Who's your most dissapointed gifted athlete ever?

[Vol_Bengal]

Maybe we can add Ken Griffey Jr to the mix. This guy was a phenom from 1989 to 1995, the most feared hitter during that time. After that, he just went down hill and never even played in one world series game. Surprisingly, he's still in the league 20 years later.

Griffey's retired... but he was the best when in Seattle. Went to Cincy and the wear and tear kept him injured his whole tenure there. Injuries are the only thing that kept Junior from being the best centerfielder / home run hitter of all time. He'd have smoked the career record.

Ryan Leaf without question

I don't get the Ryan Leaf comments. Because the guy had one good college year now all of a sudden he has top-shelf talent? He had one good college season. If that is the parameter... Akili Smith would have to meet your criteria too, or any other college qb who has one good season and then becomes the "flavor of the month"...

[HotStreak]

2 years ago Josh Hamilton would have made this list easy. Hope he doesn't find his way back.

[mighty maron]

Griffey is probably the only modern HR hitter that hit milestones and was not juiced

[Bill Dozer]

Shaq. Imagine what he could have been with Karl Malones work ethic? Shaq has carried around an extra 25-50 lbs most of his career.

[Grits n' Gravy]

Mike Tyson. The guy is a joke now, but he had the potential to be the greatest boxer who ever lived.

mike was the best of his era. just lost his desire to fight and was looking for paycheck.

reggie bush is up there in terms of expectations compared to production, but i'm still pissed at shawn kemp for eating and basing his way out of the nba when he left seattle.

[Robber]

vc was touted as next jordan. same college also some similarities in way they played etc

he never became a winner. him and mcgrady were big disappointments. they scored lots of points but never became winners

[MoneyM1ke]

Wow Mcgrady I forgot all about him, I can't argue with VC.

[cockblocker]

I don't get the Ryan Leaf comments. Because the guy had one good college year now all of a sudden he has top-shelf talent? He had one good college season. If that is the parameter... Akili Smith would have to meet your criteria too, or any other college qb who has one good season and then becomes the "flavor of the month"...

Add Cade McNown to that list.

[robmpink]

I'd say Andrew Golota for boxing.

[bondi_slacker]

Matt Leinart

[seaborneq]

TMac had no desire after getting to Houston. Sad. My number 1 disappointing athlete is also my favorite all time athlete. Scottie Pippen should have had at least one all star/dominating year after he received his big contract. He just did not have the desire to lead a team and be the man after he was no longer in Jordan's shadow. Just did not give a damn after he had no push and plenty of money. A close second is Eric Dickerson. Would have run for 20000 yards if he had stayed with Rams and was not so damned greedy.

[mattmc419]

I'm not sure about 'disappointing', but Rasheed Wallace after 2005. He was so talented and could have taken over games at will, but usually deferred to teammates the whole game and just shot 3's. He had an amazing post game but didn't utilize it nearly enough, and was a no-show in too many games.

Even with that though, he was still a huge part of what made Detroit Basketball so dominant and exciting over the last decade.

[frostno98]

Anybody remember this guy, former Dallas reciever Alvin Harper. He was the Randy Moss of Receivers back then. Tall, fast, and a great leaper catching the ball. Despite being in an offense that was primary Emmit, Novachek, and Irvin, he still managed to average 20 yards a catch during his 1st four years in Dallas. He was a great offensive threat during the Cowboys Superbowl run, including a few great games verses the 49er's in the NFC Championship.

Thought he was going to have a productive NFL career when leaving Dallas. He even said he would like to make it to the Hall of fame one day, when being interview after getting a big contract from the Buccaneers in 1995. After two back to back Superbowl championship and 7 years later, this guy ended up playing for the Memphis Maniax in 2001 before retiring.

[rem sleep]

For boxing it would have to be Salvador Sanchez and Edwin Valero.

[GoIrish682]

oh and how about bruce jenner! lololol

[VegasInsider]

Robert Edwards. Ran for 1,100+ in his rookie season with New England then almost had his leg amputated after that stupid beach football game at the Pro Bowl weekend. Had the skills to be a 10,000+ yard career rusher.

[frostno98]

Robert Edwards. Ran for 1,100+ in his rookie season with New England then almost had his leg amputated after that stupid beach football game at the Pro Bowl weekend. Had the skills to be a 10,000+ yard career rusher.

Probably a Hall of Famer if Bellicheats doesn't cut him and he gets at least two rings with Brady. Guy had a lot of potential.

[BigSpoon]

Dwight Gooden is one that no one has mentioned yet.

His 1985 season stats looks like they came out of a video game: 24W, 268K, 0.965 WHIP, 1.53 ERA.

Had a few good years after that then his career got derailed by yayo and shoulder problems.

[757sFinest]

Lawerence phillips......nuff said

[Grits n' Gravy]

Probably a Hall of Famer if Bellicheats doesn't cut him and he gets at least two rings with Brady. Guy had a lot of potential.

highly suspect there. the guy was never the same after that awful injury. how long were pats supposed to wait for him to possibly return to field before settling with him?

[tmorton]

Charlie Ward... Wish he would have played football!

[yisman]

Robert Edwards's career was ruined by the flag football knee injury, period.

[tmorton]

Kordell Stewart... Should have been a WR and would of had a great career!

[oiler]

i think its tiger woods right now,boy he had the world by the balls and now he is an average player at best

[sharper2]

what about darko? enjoyed reading the thread so far, quality thread

[mighty maron]

Rae Carruth




Should have found a better hiding place

[ttwarrior1]

dumb post frosto if you think he's a failure. Not his fault he was on bad teams. How many contending teams did he play for???????

[frostno98]

dumb post frosto if you think he's a failure. Not his fault he was on bad teams. How many contending teams did he play for???????

No problem, I like making dumb posts

[VegasPlayer]

Anybody remember Penny Hardaway?

[Chugs]

Marcus Dupree. One of the best 30 for 30s I've seen.

I would have to agree with this.

[yisman]

i think its tiger woods right now,boy he had the world by the balls and now he is an average player at best

He's already had a great career and won a bunch of majors, though.

I think of disappointing as guys that never really accomplished anything, like VC. VC never won anything, even though he had more than enough talent to do so.

Tiger made it to the top of golf a bunch of times.

[Zak]

How about recent editions of Evander Holyfield? Great fighter in his day, but please please please retire, you are spoiling the memories.

[frostno98]

dumb post frosto if you think he's a failure. Not his fault he was on bad teams. How many contending teams did he play for???????

Where you been, living in a cave? Last year Magic team, the reigning Eastern conference champs was not a contender His Net team from 2004 to 2007, with Allstars Jefferson and Kidd still in their prime. Yet the farthest he got with them was the 2nd round.

[yisman]

VC played on good teams for sure and the reason they didn't go farther was mostly on him.

Same for McGrady and other talented losers.

[meader99]

I will go with Mr. Baby Jordan........Harold Miner.