Finally, the hot list is here

With all the basketball stuff and hard-hitting news I've been reporting on this blog, why didn't I know attractive female athletes would garner the most feedback? Men really are pigs, I guess.

Well, I guess a couple more "oink oinks" are in order as I conclude my list of my dozen hottest female athletes in the world.

Like I said, numbers 7-12 have already gotten me some nasty texts and a couple of thumbs ups as well. We'll see how I do as we count down the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the hottest of the hot.

No. 6 - Gina Carano - Without question, she could beat up the other 11 women on my list. The face of women's mixed martial arts had a bittersweet year in 2009. She headlined the first-ever women's main event on pay-per-view. Unfortunately, she couldn't make it out of the first round against the Brazilian ju-jitsu machine Cristiane Cyborg Santos.

Still, Carano gets major props as a pioneer for her sport.

The Texan was born in 1982 and is a rock solid 5-foot-8 and 143 pounds. As you probably know, mixed martial arts consists of several disciplines. Carano specializes in boxing and Muay Thai fighting. Hopefully, she'll work on wrestling before she climbs back into the ring with the Cyborg.

Being the second baddest female in the world is still not a bad title. Being the hottest fighter in the world is an even better crown to wear, especially when consider Carano made more money in losing the fight than Santos did in winning.

It pays to be pretty.

No. 5 - Hope Solo - Okay, this soccer hottie is a little controversial, even for me. This woman doesn't seem to like to show off her feminine side. At least, I've never seen her in a dress or with her hair all done up. But, she's still attractive in a tomboyish kind of way.

What stands out about Solo is the fact she's the best female goalkeeper in the world. A 5-foot-9 native of Richland, Washington, she was named the 2009 WPS Goalkeeper of the Year. She's coming off one of the best games I've ever seen in leading the United States past Brazil in the Olympic gold medal match.

Honestly, though, her attitude might be her most attractive characteristic. Yeah, she spoke her mind back during the World Cup and was kicked off the team for doing so. Nevermind the fact that she was absolutely correct in most of what she said.

I love the way she came back, rejoined the same teammates that cast her off, put them on her back and got what she deserved.

I know most of you guys like your ladies to be gorgeous and silent. Well, Solo is not going to be silent. But, at least when she talks trash, you know she can back it up.

No. 4 - Ilona Korstin - Who? Well, she's one of the best female basketball players in the world, although she isn't currently in the WNBA. Korstin has been a leader on Russia's team for several years. She played in the WNBA with Phoenix several years back but she has no plans to return to the United States.

The 6-0, 148-pound shooting guard is an athletic, slashing type of player. If she were to come to this country, she wouldn't dominate in the WNBA and it's debatable how much she would actually stand out. I guess it would depend on which team she was on.

But, she can flat out play and is hotter than borsch.

What I like about her is she actually responded to my emails. I communicated with her for awhile in 2007 before the Olympics. She said she was surprised to have an American fan.

Hey, Ilona, if you'd come back to the U.S., I guarantee you'd have a whole lot of American fans.

No. 3 - Becky Hammon - Ilona's teammate is South Dakota's own little darling. Actually, the Hamster is about 32 years old so the whole cute girl next door label doesn't really apply anymore.

Okay, yeah it still does. She dyed her hair black last season but she's still the cute little blonde girl defying the odds, breaking the ankles of 6-4 women and the hearts of men of all sizes.

Obviously, she's one of the best female players in the world. She's been MVP runner-up in the WNBA and is probably one of the top three scoring guards in the world.

At 5-6 and about 136 pounds, she has led San Antonio to the playoffs three straight years, is one of the league's top scorers and is always among the league leaders in assists, 3-pointers made and free throw percentage.

You can't help but like her attitude, too. It takes guts to risk everything and play for another country in the Olympics. Whether you agree or disagree, you have to admire her for standing up for herself and not backing down in the face of swarming criticism.

Some people, undoubtedly still hate her for it, but it doesn't stop her from smiling and signing autographs for fans all around the country.

I can't help it. I'm a Hammonite.

No. 2 - Yelena Isinbayeva - Okay, maybe I do have a thing for Russian women. Or, maybe this lady is just smoking hot. The title of best female pole vaulter of all time in this country might as well be the best pogo stick jumper of all time.

But, around the world, she is recognized as one of the greatest athletes to ever lace up a pair of sneakers. Born in 1982, Isinbayeva has set 27 world records and is a 9-time world champion.

To put it in a way so even Americans can understand, she dominates her sport more than Kobe and LeBron, more than Payton Manning, more than Alex Rodriguez, more than Tiger.

And, she's just as cocky as any of those guys.

I loved it when she won another Olympic gold, setting another world record in the process. She told the silver medalist who had inadvertantly mouthed off beforehand, "She should show respect and know her position. Now, she knows it."

Can you imagine Kobe saying that to LeBron after a game? I'm sorry but there's something super hot about good looking ladies talking trash.

And now, for the number one hottest female athlete on the planet - Lolo Jones - As much as I like the other 11 women on my list, Lolo is my runaway favorite. There's no athlete - male or female - that I admire more.

She's the best hurdler in the world, although she doesn't have the Olympic medal to show for it. You remember? She was the heavy favorite to win the Olympic gold in the 100-meter hurdles and was leading the race before she hit a hurdle and finished out of the running.

She handled the disappointment with such grace and class. It was truly an inspiration for yours truly, who would've drop kicked the microphone out of the reporter's hand if they dared ask me "what happened?" after the biggest disappointment in my career.

It was truly amazing how she handled herself. Of course, she's faced other tough times in her life on her road from Des Moines to the top of the sports world. She has since regained her form as the premier hurdler in the world.

Hopefully, she'll hang around long enough to get that elusive Olympic medal. Even if she doesn't, she has the title of Floor Burns Hottest Female Athlete on the Planet. Five-foot-nine inches, one-hundred and thirty pounds was never stacked into such a perfect package. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd like to be holding her.

Oink, Oink.

Sorry.

Anway, that's the list. You're welcome.

For the guy who said if Natalie Gulbis isn't on the list, it's a sham - golf ain't a sport. For the guy who said Maria Sharapova is the hottest female athlete ever - she's a wanna be Kournikova. Only originals make my list.

Peace and, once again, you're welcome.