans tend to disagree. His mom said she will measure him next time he is home. Only then will the great question of Louis' height be answered.

Liam Payne:

Trait- "Daddy"
Athlete- David "Big Papi" Ortiz

Big Papi has been a member of the Boston Red Sox since 2003. He is very well known in Boston and is still a very important member of the team. Being a veteran with a nickname like "Big Papi", it is understandable why he takes on the role as the "dad" of the team.

Liam has been known as the "Daddy" of the group since the band was formed. Especially at the beginning, Liam was always adamant on taking care of the other boys and was keen on making sure the band became a success.
Nowadays, that "Dad" trait still stands somewhat, but the term "Daddy" also refers to Liam in another way as well. Sometimes when you look at a picture of him, there is no other way to describe him other than just using the word "Daddy". His Justin Timberlake-like looks can lead you to understand why he has been given the name "Daddy Direction".

Trait- Arms
Athlete- Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton is one of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball. He has 27 home runs already this season with the Miami Marlins. If you are going to hit baseballs like that, you gotta have some muscles, and the ESPN Body issue a couple years ago proved to us that he does.

Liam definitely gets the award for "Best Arms in the Band". Every 1D fan remembers when the boys would sing "Summer Love" on the Take Me Home Tour and how we all gushed over Liam's arms as he sang his solo with all the passion he could muster.

Trait- Future Modeling Career
Athlete- David Beckham

David Beckham may be known as one of the best soccer players of all time, but to many ladies he is also known as one of the best Calvin Klein underwear models of all time.

Not only does Liam look like a professional model when the boys do photoshoots, he also looks like a model at LITERALLY ALL TIMES NO MATTER THE SITUATION. If the singing thing doesn't work out, I sure hope Calvin Klein is hiring.

Trait- Batman Obsession
Athlete- Matt Harvey

The New York Mets star pitcher has earned his nickname, "The Dark Knight". He is a superhero to Mets fans and his ERA proves why. He even has his nickname engraved in his bats... seriously.

Liam has always been obsessed with all things Batman. He even has Batman logo cufflinks along with hats, an apron, and every other piece of merchandise you can think of. Christian Bale er... Ben Affleck... (I can't keep track of who the current Batman is anymore) better watch out or Payno is going to steal his job.

Basically, Liam is David Beckham. He has been mistaken for Becks numerous times in the media, they both love soccer, and even their significant others look alike. I am also sure that Liam will look just as good if not better when he is David's age.

Harry Styles:

Trait- Hair
Athlete- Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews has the best hair in the NFL, hands down. I also had a dream once that I saw him in a hotel, asked him for his autograph, and he gave me dog food in return. Don't ask me why cause I have no clue. His long, luscious locks are admired by all football fans each season.

Harry Styles is known for his perfect hair. It just keeps getting longer and longer and at this point in time, I'm not sure if he will ever cut it. He can rock the man bun as well.
I had to compare his hair to Clay's since Harry loves his Green Bay Packers. I'm just curious to see who will get a haircut first.

Trait- Charm
Athlete- Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is known as "The Captain" for a reason. He played the game of baseball the right way and was an amazing role model for all. His charming and kind spirit is what made you respect him, no matter which team you root for.

Harry is absolutely the charmer of the band. His fun, lively, and extremely kind spirit is what makes Harry such a likable person. No one ever has a bad thing to say about him... I mean when he stepped on a dog he apologized to it, he picked up a paparazzi's bag and handed it back to them, and he even gave a pap his leftovers from dinner one time. He always makes sure to thank all crew members, and is polite to everyone. He is also the first to help clean up when his fellow band members make a mess. His handsome looks and soothing accent help with the charm factor as well.

Trait- Media Perception
Athlete- Colin Kaepernick

Sure, 49ers Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick isn't perfect. He is a young athlete who sometimes makes mistakes. But, I believe that the media makes him look like less of a good person than he actually is. He is a man of God, loves his family, and is always giving back. His involvement with Camp Taylor shows just how dedicated he is to making a difference. He may seem cocky at times, but I believe that side of his personality is over exaggerated.

In the media, Harry is seen as the "Bad Boy" and the "Ladies Man". Harry is the farthest thing from a bad boy. He is one of the sweetest and most kind celebrities that you could come across. His charm and good looks make the ladies swoon, but just because Taylor Swift writes a song about you doesn't mean you are a bad person. I wish that all people could see Harry for who he truly is rather than believing everything that the media says to be true.

Trait- Tattoos
Athlete- Colin Kaepernick

Had to go with Kap again on this one. Colin's tats all have a meaning and actually look good on him. They go with his personality and help define his attitude. He is known for having several tattoos, just like Harry is.

Harry's number of tattoos have grown significantly in the past few years. Like Colin's, they all have a meaning to him and actually look good on him. From the butterfly on his tummy to the heart on his sleeve, his tattoos help define who he is.

Niall Horan:

Trait- Personality
Athlete- Brandon Moss

Wherever Brandon Moss is, he is loud, funny, and full of spirit. He is always up for having a good time and just loves living life. He even convinced his own son that Seth Smith is his other dad. Fun antics and a kind heart is what helps to make Brandon Moss such a lovable character.

Niall Horan has the most happy, fun, and carefree spirit of anyone I have ever seen. His gorgeous looks are obvious, but it is his personality that truly makes him so attractive. You can see that he loves life and is always up for having a good time. You can't help but be happy when watching Niall simply be himself.

Trait- Eyes
Athlete- Kris Bryant

The Chicago Cubs rookie has become quite popular with the female fans. His beautiful eyes, along with his beautiful swing will make him popular with all baseball fans for years to come.

One of the first things you notice about Niall when you look at him is his gorgeous blue eyes. I have never seen anyone with eyes that shade of blue before. I keep telling myself if I ever meet him I have to look in his eyes even though I would be as nervous as ever. People say they're even more beautiful in person, which I can't even comprehend. I have to stop talking about his eyes now or I will have a meltdown...

Trait- Laugh
Athlete- Kevin Millar

If you watch Intentional Talk on MLB Network or are a Boston Red Sox fan, you know who Kevin Millar is and you know how great his laugh is. His laugh pairs nicely with his great personality.

Niall's laugh is literally my favorite sound in the world. It may sound cheesy, but it makes you smile and laugh yourself the instant that you hear it. His laugh also pairs nicely with his personality. Take a listen for yourself:

Trait- Strong Selfie Game

Athlete- Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper's Instagram is filled with great selfies. His batting average isn't the only thing that's hot.

I live for Niall selfies to be honest. Every time he posts one it makes my day. I don't care how lame that sounds. I mean, the man owns a selfie stick and is the self proclaimed selfie king. If I ever get the chance to take a picture with him, I will ask him to take the selfie out of pure respect.

Trait- Accents & Impressions
Athlete- Stephen Vogt

Stephen Vogt is known for being a valuable asset behind the plate, but his impressions (Chris Farley, NBA Ref, among others) are amazing too. He could easily have a career in comedy if he wasn't a baseball player.

Niall is amazing at impersonations and accents. He can literally imitate anyone or anything- his own bandmates, Olly Murs, Chris Rock, Enrique Iglesias, or even the Godfather. There are just too many for me to recount, listen and laugh for yourself:

Trait- Baby face
Athlete- Sonny Gray

Sonny Gray doesn't look like he should already be a father, but he is. Even though he may look like he just graduated from high school, he is one of the best pitchers in the MLB and one of my favorite A's players.

Niall has matured over the years, but he still has a signature baby face. His blonde hair and blue eyes along with his fun spirit lead you to think he is younger than he is. He is often mistaken for being the youngest in the group, but Harry is actually the youngest.

See how much a music group can compare to your favorite athletes?! I love being able to combine my obsessions and show why I love them both so much. If you have prejudged One Direction or are not fond of watching sports, I suggest you give them both a try. The things that you love are not so different when you really think about it.