With Iron Man 2 opening today to the delight of RDJ fans – including this one – wanted to give Downey Jr. the same treatment that we gave Johnny Depp a while back and poll the sports blog intelligentsia: Which Sports Biopic would you like to see Robert Downey Jr. star in?

Now I’m no David Rubin (casting director on Less Than Zero, film moguls), but here are some of Downey’s traits I sent around:

• Can play unhinged (citing: Natural Born Killers, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Charlie Bartlett)

• Can dial it back, and play still unhinged, but repressing it (citing: A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints)

• Can Will play black (citing: Tropic Thunder)

• Can make ill conceived career decisions (citing: the 22 episodes of Ally McBeal from 2000-03, and his foray into music)

• Can take his shirt off (citing: Sherlock Holmes)

• Can play British (citing: Natural Born Killers, again)

Realistically, we’re far closer to seeing Downey star as Hugh Hefner, then any sports personalities (H/T Dan Adams). However, I got some great submissions from the sports blogosphere’s finest, all of whom I even sent a picture of 80′s hot Jami Gertz as a source of inspiration. Check out the Top-5 suggestions below, and feel free to add your own in the comments.

Mark Cuban

My quick take is Mark Cuban. We’ve seen him play the brash billionaire quite well in Iron Man, so Cuban’s a natural fit for him. (Ben Q. Rock/Orlando Pinstriped Post)

Theo Fleury

His rise to stardom, fall due to substance abuse, and the recent come back attempt, feel good ending. (Adam Kingsley/The Hoop Doctors)

Helio Gracie

Since Robert Downey Jr. has martial arts training (specifically jiu-jitsu), only fitting that he play the Godfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in an MMA origins movie. (Adam Best/Fansided.com)

Lance Armstrong

Ill-advised? Dude was awesome in Ally McBeal.  How bout Lance Armstrong? (David Chalk/Bugs & Crank)*

*I’m pretty sure David couldn’t care less if Downey Jr. plays Lance Armstrong, and just responded to defend his performance in Ally McBeal.

Roberto Clemente

Lance Armstrong does not like to be outdone on Twitter. So, when Mike Beasley – an NBA rookie with wings, sunglasses, and broken English tattooed on his back – started hogging all the attention earlier this week, Armstrong took it to the next level and issued a twitter invitation to come hang out with him and ride some bikes.

From Sky News…

The seven-times Tour de France winner issued an invitation via Twitter – telling people to turn up at Phoenix Park.


“Good morning Dublin. Who wants to ride this afternoon? I do. 5:30pm @ the roundabout of Fountain Rd and Chesterfield Ave. See you there,” Armstrong tweeted.


When the American arrived he was mobbed by fans, many jostling for a prime position at the front of the pack with one of cycling’s all-time greats.


The 38-year-old, who is in Ireland for a global cancer summit, said: “For me, I like to ride my bike anyway, so on a very simple level it’s a very sunny, beautiful day in Dublin and I’d be going for a bike ride anyway.

Sky News reports, a bike shop in Dublin rented 190 bikes in two-hours leading up to the event. And according to a report from…well, according to Lance Armstrong tweet, 1000+ showed up for the occasion.

It’s plausibly unrelated, but Shaq has apparently backed off of Lance for now, and scaled down his twitter challenges for Shaq Vs. to Mike from Dirty Jobs.

Scores Join Lance Armstrong On Dublin Ride (Sky News)