Tennis pinup Anna Kournikova and singer Enrique Iglesias -- among the most potent athlete-celeb duos -- attend a 2004 tennis match in Los Angeles to watch (who else?) Andre Agassi. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The public's thirst for celebrity gossip is at an all-time high with multiple magazines that chronicle the off-camera lives of celebs ("Stars! They're just like us … they buy bananas at the local market!") and endless TV shows promising the latest entertainment news.

The sports world isn't immune to prying eyes and enquiring minds. Because athletes often travel in the same circles as celebrities (parties, bars, exclusive island resorts), it's not a surprise that celebrity-athlete couples hit the dating scene almost as often as Tiger Woods wins a golf tournament. And let's face it, the off-court and off-field conquests of Wilt Chamberlain and Joe Namath have become locker-room - and bedroom - lore.

In light of the red-hot story surrounding the relationship between recently retired Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi and Liberal MP Belinda Stronach, CBC Sports Online takes a gander at some notable and notorious celebrity-athlete hookups.

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio pose for their 1954 wedding photo following the ceremony at the San Francisco City Hall. (AFP/Getty Images)

Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe

Historically speaking, the crθme of the athlete-celebrity relationship was between DiMaggio, the retired New York Yankees star, and Monroe, the blonde bombshell actress and model.

Initially she did not want to meet DiMaggio, who she assumed would be a stereotypical "jock" but, once the courtship began, it took off and captured the hearts of a nation. They eloped in January, 1954 in San Francisco. Soon, however, their fairy-tale romance hit the skids. Monroe's career was taking off, while his had just finished. The fact that Monroe was the most desired woman in the U.S. didn't help, either.

DiMaggio was on hand to watch her infamous scene in The Seven-Year Itch (along with hundreds of other adoring men), where she stood over a subway grate and her skirt flies up above her waist. He was not as impressed as her other fans.

They divorced in October, 1954, but Joltin' Joe re-entered her life in 1961, spawning rumours that the two were an item again. Monroe was in deep distress at that time, taking prescription medication and suffering from depression. After she died of an apparent overdose on Aug. 5, 1962, DiMaggio arranged for her funeral and barred Hollywood types from attending.

This romance lasted beyond the grave. DiMaggio sent a half-dozen roses three times a week to her headstone until his death in 1999. He never married again.

Mike Tyson & Robin Givens

This relationship was the real-life making of beauty and the beast. Tyson, who was on his way to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing, sought after the preppy Head of the Class actress and eventually the two met.

Soon after meeting, the pair got married (pregnancy and pressure from her mother?) on Feb. 7, 1988. From there, it was all downhill.

Over the next year of their marriage, there were accusations of adultery and abuse. In one of the more memorable events of their tormented relationship, the pair sat down with ABC's Barbara Walters for an exclusive. In that pivotal interview, Givens, with a strangely calm Tyson at her side, told Walters that her husband was manic-depressive, that she was constantly scared and described her life as a "living hell." In keeping with the spirit of the day, Robin and Mike divorced on Valentine's Day, 1989.

English soccer heartthrob David Beckham and wife Victoria, a.k.a. Posh Spice, pose at "The David Beckham Academy" launch party in Beverly Hills, California in 2005. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

David Beckham & Victoria 'Posh Spice' Adams

England's most famous footballer, known as much for his chiseled looks as his prowess on the pitch, created a tabloid frenzy when he began dating Adams back in 1997. The Manchester United poster boy (now with Real Madrid) married Posh, nicknamed for her affection for designer couture, in a lavish ceremony at a castle in England.

The multi-million dollar pair has weathered the smothering paparazzi, tabloid scrutiny and rumoured infidelity for almost a decade now. They've even lasted through two World Cup disappointments.

"Posh and Becks," as they are affectionately known, have three sons: Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.

Andre Agassi & Brooke Shields

Back in his neon clothing, jean shorts and long hair days, tennis star Agassi was a hot commodity around the singles scene (he even dated Streisand!). Then he was spotted with model and actress Brooke Shields. Yes, for those of you stuck in the now, Agassi was once married to someone other than Steffi Graf.

The 1992 Wimbledon champ was rising up the world rankings and earning big bucks in endorsements when he was encouraged to meet Shields by a mutual friend in 1993. Through their four years of dating, Agassi snatched up two Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in 1996. Shields (and coach Brad Gilbert) were obviously igniting his game. After four years of dating, the pair tied the knot, a match made in heaven.

But all was not well for long, just as Shields's profile was rising because of her comedy series Suddenly Susan, Agassi was labouring on the court. In November 1997, Agassi's world ranking dropped to an all-time low, to No. 141.

In the end, Agassi's on-court struggles put a strain on the marriage and the then 27-year-old filed for divorce in April 1999 just 10 days before his second wedding anniversary.

Chuck Finley & Tawny Kitaen

She of Bachelor Party and Whitesnake Here We Go Again dancing-on-cars fame and he of Anaheim and Cleveland pitching fame got hitched in 1997.

Five years later, she was charged with spousal abuse and battery. Where did it all go wrong? What happened to the happy couple from the 1999 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue?

According to the police, the pair were driving home from dinner in Newport Beach, Calif., when they began arguing. Kitaen, wearing high-heeled shoes, kicked Finley in the thigh, leg, arm, and grabbed his ear and twisted it. After the incident, a judge issued a restraining order against Kitaen, ordering her not to have any contact with Finley. He filed for divorce shortly after.

It didn't end there … the hair-metal queen later admitted to being addicted to prescription medication in court documents, but later retracted those statements, saying instead that she was a victim of her allegedly steroid-using and heavy-drinking husband.

It's an enduring mystery why the bonds of matrimony weren't strong enough to hold Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman together. The physically impressive couple is pictured here at a 1999 Planet Hollywood news conference. (Steve Grayson/Allsport)

Dennis Rodman & Carmen Electra

In the late 1990s, there wasn't a more wild and wacky pseudo celeb-athlete combo than basketball rebounding king Dennis Rodman and Baywatch babe Carmen Electra.

The dynamic duo, always of the on-again, off-again variety, turned it waaaay on in 1998 when they got married in Las Vegas six months after they began dating.

Holy matrimony did not agree with Rodman, or the Worm (as he was once known). Nine days after the wedding, the then 37-year-old Rodman filed for an annulment claiming that he was of "unsound mind" and was tricked into saying "I do." The phrase "unsound mind" coming from a man who died his hair every colour, covered his body in tattoos and piercings and married himself while wearing a wedding dress somehow doesn't carry much cred.

Rodman later rescinded the request and claimed he loved Carmen with "all his heart." She filed for divorce in April for "irreconcilable differences." They couldn't stay away from each other, however. Almost a year after they got hitched, the pair were arrested on domestic violence charges after a screaming and fighting match in their hotel room.

Derek Jeter & (insert beautiful brunette here)

What do high-pitched songstress Mariah Carey, former Miss Universe Lara Dutta, actor and Yale grad Jordana Brewster, Entertainment Tonight reporter Vanessa Minnillo, cute-and-coveted actor Jessica Alba and Penthouse Pet Cassia Riley have in common? The biggest bachelor in NYC, of course.

Jeter, the all-star shortstop who helped bring glory back to the Yankees over the last decade (see four World Series rings), certainly has his pick of the ladies. Who the dapper Jeter is dating is as part of the Yankee fan vernacular as whether the Bronx Bombers will win another pennant.

Back in 1998, Jeter and Carey were a hot item. Reporters would ask him about the relationship instead of baseball and she made surprise visits to watch spring training. Within a few months, the constant media scrutiny became too much and the relationship fizzled. Around the same time, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner allegedly told Jeter to keep his girlfriend away from the ballpark. Coincidence?

Since then, he's been a little more judicious about showing off his dates, essentially keeping his athletic and social life separate … except maybe at all the top parties, restaurants, theatre premieres.

Paris Hilton & (insert random guy here)

With Paris Hilton, it's all about diversifying. Modelling, acting … errr, singing, and even dating. If there isn't a Backstreet Boy to date (Nick Carter), there's a Greek ship heir (Paris Latsis) and if there isn't an amateur cameraman (Rick Salomon), there is always a boxer, a football player, a hockey player … basically, any "hot" man in the public eye.

Among Paris's alleged conquests are burly Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis and former boxing champion-turned-singer Oscar de la Hoya.

In May, in between her on-and-off again relationships with Greek millionaires, Paris was seen partying it up with Southern California and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart. She attended the strapping six-foot-five Leinert's post-NFL draft party at Caesars Palace where he and 200 of his closest friends celebrated him being drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals. Apparently, the pair danced together and were seen hugging and kissing. It wasn't the first time they were seen together, however. According to People magazine, Leinert and Hilton (sporting a brown wig) were spotted shopping in Los Angeles on May 1.

Paris caused a big kerfuffle in late June when photographers snapped pics of her holding hands with (taken) hockey heartthrob Jose Theodore of the Colorado Avalanche at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto. A French-language television network reported that Theodore's longtime girlfriend and mother of his baby daughter, Stephanie Cloutier, booted him out of their Montreal home after learning of his evening on the town.

Desperate Housewives femme fatale Eva Longoria stays close to beau Tony Parker at a California premiere of Superman Returns this summer. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tony Parker & Eva Longoria

Longoria rose to fame after winning the role of high-heel wearing housewife Gabrielle Solis on the hit show Desperate Housewives. After some relationships with soap stars and wannabe pop stars, her affections turned to Parker in 2005 just in time to cheer him on to an NBA title.

Longoria, 31, told Allure magazine she was drawn to the six-foot-two San Antonio Spurs guard and that it was "lust at first site." But she also admitted that she had to show the 24-year-old Frenchman around the bedroom.

Despite hectic schedules and spying paparazzi, the pair appears to be going strong - hitting all the top parties, award shows and vacation spots. She's even reported to have his initials tattooed on an intimate part of her body. Ooh la la.

Lance Armstrong & Sheryl Crow

The six-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor hooked up with multiple Grammy Award-winning rocker Sheryl Crow after meeting at a charity event in 2003. She was by his side for his final two Tour victories and for those unfounded allegations of doping. And he and his children were the inspiration for her latest album, Wildflower.

After two years of award show appearances and fitness trips, he proposed in 2005, but the duo split out of the blue in early February 2006, citing mutual respect and love for one another. Maybe it was that doomed Saturday Night Live appearance?

But really, who needs a lady friend when you have workout buddies Matthew McConaughey and Jake Gyllenhall?

Iglesias the Younger and Anna Kournikova arrive at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, where he was both a presenter and nominee for the Viewer's Choice award. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

Anna Kournikova & Enrique Iglesias

Ms. Anna entered the public consciousness in the 1990s not so much with her tennis (zero singles victories), but her long blond locks, orange glow and revealing outfits. Dating the likes of Russian hockey hunks Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure certainly helped too.

But those guys are hockey players, so for the purposes of this piece, they don't count. Besides, it was Spanish singing sensation Iglesias who captured her heart (actually Sergei did first, marrying her unbeknownst to the public, but that's history). Kournikova and Iglesias met in 2002 when she starred in his music video for Escape.

Perhaps it's no surprise Iglesias nabbed the former FHM sexiest woman in the world: he is the son of Julio, after all.