8. Serena. Has 23 Grand Slam titles, including 11 singles and also the “Serena Slam,” when she ran the table on tennis. She hit harder than Ray Lewis. Also showed a tendency to wear tennis outfits that displayed her flex appeal. Gave her older sister Venus a noogie on several occasions in Williams vs. Williams matches. Threatened to give one to a line judge as well at this year’s U.S. Open. But: She wasn’t the best player (gender aside) this decade.

7. Kobe. Without peer in the NBA in the 2000s. Won four championships, was a 10-time All-Star, claimed two scoring titles and dropped 81 in a single game. Beat more buzzers than a tardy student. Freakishly cut-throat, willing to dribble through eight players (five on the other team and three on his own) to reach the basket. But: Either he caused Shaq to leave town or didn’t do anything to prevent him from leaving, leading to the worst breakup in sports.

6. Phelps. Collected 14 gold medals and set 37 records and made a strong case as greatest swimmer of all time, if not greatest Olympian ever. Became the face of the Beijing Games. Unlike many Olympians, did not magically disappear five minutes after the Closing Ceremonies. Managed to live in our consciousness for several weeks longer, thanks to endless commercials and TV appearances and one bong hit. Made the pool cool. But: Came along once every four years.

5. Brady. Won three of four Super Bowls and nearly helped the Patriots pull off an undefeated season by throwing the go-ahead touchdown against the Giants. If not for David Tyree’s helmet, Brady might be hailed right now as the greatest quarterback of all time. Managed an upset championship win over the heavily favored Rams. Biggest victory, however, was winning Gisele Bundchen’s heart. Great leader, thrower, winner and the top athlete among our major professional sports. But: Outplayed Peyton Manning. Couldn’t outplay Eli Manning.

Slideshow   Decade's most embarrassing moments Athletes, coaches and officials who became embroiled in scandal in the past decade. NBCSports.com

4. Livestrong. He scored six straight Tour de France titles in the 2000s and seven straight overall. Biggest threat to beat him was cancer, and he beat that, too. Took especially great satisfaction winning in France because of the French media, which constantly tried to link him with performance enhancing drugs, without success. But: No offense to cyclists or the Tour, but you’d be pressed to find anyone who knows what the Pyrenees are and where they are.

3. Federer. Now the all-time Grand Slam winner with 15 titles, all this decade. He also clinched the career Slam by finally getting the French. Hardly a major tournament came and went without Federer in the finals. Held the No. 1 position for 237 weeks, slightly longer than the Connors-Krickstein match. But: Nadal made him cry.

2. Tiger. He was golf. He was better at what he did than you were at whatever you did. The game lived and breathed in the 2000s because 12 of his 14 majors were delivered this decade. Exposure and ratings tripled at whatever tournament he entered. Winning for him became routine and almost expected in a sport known to send even the best golfers to their knees. But: Even Tiger was no match for No. 1 on this list.

1. Temptation. The undisputed force of the decade. It's not even close. Her perfume filled the air. Her stiletto footprints were everywhere. Too many in sports couldn't resist her. How many lives did she professionally and/or personally damage?

Temptation seduced many into taking drugs and brought down Clemens, Bonds, A-Rod, Canseco, the facade over the great home run chase and also broke into the home shared by the fastest man and woman in the world and brought down Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, too.

Temptation also took others from their wives/significant others/baby mamas because they just had to flirt with a skirt. She saved her biggest name for last, whipping Tiger with a month to spare. But she also shook up Kobe, Barkley, Shaq, Jordan, Brady, Pitino, Brodeur, Steve Phillips (twice!), Pokey Chatman, Dwyane Wade and Matt Leinart. And those are just the ones we know about.

Well, Steve McNair.

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