He's On Fire! A History of Secret Characters From "NBA Jam"

First appearance: NBA Jam Extreme
To unlock: Nintendo 64 - Initials: MRV; Birthday: 12/31
Date: 1996

Let's hear it for the voice of the NBA. Marv Albert is one of the greatest play-by-play casters to ever live. He got his very own cameo in NBA Jam Extreme, the mostly forgotten sequel on the PS1 and Nintendo 64. Yes! Yes! YEESSSS!! (Remember the biting? Yeah, we'll forget about the biting.)

First appearance: NBA Jam (2010)
To unlock: Playstation 3 - Press Right 13 Times, then X
Date: 2010

Back in 2008, when we almost elected this woman Vice-President. Shit's scary. I think everyone, Republican or Democrat, can agree on what a disaster Sarah Palin was. If she spent more shooting hoops and less time shooting moose, the country would be a lot better off.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: ROY; Code: BAX
Date: 1995

It's hilarious to see his Royal Highness fly towards the rim - he must get the extra airtime by flapping his ears. We're almost on 20 years since the release of this game, and Prince Charles is still a Prince. This man will never be King. His mama is going to live to be 140, just watch.

First appearance: NBA Jam
To unlock: SNES - Initials: AIR; Code: L,R,Start,X
Date: 1994

Who was this kid, and what was he doing in NBA Jam? He was probably the son of a producer or programmer. He lived the dream - he got to have his own avatar in a video game, and he got to jam and dribble with the greats. Props to Air Dog, the luckiest kid in the world... whoever the hell he was.

First appearance: NBA Jam
To unlock: SNES - Initials: DIS; Code: L,START,A
Date: 1994

This man lived a wild life. Just look at the hair. Men like George Clinton aren't supposed to make it into their 70's, but P-Funk keeps chugging along, a personified funk/soul train in the flesh. Clinton is one of the strangest cameos in NBA Jam, but who knows, it probably makes perfect sense to him.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: BLZ; Code: YXY
Date: 1995

Before the WNBA put female players on the map, there was Carol Blazejowski. A deadly presence from the outside, "The Blaze" would routinely score 30+ points per college game. NBA Jam saluted this early pioneer, educating kids who thought women's basketball began with Lisa Leslie.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: HC_; Code: XBX
Date: 1995

Calling it now: Madame President. She claims she's going to retire, but does anyone really believe her? The White House is hers if she wants it. If not, she could always start a second career as a point guard. Hillary was deadlier than a drone attack from downtown.

First appearance: NBA Jam Extreme
To unlock: Nintendo 64 - Initials: WAY; Birthday: 9/30
Date: 1996

Broncos fans knew exactly who they were going to pick. It was a bit strange to see a football player running around on a basketball court. Then again, Mutumbo couldn't do it by himself—the 90's Nuggets needed all the help they could get.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: WIL; Code: YBX
Date: 1995

Oh, Will Smith. There was a time—before After Earth, before Hancock, before that weird, Men in Black threequel—that the Fresh Prince could do no wrong. We prefer to remember Will the way he was: spitting rhymes, breaking box office records, making us laugh, getting jiggy with it. We're hoping for a comeback; it's never too late.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: BNY; Code: BXY
Date: 1995

You will never get to play as Michael Jordan in NBA Jam, so Benny the Bull will have to do. Out all the mascots, Benny was my favorite. There was something about that oversized, furry, horned head that made me laugh. Plus, it was fun to charge the basket with an actual bull. Ole!

First appearance: NBA Jam
To unlock: SNES - Initials: ARK; Code: L,R,Start,X
Date: 1994

This was total, eye-popping novelty at the time. You got to play as Mr. Slick Willie himself. Was it real? Was it legal? It didn't matter—bottom line, it was awesome. Today, Clinton is remembered as a solid president, and the Lewinsky scandal is remembered as a colossal waste of time. Baby Boomer-shaka-laka!

First appearance: NBA Jam (2010)
To unlock: Beat the Legends in Classic Campaign
Date: 2010

If you want to understand race relations in the 1980's, look no further than the Celtics/Lakers rivalry. The Hick from French Lick versus Mr. Showtime himself. It makes perfect sense that you take on both of them, in a boss battle, in NBA Jam (2010). Legendary doesn't even begin to cover it.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: Arcade - Initials: RPT; Birthday: 11/11
Date: 1995

Reptile was the original hidden arcade character. To unlock Reptile in the first Mortal Kombat, you had to pull off a Double Flawless victory. On the Pit stage. And perform a Fatality. In NBA Jam: TE, Reptile was a lot easier to unlock. Unfortunately, the NBA was queasy about Kombat's violence, and they had Reptile removed from later versions of the game. It's too bad. How great would it have been to "Finish" Karl Malone? At least we have these screenshots to remember Reptile by.

First appearance: NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
To unlock: SNES - Initials: BLZ; Code: YXY
Date: 1995

Props to MCA, the greatest of the three Beastie Boys. It all came down to that harsh, raspy delivery - he made childish shit sound grown as hell. Although he's no longer with us, you can still play as him in NBA Jam (2010). Cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce - that's the way MCA rolled. R.I.P.

First appearance: NBA Jam (2010)
To unlock: Playstation 3 - Press Left 13 Times, then X
Date: 2010

Who else did you think was going to take the top spot? Barack Obama - the only U.S. president who can hit 3 pointers, sing Al Green, and talk real about race in America. Now, if only he can talk some sense into Putin...