8. This is SportsCenter
ESPN knows how to strike when the iron is hot. The Worldwide Leader in Sports had kept the sport of mixed martial arts in the background in favor of the NFL, NBA, NCAA football and other mainstream sports, so it came as a surprise when Rousey was invited to guest host SportsCenter, the cable giant’s flagship program.
None of the high-profile female athletes of this or the previous generation -- Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lindsay Vonn or Danica Patrick -- had ever served as SportsCenter co-host. Rousey on Oct. 7 became the first to do so, and she gave a knockout performance.
Number 7 » Canadian Bakin’