Star Power: Dr. Andrews' Patient List is a Veritable Who's Who of Sports

Just as the Buffalo Bills were peaking, Andrews performed career-extending knee surgery on star defensive end Bruce Smith before the 1991 season. Smith played in seven more Pro Bowls, led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls, set the career record for most QB sacks in 2003, and earned in excess of $20 million in salary and bonuses.

40. CHAD PENNINGTON, shoulder surgery;

The already weak-armed QB had shoulder surgery in 2005, returning the following year to lead his team to a surprising 10-win season and the playoffs. When the Jets loaded Brett Favre's cannon into their starting lineup this year, Pennington moved down Miami way to help tutor Chad Henne and make the Dolphins credible again.

41. MATT HASSELBECK, shoulder surgery;

The View co-host's brother-in-law had shoulder surgery before the 2007 season, returning to throw for almost 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, winning 10 games, making the playoffs and the Pro Bowl.

42. ALLEN IVERSON, elbow surgery;

After elbow surgery in 2001, Iverson was one of the few athletes to express dissatisfaction with Andrews' work. "I got surgery on my elbow and I think my elbow is worse than it was before," he told reporters. Nonetheless, he averages more points and minutes per game than any other player in the league and signed a 6-year, $90.2 million deal in 2003.

43. JOEY PORTER, knee surgery;

For a season that began with his knee surgery by Dr. Andrews, the linebacker par excellence made up for it by being the defensive anchor of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl championship season in 2005, snaring a career high 10.5 sacks and going to the Pro Bowl. He's continued to be plagued by knee injuries, which has mostly bedeviled the Miami Dolphins who invested $20 million in guaranteed money in Porter in 2007.

44. TIM HUDSON, biomechanics lab;

The then-young stud pitcher visited Andrews' biomechanics lab in 1999. He now has more than 140 wins, more than any current player under the age of 34. In 2000, the Athletics extended Hudson's contract for four years and $9 million. In 2005, the Braves gave Hudson a $47 million, four-year deal. Unfortunately for Hudson, he got his first chance to meet Dr. Andrews this year when he injured his elbow and required Tommy John surgery, which Andrews performed this August.

45. BO JACKSON, shoulder surgery, hip replacement;

The two-sport sensation separated his shoulder as an Auburn halfback in 1984 and was operated on by Dr. Andrews. On Jackson's insistence, Andrews became his personal doctor, eventually performing his 1992 hip replacement. Bo knows doctors. Endorsements, too: His 1989 Nike campaign earned him $12 million and cultural-icon status.

46. MARIANO RIVERA, consultation;

Frankly, all we know is that the great Rivera, perhaps the best closer in the history of baseball, at one time got a consultation from Dr. Andrews. Dr. Frank Jobe, inventor of the Tommy John surgery, performed the technique on him while he was still in the minors, and Rivera's career of four World Series wins, more than 470 saves, and career earnings of almost $130 million speaks to both the restorative power of the Tommy John surgery, Andrews' role as the most-sought-after second opinion in sports, and why the Yankees send so many players to see Andrews in Birmingham.

47. DAVID CONE, shoulder surgery;

In October 1997, the hired-gun pitcher underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right shoulder. Relief from nagging inflammation and tendinitis made Cone unstoppable. The next season, he led the league in wins (20), rallying the Yankees to the first of three consecutive World Series victories and earning more than $28 million in the process.

48. MATT LEINART, broken-collarbone consultation;

The one-time USC great, now best known for his off-field drinking and carousing, is in a battle for the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback job with Kurt Warner. Leinart saught a second-opinion from Dr. Andrews when he broke his collarbone last year, ending his season. Andrews has been rumored to be Leinart's doctor for the knee troubles he's experienced in his career.

49. ALBERT PUJOLS, elbow consultation;

"Phat Albert" tore a ligament in his right elbow in 2003 but has played through the pain. After the 2007 season, he consulted with Dr. Andrews and was given three options: reconstruction, arthroscopy, or rest and "self-monitoring." He opted for the third, stating, "If it blows out, it's going to blow out." So far, so good. He's an MVP candidate this year.