Top 15 Athletes who have Fallen From Grace

In honor of this recent Chuck Knoblauch story, my buddy Ian gave me a great idea: list the top athletes who have fallen from grace.  Without further Freddy Ado (who by the way WILL make this list if he doesnt step it up) the top 15 athletes who have completely shot themselves in the foot, or basically pulled a Heath Ledger, Eddie Murphy or Jude Law.  Note, Plax is not on this list because we have to see what follows after his two year sentence.

# 15: Michael Ray Richardson

Why was he Famous:
He was picked over Larry Bird, and regarded as the next big thing in the NBA. 

What Happend:

The guy did more Cocaine than Tony Montana on a stressful day.  He got kicked out of the NBA, went to rehab, went back to rehab, and now coaches in Montana.  Good job.

#14 Donnie Moore

Why was he Famous:
He was the closer for the L.A Angels and was one out away from the 1986 World Series.

What Happend:
Well, he gave up a home run to Dave Henderson in game 5 of the ALCS, and in turn the Red Sox won the next three games and the series.  A couple months later Donnie Moore shot and killed himself. 

#13 Darryl Strawberry

Why was he Famous:
He was the Mets saving grace, their first true power hitter, who hit balls longer than Shaq's c***.  He helped the Mets to win the '86 series and was on track for the hall of fame.

What Happend:
Cocaine happend.  Straw man fell in love with the stuff, got hooked with his buddy Doc (more on him in a bit) and went to the Dodgers, then to the Giants, then to the Saint Paul Independent league.  For a short time he reinvented himself with the Yankees winning two world series and then got back on the cocaine.

#12 Jim Leyritz
Why was he Famous:
He wasnt ever famous, he was a backup catcher for the Yankees and Padres and won two World Series with the Yankees, went to one with the Padres and hit one of the most clutch home runs in Yankees history.

What Happend:
The story is the most outrageous part. He was wasted from a bar, and the drove over a girl WHO WAS ALSO WASTED and killed her.  This lead Leyritz to beat his wife and kids, live in a condo by himself and slave over the trial notes.  To say hes a little nuts is an understatement.

#11 Doc Gooden
Why was he Famous
He was the star pitcher for the Mets, winning the Cy Young at 20 and literally becoming the best pitcher in baseball by 21.

What Happend:
Again, Cocaine happend.  Gooden lived the fast life, well, too fast and got too much of that nose candy pleasure.  Gooden went to rehab probably more times than Lindsay Lohan, Amy Winehouse, and Britney Spears combined and has had more chances than any American in history.  He is still in jail I think, or maybe he is out.  Doesnt matter, nobody cares about him anymore.

#10 Jose Canseco
Why was he famous:
He was part of the bash brothers, the first HUGE power hitter and he literally and figurtivly exploded onto the scene.  He also dated Madonna.

What happend:
He admitted to using roids, beat someone up at a bar, went to jail, went to rehab, went on Celebrity rehab and every VH1 show ever made, became a laughing stock, was proven right in his book by the countless roid users, wrote another book claiming Arod used, proved right again, however made a bigger fool out of himself when he tried MMA and got his ass beat by a guy two feet smaller than him.  The ultimate joke.

#9 Sammy Sosa
Why was he famous:
Along with Mark McGwire he broke Roger Maris' glorified home run record of 61 in a season.  Sosa hit 66 home runs, won over Chicago, and quickly became the biggest hispanic star in the world along with Ricky Martin (where is he now).  He was everyone, and everyone loved him.

What happend:
Rumors swirled about roids, they became true, and he made an absolutle ass of himself by saying he doesnt speak english in front of Congress when of course he speaks english.  He continue to deny, and even came back to play for the Orioles nobody believed him and then the rumors of course became true.  Note, if you speak English, dont lie about it because we will find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs95NnrCD0o

I think he speaks English.

#8 Marion Jones

Why was she famous:
She won a million gold medals in track and became a hero for women and a spokesperson for a million different things.

What happend:
Rumors circled that she did not do roids, it became evident that she did.  She went to congress to deny it, the worst move you could do, and of course it came out that she did roids.  She even attempted a comeback and failed miserably.  She lied to congress, was convicted of purgery, and is now in jail.

# 7 Michael Vick

Why was he famous:
He was the Falcons number 1 overall pick, he was the first electric QB.  He endorsed everything, made $100 million, and was regarded as the most exciting player in football.

What happend:
In the first true scandal involving a current NFL star, he was convicted of running a dog fighting ring, was sentenced to two years in prison, lost all his money and went from star QB to third string decoy on the Eagles.  He is not higher because he is still playing.

#6 Roger Clemens
Why was he famous:
He was regarded as the greatest modern day pitcher in MLB history.  He had 20 K's in a game twice, he was third in K's alltime, won three CY Young's, won over 300 games, and also had 4,000 K's, and won two World Series.

What happend:
Out of nowhere, though a friend told me in 2004 though I thought nothing of that report, he tested postive for roids.  He defended himself to the death thinking it would work and of course it backfired miserably.  He is facing purgery charges and might spend a few years behind bars.  His fame, reputation, and family life is all ruined because of his arrogence.

#5 Barry Bonds
Why was he famous:
He broke Hank Aaron's record of 755 HR's the most glorified record in sports, he broke the single season HR record, and put up video game numbers.

What Happend:
He took steroids and he didnt seem to care.  Everyone hated him already, but then it got really bad, death threats, etc.  He never seemed to care and has never been in front of congress.  Even though he could still play a bit, no team would sign him.  He is probably beating some women right now as we speak.

#4 Mark McGwire
Why was he famous:
He was part of the bash brothers with Oakland, hit MOOOOOOOON shots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNWlYDEotN4
(fast forward to 1:10)

and was regarded as the best power hitter in the game.  He was loveable, and endorsed a number of things.

What happend:
He again took steroids, but then this Congressional hearing did it in for him for life.  His reputation will always be tainted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=942HcHKbOno&feature=PlayList&p=31B53AFB6BAC884D&index=0&playnext=1

#3 Pete Rose
Why was he famous:
All time hit king with over 4,000 hits and widely regarded as the most pure, hard working ball player to ever live.

What Happend:
He bet on baseball as the manager for the Reds and lied about not doing so.  He lied about it for 20 years made fools of people who believed him and backed him up, then to sell a book in 2004 he simply said he did it.  Just like that.  The ultimate scumbag.  He is still banned by the Hall of Fame and if he just told the truth would have been reinstated some time ago but nowwill never get in. 

#2 Mike Tyson
Why was he famous:
He knocked people out faster than a virgin ejaculating for the first time.  He whipped people up and made over $100 million doing so.  He was reagarded as the next Ali and was on the right track.  All of the East Coast loved him because he represented Brooklyn.  He owned NYC.

What happend:
Well, where to begin.  He first lost to Buster Douglas in an upset comparable to Don Bosco Prep beating the New York Giants, he then raped a women, and another, and then another, lost all of his money, got back into fighting and started to get beat, he then ripped off Holyfields ear, was banned from fighting in half of the states around the U.S, had a brawl and said he would eat Holyfields kids, he then was banned from fighting in the U.S, lost to some English guy, and then appeared in the Hangover.  Here are some Tyson clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwFW834Mrcc

AND The funniest Tyson moment of them all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHXqZxmEBsw

AND EVEN FUNNIER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiBPtyBxfqI&feature=related

#1 O.J Simpson
Why was he famous:
Running back for USC and the Bills, won the Heisman, won rushing titles.  Became an actor and a spokesman was in ever commerical imaginable regarded as a nice, normal guy

What happend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04lJ7ki7XKo&feature=fvw

Not to be outdone O.J inexplicably beat the charges and then stole some memorbilia and is in jail the rest of his miserable life.

That is my list I will be back with more stuff as the week continues.

-Lew