Most Disappointed in an Athlete

Whether we want to admit it, and whether it's right, we put pro athletes at a higher pedestal than we put even ourselves and expect them to be beyond reproach.

I have, I think, a bit of a unique perspective having been around pro athletes for much of the past decade on a daily basis. And I've told here about my personal experiences with Darrell Green and finding him to be less than the person I thought he was (still doesn't take away from what I think of him as a player or what he meant to Redskins fans). It was very disappointing, but in a way it was good because it was so early in my career that it prepared me moving forward. I should say I've been pleasantly surprised as well.

Anyway, my question is when have you been most disappointed with an athlete. And I'm not really talking about on-field performance. I'm talking about their actions off the field. Though if you want to include something like Palmeiro using steroids, that would count.

Was it finding out Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic who allegedly beat his kids, was it finding out Kirby Puckett was a womanizer who allegedly beat his wife, was it finding out Agassi was a druggie in his prime, was it finding out about Tiger, was it something else? Has it never happened? And maybe it was a college player, not necessarily an NFL player.

I remember being a kid and idolizing Mike Tyson. Watching him destroy people and playing his video game only to be shocked when his career took a complete 180. The baseball steroid scandal was another disappointment for me. Being a rangers fan I had grown to love players like Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez.

met Charles Barkley, and what you see is what you get. cool as hell. met Dr. J. and more of the same. carried himself just reeking of class. idolized Mike Schmidt as a kid, and never heard anything bad about him. i always looked at these guys as normal guys, that made it. maybe i didnt hold athletes as high as i thought i did

I've got issues with the premise. Fine thread, because a lot of people do put athletes on a pedastal, and do somehow get disappointed by athletes (or other celebrities) on a personal level.

I personally can't understand that, but that's just me. I want the Redskins to win desperately, and I do like when they're good guys. But I only care about their character and their actions to the extent that they disrupt the team's ability to win games.

When I learned John Riggins was out drinking before big games, I didn't care. Why? Because he was awesome, and the 'Skins won with him. If they had lost because of that stuff, I'd care.

But if Tiger Woods cheats on his wife, or Jason Campbell decides to smoke pot, Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care. I appreciate them for what they do on the field. That's where it ends, I don't know them as a person. And for me to pretend like I do or should is somewhat silly.

I should have said many of us put pro athletes on a higher pedestal.

Whether we want to admit it, and whether it's right, we put pro athletes at a higher pedestal than we put even ourselves and expect them to be beyond reproach.

I have, I think, a bit of a unique perspective having been around pro athletes for much of the past decade on a daily basis. And I've told here about my personal experiences with Darrell Green and finding him to be less than the person I thought he was (still doesn't take away from what I think of him as a player or what he meant to Redskins fans). It was very disappointing, but in a way it was good because it was so early in my career that it prepared me moving forward. I should say I've been pleasantly surprised as well.

Anyway, my question is when have you been most disappointed with an athlete. And I'm not really talking about on-field performance. I'm talking about their actions off the field. Though if you want to include something like Palmeiro using steroids, that would count.

Was it finding out Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic who allegedly beat his kids, was it finding out Kirby Puckett was a womanizer who allegedly beat his wife, was it finding out Agassi was a druggie in his prime, was it finding out about Tiger, was it something else? Has it never happened? And maybe it was a college player, not necessarily an NFL player.

I totally agree about Green he is a big time jerk in person. He seems to hate all the attention, well he should move out of the DC area and go some place where less people will know him, I suggest the North Pole.

I've got issues with the premise. Fine thread, because a lot of people do put athletes on a pedastal, and do somehow get disappointed by athletes (or other celebrities) on a personal level.

I personally can't understand that, but that's just me. I want the Redskins to win desperately, and I do like when they're good guys. But I only care about their character and their actions to the extent that they disrupt the team's ability to win games.

When I learned John Riggins was out drinking before big games, I didn't care. Why? Because he was awesome, and the 'Skins won with him. If they had lost because of that stuff, I'd care.

But if Tiger Woods cheats on his wife, or Jason Campbell decides to smoke pot, Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care. I appreciate them for what they do on the field. That's where it ends, I don't know them as a person. And for me to pretend like I do or should is somewhat silly.


I totally agree with you as well. This is going to be very unpopular but I felt the same way when S. Taylor died. I was sad but I only knew him on a football field, I don't understand the folks that are crying their eyes out like a family member died, you didn't know him personally.

I totally agree with you as well. This is going to be very unpopular but I felt the same way when S. Taylor died. I was sad but I only knew him on a football field, I don't understand the folks that are crying their eyes out like a family member died, you didn't know him personally.

i didn't know sean, but when he died i felt like i lost a family member to an extent. i think it's cause he was so fun to watch on the feild and it was amazing to see him grow up so fast off the feild. i would hear all the stories about him and his daughter and the way it chaged him. i felt like he was cheated. sorry i could go on forever about taylor

i would say have to say bilicheat, i honestly used to really like the pats, once that stuff came out and i saw the video i lost all respect for him. cheating during games is something that i can't get past, and it makes me second guess all the accomplishments he has.

I think most people would act differently if they had a disposable income and fame.

It's pretty easy for the average man to not get into any trouble because they have to work 9 to 5 and they go unnoticed in bars and nightclubs.

Now if you have unlimited income and a line of women waiting to meet you, things would be very different.

Pro athletes are just a reflection of society. Most are good people but there are your deadbeat dads, Junkies and drunks mixed in.

i think i ve told this story on here before.

im about 11 years old, my pop took me to what used to be called the Kemper Open at tpc avenel.

i was hanging around right outside the players locker room. there was no one in the hallway, just an 11 year old kid sitting on the floor. some golfers come by after their round, i ask them to sign my program. they all do to varying degrees of niceness.

along comes payne stewart with his knicker-bockers and all. i ask him to sign my program. without looking at me or stopping walking, he takes the program, signs it as he continues walking away then throws it on the ground and enters the locker room.