Fantasy foursomes for the American Century Championship tourney

The legend of Lake Laimbeer is real.

The following is just fantasy.

Here’s Lake Tahoe Action’s submission of fantasy foursomes for the July 11-13 American Century Championship:

The foursome: Chris McDonald, Kevin Nealon, Joe Sakic

For more information, see the official Web site: TahoeCelebrityGolf.com

As Shooter McGavin, McDonald delivered one of Action’s favorite quotes in “Happy Gilmore,” which featured Nealon and Colorado Avalanche forward Sakic, who made an uncredited appearance at the hockey tryout. Either of two NHL all-stars should be happy to pull a shift with this group. But what’re they having for breakfast?

The foursome: Mike Eruzione, Wally Szczerbiak, Al Michaels and Dan Jansen

The captain of the 1980 U.S. hockey team, not only appeared in “The Game Plan” alongside Szczerbiak, he’s a real character: Patrick O’Brien Demsey played Eruzione in “Miracle.” Who better to join him than Al Michaels, who called the real “Miracle on Ice.” Jansen is another one of those character guys, a speed skater whose heroic Olympic journey inspired the 1996 movie “A Brother’s Promise.”

The foursome: Lou Holtz, Aaron Rodgers, Dan Quayle and TBA

We’re surprised that Holtz hasn’t appeared in any movies, but it’s worth noting that one Lake Tahoe Action staffer (who shall remain unnamed, suffice it to say it rhymes with “Tim Parsons”) does a killer impression of the former Notre Dame coach. That same staffer, however, has no sense of humor about the mullet on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Even though he’s a 60-1 long shot to win the tournament, Dan Quayle is another Action favorite! Miffed about singer John Mellencamp’s comment during his July 14, 2006, show at Harveys Resort and Casino in Stateline, the former vice president walked out.

Mellencamp, unaware that Quayle was in the audience, introduced the song “Walk Tall” by saying, “This next one is for all the poor people who've been ignored by the current administration.”

Quayle, in town for the American Century Championship, made his exit, deciding “enough was enough,” his spokesman told the Los Angeles Times. “He wasn’t going to sit there and listen to this.”

The foursome: Digger Phelps, Dennis Haysbert, Stone Philips and Maury Povich

Basketball analyst Phelps and Dennis Haysbert, who appeared in “24” and “The Unit,” showed their interest in politics in a teleconference with Quayle. Former “Dateline NBC” anchor Philips and TV host Povich are gifted moderators.

The foursome: Jason Taylor, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, John O’Hurley

Four American Century participants have graced “Dancing With the Stars”: Jason Taylor was on this year, while Emmitt Smith appeared in 2006-08, along with all-time NFL receiving leader Jerry Rice (the only golfer whom we could confirm appeared on “Doggy Fizzle Televizzle”). The fourth, O’Hurley of “Seinfeld,” nearly stole the show.

If one of those four were unable to compete, Alfonso Ribeiro showed his unique steps in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and quarterback Jim McMahon had a key singing part in the legendary “Super Bowl Shuffle.”

It’s a stretch, but Super Bowl-winning Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s appearance on Country Music Television’s “Greatest Moments: Hank Williams Jr.” seems to indicate that he’s a music fan. An impromptu performance by either group would liven up the green.

The foursome: Carson Palmer, Jack Wagner, Greg Kinnear

If you think Palmer’s name sounds more like a soap opera character than the Cincinnati Bengals’ all-pro quarterback, you’re half right: That was the name of a district attorney on “Days of Our Lives.” Wagner appeared on another soap, “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and Kinnear played a soap star in “Nurse Betty.”

The final soap star for the foursome might be a surprise: In addition to playing himself in a number of movies, including “Space Jam,” Barkley’s credits include appearing in an unknown 1984 episode of “Santa Barbara” as a bartender, according to IMDB.com

The foursome: Michael Jordan, Daryl Strawberry, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Theismann

Jordan (and Barkley) appeared with a number of cartoon all-stars in “Space Jam.” Darryl Strawberry also has cartoon experience, in the “Homer at the Bat” episode of “The Simpsons.” (“Daaa-RYL … Daaa-RYL …”) Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor is a Carolina Tar Heel like Jordan, and the possibility of him and Theismann in the same group is a snap.

The foursome: Bret Saberhagen, David Wells, Joe Buck and TBA

World Series MVP Saberhagen once was part of a baseball roundtable, along with George Brett, Johnny Bench and Kevin Costner, who was responsible for “For the Love of the Game,” (which also starred Tahoe native Jena Malone). That movie includes a perfect game by Costner’s character, but MLB all-star David Wells threw one in real life. All that’s missing is a baseball announcer.

The foursome: Brian Baumgartner, Rick Reilly, Ray Romano, Jerome Bettis

Baumgartner stars in the U.S. version of “The Office,” on which Bettis made an appearance. Two other guys also spend a lot of time at the office: Reilly, who’s a real sportswriter, and Romano, who played one on TV. With the exception of Bettis, notice something about the initials?

The foursome: Brandi Chastain, Mike Shanahan, John Elway and Bruce McGill

After starring at Santa Clara University and the U.S. soccer team, Chastain was a technical advisor on the 2007 film “Her Best Move.” Shanahan served “Any Given Sunday” in the same capacity. Let’s reunite Shanahan with his Hall of Fame quarterback, John Elway, and throw Bruce McGill of “Animal House” in with a trio of Broncos.

And about the legend of Lake Laimbeer: During a sudden-death playoff with Rick Rhoden in the 1991 tourney, the former Detroit Piston landed in the pond on No. 18 three times. Rhoden won the first of his record six Celebrity Golf Championships.

Fore!

— Lake Tahoe Action Editor Tim Parsons contributed to this story, which borrows heavily from Associated Press and Internet Movie Database reports.