I’ve always been fascinated by big-time sports stars who commit unbelievably self-destructive illegal acts, cheat at their particular sport, or simply do inexplicably stupid stuff. Although their numbers have swelled over the years, here are ten I believe should be inducted into the sports pantheon “Hall of Shame.”
10. Marion Jones: Marion expressed to Oprah she would’ve dominated even without drugs, however, it was a little late by then. A former collegiate basketball star turned sprinter, Jones became the first woman to win five medals at a single installment of the Summer Olympics, but eventually surrendered all of them after being implicated in the banned performance-enhancing substances scandal by professional athletes. Her role in a check fraud scheme was just a bonus indiscretion.
9. Pete Rose: One of the greatest hitters in baseball history, “Charlie Hustle” was banned for life for gambling on games as a player and manager. Although I consider this offense the mildest in this list, Pete Rose broke the cardinal rule of major league sports; he gambled on games in his own sport. Sorry Peety, but it was incredibly DUMB!
8. Michael Vick: Vick spent about 18 months in prison after investigators uncovered a dog-fighting ring on his property in Virginia. The most gruesome evidence was the way under-performing pit bulls were abused, an act many dog-loving fans will never forgive or forget. Vick rebounded exceptionally well from his doggie-downer episode and is now playing in the NFL for the New York Jets.
7. Tonya Harding: Talk about a twisted saga. Tanya has been featured on a sex tape, charged with drunk driving and domestic assault, and has competed in the Celebrity Boxing ring. Hard to believe, but her reputation was ruined before any of that, the result of a physical attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan just before the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Harding wasn’t wielding the weapon, but she was later charged for her role in planning the attack. Kerrigan recovered from the bizarre incident and won silver at the games.
6. The Steroid Sluggers: Barry Bonds. Mark McGwire. Sammy Sosa. All three erased Roger Maris’ single season home run record during a smash-happy span of baseball history, and all three were eventually undone by accusations of performance-enhancing drug use. Ironically, one of the whistle blowers in what will be remembered as the ‘Steroid Era’ was Jose Canseco, another guy who can thank drugs for his gaudy numbers at the plate. Most baseball fans knew there was something strange going on during this period, but didn’t seem to mind.
5. Tiger Woods: Tiger had the world’s best golf swing and a blonde bombshell as a wife, but he lost both in 2009 when his infidelities became front-page news. As numerous women claimed extra-marital affairs with the star golfer, Woods was dropped by several sponsors and plummeted in the world rankings. He’s still swinging away on the pro golf circuit and chasing Jack Nicklaus’ major record, but his legacy will be forever tarnished.
4. Mike Tyson: Iron Mike’s reputation has taken several knockout blows. Tyson was on the road to reclaiming his title as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when he was charged with rape in 1992, resulting in a three-year stint in jail. He didn’t earn any humanitarian awards five years later when he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a much-anticipated bout. It would take far too long to list all the other controversies that have been tied to Tyson. I will admit though, I find Tyson to be a funny guy.
3. Lance Armstrong: Unlike some of the others on this list, his star continues to fall. Armstrong became a hero to millions when he survived cancer and won a record-setting seven Tour de France titles. Turns out he had some extra ‘help’ climbing the Pyrenees. Several of his former teammates tattled about his doping habits, resulting in a lifetime ban from his sport and prompting the disgraced cyclist to resign as chairman of his own Livestrong Foundation.
2. Ben Johnson: In 9.79 seconds he became a Canadian hero and an international icon. Three days later, he was making headlines as the biggest drug cheat in track and field history. Johnson was the fastest man in a star-studded field in the 100 metre final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In fact, he shattered the world record but failed his post-race drug test. Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury summed it up best, hanging a sheet from his dorm in the Olympic village that read ‘Hero to Zero in 9.79.’
1. O.J. Simpson: Even if you don’t remember any of his electrifying touchdown runs, you probably remember O J’s run from the law in his Ford Bronco. The first NFL running back to rack up 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, Simpson was wanted in the murder of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman when he led police on an infamous low speed chase that interrupted coverage of the 1994 NBA Final. He was acquitted of the murders and promised to find the killer but is now behind bars for armed robbery and kidnapping in Vegas. Does anyone believe in karma?
Pete Whalon, author of “The Siagon Zoo” has called Southern California home since age five.