Photos: The 50 coolest athletes in Southern California history

Former Bruin PGA grinder knows way around a golf course and a wine list  (Dave Martin / Associated Press)

Born in LA (Louisiana), college in LA (UC), Olympic gold in LA (1984)  (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)

L.A. soccer legend sported the best hairdo to come out of UCLA since Angela Davis.  (Stephen Dunn / Allsport)

Classy, cool under pressure, just as many rings as Kobe without the baggage.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

One in long line of figure skaters churned out of frozen tundra factory of …Torrance.  (Michael Dwyer / Associated Press)

Everything you’d dream would emerge from an Olympic-sized pool in Newport Beach.  (Al Bello / Getty Images)

Taken-too-soon USC tailback carried 51 times for 347 yards against Washington State.  (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

He once cut off part of his pinky to play in a football game.  (Richard Derk / Los Angeles Times)

Former USC star’s Pittsburgh jersey head-and-shoulders most popular seller among women.  (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)

Impossible to play beach volleyball, have that name and not make this list.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A cool contradiction -- clutch under game pressure but a nervous wreck in the sky box.  (Vernon Biever / NBAE via Getty Images)

Loved him as UCLA QB… not so much on TV as serial killer Ted Bundy.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Cool (for me) was playing pick-up hoops with her back at Sonora (La Habra) High.  (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)

Ooh la La Mirada, to be that beautiful and still whiz softballs by Mike Piazza.  (Nati Harnik / Associated Press)

Famed jockey once cut an airplane peanut in two and called one “lunch” and one “dinner.”  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Mercurial Marcus makes list for standing out at USC and standing up to Al Davis.  (Mike Powell / Getty Images)

Wayne Gretzky made a bigger splash but Luc seemed the King you’d rather share a pitcher of suds.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Cool is causing a “mania” and refusing to speak English even though you could.  (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

(Kiraly, left; Smith, right). Ever notice how often volleyball icons are not named Sam Snodgrass and Floyd Fester?  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Koufax wouldn’t break sweat at high noon in Needles. He graduated from electric/erratic status in Brooklyn to become Los Angeles’ athletic icon of the 1960s. Koufax was everything cool is: mysterious, elusive and evocative. Think Greta Garbo with an Uncle Charlie that buckled your knees. He refused to pitch a World Series game on a Jewish holiday and walked away, left arm throbbing, in his prime, after winning 27 games. It was luck his only perfect game was even captured on film, and luckier Vin Scully painted all his masterpieces.  (HPM / Associated Press)