changing the dropdownlist

[mr dropdown]

I read in the MSDN that it is not possible to add attributes to listitems of
dropdownlist control in c# web application.

I wanted to know if there is a simple workaround that may help because this
is really needed (dropdownlist, not select!). is it possible to change the
existing dropdownlist control somehow? or create some kind of a user control?

thanks!