Cassie Kolias

Ever noticed a pair of men on the football field, or the basketball court, who seemed like they were closer than most teammates? Do you almost feel when looking at them that the two men should hold hands and frolic through fields of sunshine yellow daisies while playing with each other’s hair? Well, they could be in a bromance.

It’s sometimes not clear at what point men stop being friends or teammates and enter into a bromance, but it happens to the best of them.

A bromance is defined by Urban Dictionary as complicated love and affection shared by two straight males, or a non-sexual relationship between two men who are unusually close.

Bromances are more than just the appreciative butt slap after a play (good or bad). It’s more than just a conversation over a shower in the locker room. It sometimes provides a man with the emotional connection they sometimes can’t get from women. It’s deeper than that. A bromance is true love.

Cincinnati Bengals players Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco/Johnson (or whatever his name is this week) are in a pretty solid bromance.

They have quite a few things in common. For one thing, they both love themselves to the point of cocky narcissism. They had matching attention-whore television shows called “The Perfect Catch,” and the “T.O. Show.”

But their own shows weren’t enough; they mated their shows and the “T. Ocho Show,” was born. They also consider their relationship to be something like Batman and Robin.

I can smell the daisies now.

Another NFL bromance of fairly epic proportions is that of Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo and Jason Witten.

When the two are on the field together, it’s like Romo only has eyes for Witten. They are not only a bromance on the field, but off the field as well.

On any given day you can see them shopping, eating and hanging out together. Their love has surpassed all of the celebrity women that Romo has failed with.

Former Utah Jazz players John Stockton and Karl Malone were known as one of the best bromances in not only the NBA, but also in sports. They played together for 18 years, and had “Stockton to Malone,” which was arguably basketball’s best pick-and-roll pair. Although their lengthy bromance never produced a championship, it did produce five division titles and two conference championships.

The New Orleans Saints have a bromance of a different kind. Instead of player-on-player bromance, this one is between a coach and a player – quarterback Drew Brees and his coach Sean Payton. There was an article posted for New Orleans local news that started out by saying

“Sean Payton and Drew Brees have their own secret language.” The article then quoted members of the organization saying how “they feed off each other” and “they make each other right.” If they’re not frolicking, I don’t know who is.

I’ve also heard, although it seems their bromance is fizzling, Yankees Derek Jeter and A-Rod used to have sleepovers together. The two ballplayers also once shared a Sports Illustrated cover and shirtless spread. It’s sad to see a bromance of that proportion end, but sometimes that happens, too. A bromance, much like a relationship, must be nurtured and have open communication.

Without those things, a bromance could quickly turn into a bronemy.

Some of the best plays, best games and best teams stem from bromances.

So, don’t knock it until you try it.

You can reach Cassie Kolias at [email protected]