Really more of a lack of common sense, but I’d nominate Terrell Owens. He’s a bright guy, and a hard worker, but has a history of shooting himself in the foot with stupid decisions. He was ridden out of town on a rail in SF and Philly, cities that initially loved him, and pretty much ended his endorsement career after the silliness in Philly. He lost an entire season for being a dumbass, and the opportunity to be considered one of the greats at his position based on his inability to get along with… just about anybody.
Rae Carruth, convicted murder and former Carolina Panther, should be on this list as well.
My favorite Yogi anecdote: On Opening Day at Yankee Stadium in 2004, the Yankees paid tribute to their deceased stars and put their names on the scoreboard. According to Whitey Ford, Yogi said,
“Boy, I hope I never have to stand here and see my name on that list.”
Pete Rose. He went to high school with the father of a friend of mine. He was on the five-year-plan by the end of his freshman year, and things went down hill from there. (Plus, he is not an exemplary human being.)
Jose Canseco. I saw him on TV one night not too long ago, and he didn’t seem quite together.
I can’t say for talented (he had one really good year, but it’s been downhill from there. Plus, his injury doesn’t help any. That said, you still have to be an amazing athlete to be in the NFL), but it’s pretty clear that Daunte Culpepper is dumb as a box of rocks.
Illiterate, ignorant, and naive, certainly. I’ve never seen anything that suggests he was mentally deficient, and his modest success in business in his hometown of Greenville, SC after his playing days argues against his being too dumb.
I think what happens with talented pro athletes is that during their schooling years, they focus on the sport ( as the school does, as sports are the bigger fund raisers for the school than, say, the chess team.) and they either wear blinders because they are so focused on their sport ( all football all the time) and are probably given a pass or someone else does their homework for them.
It is all they know because it is all they were really good at.
We have a friend that was a pro hockey player ( one season). All star in the big ten. Brilliant athlete. Watching him play a game of pick up and ‘turn it on’ when he decided too was/ is an awesome thing too watch. Like watching a thoroughbred amongst coal mining ponies. Amiable and friendly guy with pretty good people skills brought on by years of beer pong. The guy was dumber than a box of hammers. It blew my mind to have a convo with him and watch the delay from you saying something to him getting it or pretending to get it. Unless it is hockey or other sports.
He married a lawyer. She is the brains in the family.
To add to this list: Tonya Harding. From trailer park to world class athlete to trailer park.
Clyde Vaughn He was a Pitt basketball star and a classmate of mine (English Comp). He may have been illiterate, but his sullen attitude made it impossible to ever know for sure. He turned in assignments in a different handwriting each time, and was unable to discuss what he had “written”. He played some pro ball, was doing some coaching, then got nailed paying an undercover cop $10 for sex.
Billy Conn Pittsburgh legend, he nearly beat Joe Louis. Severely jumbled brains from numerous head shots. I was his paper boy when I was 9. I had to explain who I was every time we met. He would invite me in, go get my money, then have no clue who I was when he passed through the entryway two minutes later. Poor guy. RIP Billy.
