Mark Sanchez's million-dollar smile won't mean a thing if he doesn't throw touchdowns.

One of college football's top quarterbacks, the 22-year-old Sanchez suprised many – including his coach, Pete Carroll – when he decided to forgo his final year at USC to enter the NFL draft. After just one season at the the helm of one of the nation's top college football programs, the six-foot-two, 227-pounder stood out not only for his quick feet, strong arm and leadership abilities, but for his good looks.

In Southern California, the Latino community quickly embraced Sanchez, who often wore his Mexican-American pride on his sleeve – and in his mouth – despite growing up in the predominantly white Mission Viejo, California (the OC). Sanchez credits his father, a fire captain who grew up in L.A. and once played football for East L.A. College, for preparing him to deal with the pressure of being both Mexican and American. "I'm not trying to prove how Mexican I am or how American I am. If the kid who… sees my last name, sees my skin color and realizes that we're the same, if he thinks he can do something better than he could have before, then I've done my job," explains Sanchez.

Last month, the New York Jets drafted Sanchez with the hopes that he could become the face of their franchise. But Jets fans, famous for being tough on even the most popular of players, may turn on the former Trojan if he doesn't win games. The Jets are also hoping to sell tickets New York's large Hispanic community. It appears they already have. The day Sanchez was drafted, his father asked a N.Y. sports store clerk why they only had a few green and white Jets items. The clerk exclaimed: "We got a new Latino quarterback here in New York! We got somebody to represent."

Football superstar Tony Gonzalez wants to be remembered for his giving, not his receiving.

Born and raised in Huntington Beach, California, Gonzalez was a dual-sport star (basketball and football) at Cal Berkeley before he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. As a tight end, the six-foot-five, 250-pound Gonzalez combines the brute strength of a lineman and the grace of a wide receiver to both punish and evade opposing players.

Off the field, Gonzalez devotes his time and money to a number of charities, including the Tony Gonzalez Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to the Shadow Buddies Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of America. Now 32 years old, Gonzalez admits that early in his career, he was only thinking about himself: “I was going out every night. I was 21, young, single, a millionaire."

Once voted one of the Top 10 Sexiest Athletes in the World, the charismatic Gonzalez shifted his priorities as he matured. He toned down the partying and moved to México during one off-season to learn Spanish. He's now focused on raising his two children. Last year, Gonzalez appeared as a judge on the Oprah Winfrey-backed reality show The Big Give – a title that could easily be Gonzalez's nickname. This summer, he'll appear in The mun2 Hookup.

A future hall-of-famer, Gonzalez insists he was blessed with talent for a reason: "When you are given this athletic ability, you have to make it work for something positive or you are wasting it."

(image by Chris Leon via flickr)

You may have wondered: are they? A little?
Well, yes. Yes, they are.

Ted Williams

Passed away at age 86

Hall of Fame outfielder for MLB's Boston Red Sox. Nicknamed "Teddy Ballgame." Considered the greatest hitter of all time.

Halfsie or Fullsie?

Halfsie: Mexican mother and Welsh-Irish father.

Tony Romo

Age: 26

Quarterback for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. A two-time Pro Bowler, Romo once dated pop singer Jessica Simpson.

Halfsie or Fullsie?

Halfsie: Mexican father and Polish-German mother.

Gilbert Arenas

Age: 26

Point guard for the NBA's Washington Wizards. Nicknamed "Agent Zero." Cheats at video game Halo 3.

Halfsie or Fullsie?

Halfsie: Cuban-American father and African-American mother.

Rod Carew

Age: 62

Hall of Fame infielder for MLB's Minnesota Twins and California Angels. An 18-time All-Star. One of 27 players with over 3,000 career hits.

Halfsie or Fullsie?

Fullsie: Born and raised in Panamá.

Scott Gomez

Age: 28

Center for the NHL's New York Rangers. First Latino to play in the NHL. Nicknamed the "Alaskan Assassin." Winner of two Stanley Cups.

Halfsie or Fullsie?

Fullsie: Mexican-American father and Colombian-American mother.

(Additional images by Familie Schmitt and SummerTX via flickr.)