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Pro Athletes who never lived up the hype?

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DarienA said:
and what kinda supporting cast was he ever equipped with to really make a run at the title? Little to none. Mark Jackson? John Starks? Whatever.
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the year they took the bulls to a game 7, the year before the team went through the major overhaul that brought in Rolando Blackman, Charles Smith, and Derek Harper... I always thought that was their best team. So much depth and diversity. Plus, I always had a soft spot for Xavier McDaniel.
 
levious said:
the year they took the bulls to a game 7, the year before the team went through the major overhaul that brought in Rolando Blackman, Charles Smith, and Derek Harper... I always thought that was their best team. So much depth and diversity. Plus, I always had a soft spot for Xavier McDaniel.
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Yup I agree and that year (91-92 season) the Bulls broke my heart and Michael Jordan solidified himself as someone I will hate til I die!
 
commish said:
This is almost on the level of the Crosby post.
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The level of hype for Vincer Carter was stupidly intense and the way the man starts whining once things aren't going perfectly completely ruin his chances of living up to it.
 
storybook77 said:
Eli "I don't want to play for San Diego" Manning. :D
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Says a guy who is a Michael Vick fan. Yeah the Giants essentially traded Rivers, Merriman, and Kaeding to the Chargers for Eli, but at least it wasn't Ladanian Tomlinson and Drew Brees for Mike Vick. At least Eli has time to turn it around. :lol
 
reggieandTFE said:
As a diehard Cubs fans, there are no others.

Mark Prior
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Kerry Wood
t1_wood_getty.jpg
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They were good till the Cubs ran them into the ground and destroyed their arms.

As a Mariners fan I'll throw out a couple:

Ryan Anderson "The Little Unit" Got injured and sucked a bunch in the minors, now is going to cooking school on the M's watch.

Jose Cruz Jr. Supposed to be the next great young M's hitter. Got traded for some sucktastic middle relievers, never really became as good as hyped.

Gil Meche. Had an amazing arm blah blah, no mental fortitude. Was hurt/mediocre his whole time in Seattle. Got vastly overpaid by Kansas City.

In terms of Hoops:
Every Sonics center since McIlvaine.

For Seahawks:
Koren Robinson comes to mind. Dropped the ball too much. Liked the sauce and nose candy as well.
 
sooperkool said:
I almost forgot my favorite examples....

Damon Baileyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Bailey - Bobby Knight started recruiting this kid in like the 8th grade. Never really became much.

Christian Laettner - Good Lord, they put this guy on the Dream Team (the only one that matters) ahead of Shaq.

Scotty Thurman
Anderson Hunt



If you want to add guys that got hurt and didn't measure up or just need honorable mentions then just add any contemporary Duke Blue Devil:

Trajan Langdon
Jayson Williams - Would have been awesome player
Bobby Hurley
Shelden williams
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What, Williams has been in the league for less than a year, and there was no hype about him being special at the pro level. You can add Dunleavy to your list.
 
levious said:
the year they took the bulls to a game 7, the year before the team went through the major overhaul that brought in Rolando Blackman, Charles Smith, and Derek Harper... I always thought that was their best team. So much depth and diversity. Plus, I always had a soft spot for Xavier McDaniel.
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love the xman... that was a good team
 
levious said:
the year they took the bulls to a game 7, the year before the team went through the major overhaul that brought in Rolando Blackman, Charles Smith, and Derek Harper... I always thought that was their best team. So much depth and diversity. Plus, I always had a soft spot for Xavier McDaniel.
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:lol

Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks, Greg Anthony. What a lineup!

God I wish we still had names like that. You should hear Max Kellerman and Brandon Tierney talk about the "old school" Knicks. It sends chills down your spine! The best were the school yard debates between the Knicks fans and those ****ing ASSHOLE Bulls fans. **** YOU FRONT RUNNERS. ****, I can't find the 1994 finals intro for Game 4. :(

That said, I'm going with DCX on this one, Felipe Lopez is DEFINITELY the winner.
 
SnakeswithLasers said:
How about Chris Webber?
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Webber has a career average of 21 pts, 10 reb, 4.3 ast, 1.5 blk, 1.5 stl.
Those are hall of fame numbers.
He would have had at least one championship if it weren't for injuries and Lakergate. He's come back from an injury that ended many careers, and looks reinvigorated with the Pistons (where he has a shot at finally getting that ring).

People talk shit about the Timeout, but had they won the championship it would have been stripped anyway. Webb is one of the smartest most likable guys in the NBA, and should be remembered as one of the all time greats; definitely not as someone who didn't live up to the hype.
 
David Carr is a maybe.. depends on this year...

But he was the most accurate QB in the NFL this year and started off really well then he sucked ass in the last 10 games. he was at like 11 TD 2 Ints then didnt do shit the last 8 games.
 
Wellington said:
:lol

Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks, Greg Anthony. What a lineup!

God I wish we still had names like that. You should hear Max Kellerman and Brandon Tierney talk about the "old school" Knicks. It sends chills down your spine! The best were the school yard debates between the Knicks fans and those ****ing ASSHOLE Bulls fans. **** YOU FRONT RUNNERS. ****, I can't find the 1994 finals intro for Game 4. :(

That said, I'm going with DCX on this one, Felipe Lopez is DEFINITELY the winner.
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Oakley was the f'n man... he was ROUGH! Drive the lane and you met Charles... Man I loved him.
 
RobotChant said:
What, Williams has been in the league for less than a year, and there was no hype about him being special at the pro level. You can add Dunleavy to your list.
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Trust me around here, I heard plenty about how Shelden was going to turn the league on its ear as a small forward. I have no idea how I missed Dunleavy though, good catch.
 
Pretty much every good Duke basketball player outside of Brand (Maggette doesn't count).

Art Heyman
Mike Gminski
Johnny Dawkins
Danny Ferry
Laettner
Hurley
Trajan Langdon
Dunleavy

all were pretty big busts. Many others were productive for short stretches but had a career that was cut short (Jay Williams, Hill, apparently Boozer is looking that way too). Redick looks like he might never be productive. It appears to be the biggest curse out there.

And wtf at calling Shelden Williams a bust? He's only played half a season in the NBA so far, who knows how well he'll pan out.

superkool said:
Trust me around here, I heard plenty about how Shelden was going to turn the league on its ear as a small forward. I have no idea how I missed Dunleavy though, good catch.
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wtf are you talking about? Picking Shelden at #5 (or whatever) was widely regarded as the most mind-boggling move of last year's draft, with most experts claiming he was better suited to go in the low 20s. Who the hell were you listening to that said he would turn the league on its ear?
 
Baseball:
Brien Taylor
Sam Horn
Ron Kittle
Kevin Maas

Hockey:
Valeri Kamensky (in Quebec city, in the early 1990s, we were all led to believe he was going to be the Russian answer to Gretzky and Lemieux :( )
José Théodore (Jim Carrey, part 2)
 
Nerevar said:
Pretty much every good Duke basketball player outside of Brand (Maggette doesn't count).

Art Heyman
Mike Gminski
Johnny Dawkins
Danny Ferry
Laettner
Hurley
Trajan Langdon
Dunleavy

all were pretty big busts. Many others were productive for short stretches but had a career that was cut short (Jay Williams, Hill, apparently Boozer is looking that way too). Redick looks like he might never be productive. It appears to be the biggest curse out there.

And wtf at calling Shelden Williams a bust? He's only played half a season in the NBA so far, who knows how well he'll pan out.


wtf are you talking about? Picking Shelden at #5 (or whatever) was widely regarded as the most mind-boggling move of last year's draft, with most experts claiming he was better suited to go in the low 20s. Who the hell were you listening to that said he would turn the league on its ear?
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You're making these statements like i agreed with those comments...lol... I live right smack dab on tobacco road. Too close to Carolina, Duke and State. Apparently plenty of deluded people thought he'd be a fore in the NBA, thats why he went 5th but then again if wasn't for logic like that then there wouldn't be this thread.
 
Sebastian Telfair - on the cover of SI in high school, now can't even get off the bench of the worst team in the NBA (came to mind because the C's are about to break their record for consecutive losses)
 
Anyone who says Lindros is retarded. The guy was one of the most dominant stars of the game till his brain was unable to solve simple math. If people mention Lindros in this thread then the same could be said for Bo Jackson. He was dominant till his hips gave way. My vote goes to JD Drew. He was the first pick and was suppose to be a stud and he hasnt proven that. Out of all sports I would say baseball has the most hyped people who fizzle.
 
i don't want to call him a bust, but san diego did so much better by trading down and getting ladainian tomlinson and drew brees (and now philip rivers) rather than taking michael vick.
 
Felipe Lopez, the original Lebron James (he made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high schooler, touted as the next big thing). Had a decent career at St Johns, but it was his teammate Ron Artest who turned out to be the far better player.
 
Nice to see someone mentioned Robo QB.

Can I add putting Dwight Gooden on the list is bull? He didn't fizzle early at all, though drugs short-circuited his career. 1985-1992 he had decent years.

I vote 2/3rds of Generation K, Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen.
 
s_hamilton_i.jpg

JOSH HAMILTON

He's the guy the Devil Rays selected #1 in the 2001 draft instead of Josh Beckett. He's never played a game in the majors and is now a heroin addict.
 
Alexandre Daigle
Alexei Yashin (Sure he had a few good years, and is decent now, but what a ****tard)
Rafael Araujo (Ugh, Raptors sure blew that one)

ERIC HINSKE
 
The Frankman said:
I vote 2/3rds of Generation K, Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen.
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Isringhausen is having a good career as a closer. You probably meant to say Bill Pulsipher who, after blowing his arm/elbow (whatever) never even came close of showing the promise he had as a Met farmhand.
 
The Frankman said:
Can I add putting Dwight Gooden on the list is bull? He didn't fizzle early at all, though drugs short-circuited his career. 1985-1992 he had decent years.
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rookie of the year followed by a cy young followed by a world series ring to go along with 4 all-star appearances? yeah, i think it's safe to say he shouldn't be on the 'never lived up to the hype' list.

gooden is a guy who ruined a potential great career. he lived up to his hype for a while...and then the coke addiction caught up to him.
 
balikeye said:
granthill.jpg

Spending, what 3/4 of your carrer injured has to be a disappointment.
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You're crazy. He was a top 5 player in the league for a good 5 to 6 years. He is far from a bust. He never had the guys around him to help him in the playoffs.

Here's a name for you boys and girls:

Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney
Calbert Cheaney

One of the most overhyped players to ever play a sport. Mayor of bust city IMO.

Other busts:
Tim Thomas (so much wasted potential)
Tom Gugliotta ( injuries ruined him. Could have been a Dirk type player.)
Isaiah Rider (poor work ethic)
Joe Smith
Curtis Enis
 
i don't know if you guys will remember, but there was this guy who was taken in the '85 draft. Some people actually argued he should have been taken AHEAD of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon who was picked first overall that year if you believe it! I think his name was Michael Gordon or something like that, its hard to remember because he was so forgettable. He was an okay athlete, had some decent skills, but never got it together. Eventually he was able to piggyback on those great Pippen/Kukoc Bulls teams of the 90s and win a few rings.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
i don't know if you guys will remember, but there was this guy who was taken in the '85 draft. Some people actually argued he should have been taken AHEAD of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon who was picked first overall that year if you believe it! I think his name was Michael Gordon or something like that, its hard to remember because he was so forgettable. He was an okay athlete, had some decent skills, but never got it together. Eventually he was able to piggyback on those great Pippen/Kukoc Bulls teams of the 90s and win a few rings.
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I want to say Luc Longley, but he wasn't in the '85 draft. You're too cryptic for me.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
i don't know if you guys will remember, but there was this guy who was taken in the '85 draft. Some people actually argued he should have been taken AHEAD of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon who was picked first overall that year if you believe it! I think his name was Michael Gordon or something like that, its hard to remember because he was so forgettable. He was an okay athlete, had some decent skills, but never got it together. Eventually he was able to piggyback on those great Pippen/Kukoc Bulls teams of the 90s and win a few rings.
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BJ Armstrong!!


.....right?
 
kevin_maas_autograph.jpg


Was hyped to be Don Mattingly's replacement until he was bounced between the minors & majors until he became one of those MLB players that played in japan.
 
Canadian Psycho said:
Isringhausen is having a good career as a closer. You probably meant to say Bill Pulsipher who, after blowing his arm/elbow (whatever) never even came close of showing the promise he had as a Met farmhand.
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Nope, Pulse had a paranoia disorder that made me think the guy was a gamble at best, think poor man's Randy Johnson on Ritalin. Wilson was a #1 pick and Isringhausen after a brilliant rookie season (9-2) sucked balls as a starter. The man to this day has yet to master an effective third pitch, forcing him into a career where his flaws wouldn't be evident.

I wish to add Alex Ochoa, Travis Lee and Alex Escobar. Was Heath Shuler mentioned?
 
Lindros is a bone head pick for this thread. When he was healthy he definately was on of the best in the game. I rememember being in elementary and all those kids would say "Big E" is their favourite player.
 
Wellington said:
:lol

Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks, Greg Anthony. What a lineup!
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Can't tell if you're being sarcastic. Anyway, Anthony and Mason came off of the bench. Don't forget about baby brother Wilkins.

Oakley never did foul Jordan hard.

Ninja Scooter said:
i don't know if you guys will remember, but there was this guy who was taken in the '85 draft. Some people actually argued he should have been taken AHEAD of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon who was picked first overall that year if you believe it! I think his name was Michael Gordon or something like that, its hard to remember because he was so forgettable. He was an okay athlete, had some decent skills, but never got it together. Eventually he was able to piggyback on those great Pippen/Kukoc Bulls teams of the 90s and win a few rings.
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eh, bionic pulls that off much better.
 
Cliff Floyd could be added to the list as well. Back in 1993, he was touted as a Willie McCovey type player. He has had a good career, but nowhere near as great as it was supposed to be.
 
Canadian Psycho said:
Isringhausen is having a good career as a closer. You probably meant to say Bill Pulsipher who, after blowing his arm/elbow (whatever) never even came close of showing the promise he had as a Met farmhand.
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I saw Bill Pulsipher playing for the semipro baseball team the Long Island Ducks a while back. It was sad to see the guy get lit up by a bunch of has-beens and never-wases.
 
Jewbacca said:
David Carr is a maybe.. depends on this year...

But he was the most accurate QB in the NFL this year and started off really well then he sucked ass in the last 10 games. he was at like 11 TD 2 Ints then didnt do shit the last 8 games.
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he plays for the texans and has spent every season running for his life b/c the offensive line can protect him for shit, his been sacked well over 200 times
 
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