Biggest sports disappointment/bust

[Guest Redhawk]

College football: Ronald Curry, QB/PG, North Carolina -- Curry was the national player of the year in football AND basketball as a senior. He came from the same area that produced Aaron Brooks, Allen Iverson, and Michael Vick. He got to UNC and did almost nothing. He was decent in football for a year, and never caught on with basketball.

 

College basketball: Schea Cotton, SF, Alabama -- Cotton was the LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett of his day. Back before Garnett re-started the High-School-to-Pros trend, Cotton was named as someone who could possibly make the jump. I believe Sports Illustrated ran a feature on him in his sophomore year of HS. Never did anything in college after bouncing around some JCs, and now plays in Turkey or somewhere.

 

Pro football: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Bengals -- Top pick in the draft out of Penn State. Too many injuries and then had the infamous play where he did a QB-like slide on a kickoff return.

 

Pro basketball: Sam Bowie, C, Blazers -- How can you go against this one? He was picked BEFORE Michael Jordan.

 

Baseball: Brien Taylor, P, Yankees -- Was supposed to be the next great Yankees pitcher. I don't even think he made it to the big leagues.

 

Boxing: Michael Bennett -- Former US Olympian was just chiseled, looking like a younger, stronger Evander Holyfield. But that was just at the gym. He got KO'd in like three of his first 10 fights, and just last week I saw him on...excuse me...THUNDER BOX!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

NFL-Rashan Salaam. Yeah, all hot shit at Colorado, then he sucked ass for the bears.

 

Boxing-Oliver McCall. A really good prospect that had a solid career that included beating Lennox Lewis, then in a later fight against Lewis, it all came down when McCall started crying and had a nervous breakdown right there in the ring. Without a doubt the strangest thing I've ever seen happen in a boxing match. I haven't seen him since.

[Guest alkeiper]

Baseball: Brien Taylor, P, Yankees -- Was supposed to be the next great Yankees pitcher. I don't even think he made it to the big leagues.

 

Basically he got into a bar fight and screwed up his shoulder.

[Guest Downhome]

The Atlanta Braves and Buffolo Bills clubs, both are huge dissapointments.

[Guest Mad Dog]

The Browns this year.

 

They should've beaten so many more teams this year. Underacheivers

[Guest gthureson]

NHL:

 

Doug Wickenheiser: Chosen first overall by the Montreal Canadiens, ahead of local fan favorite Denis Savard. Dougie's career path was set when they scratched him in the first game of the season against Savard's Blackhawks, 'cause they didn't want to pressure him in a head to head matchup against the guy the fans wanted. He never really seemed to get things going after that, despite short stretches. Lasted a long time as a depth player in the bigs, but never lived down that he was first overall and the Habs took him over Savard.

 

Brian Lawton - Minnesota North Stars: First player taken 1st overall from a US High School. The Sabres had found Phil Housley right out of high school, and they had talked up Lawton all season. Minny took him, ahead of guys like Pat Lafontaine and Steve Yzerman. Maybe it was the pressure on him, maybe he was just never that good, but he was never more than a fringe player.

 

Alexandre Daigle - Ottawa Senators: Currently attempting a comeback, probably the biggest bust of them all because it wasn't because of a lack of talent. Anybody who has ever seen him play when he actually gives a shit can attest the guy has some of the best raw skills ever seen. He just never really wanted to play pro hockey. He just collected his paycheques and then left the game when everybody got frustrated by him.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Pro basketball: Sam Bowie, C, Blazers -- How can you go against this one? He was picked BEFORE Michael Jordan.

That's just dumb on the Portland front office's part. Bowie had an OK career.

 

My guy here has GOT to be Chris Washburn. Came into college as one of those can't miss guys, a seven-footer with talent. Got into trouble at NC State, left early, picked third in the draft, then got into drugs and was banned from the league after three years.

 

Curry is a good pick for college football, but I'd also think about Ron Powlus. Of course, the guy was doomed after Beano Cook laid that ridiculous "He's gonna win three Heismans" curse on him.

[Guest hardyz1]

Ron Powlus...thanks for bringing back those memories. Beano Cook blows. Hell I remember after Powlus left, Beano said Kevin McDougal was a potential Heisman candidate. Total Notre Dame shill.

[Guest starvenger]

For reference, here's ESPN Page 2's list of biggest phenom flops...

 

1. Todd Van Poppel

2. David Clyde

3. Todd Marinovich

4. Brian Bosworth

5. Chris Washburn

6. Brien Taylor

7. Marcus Dupree

8. Felipe Lopez

9. Ron Powlus

10. Alexandre Daigle

[Guest bob_barron]

The hype for Felipe Lopez in NY was INSANE. He was basically the guy that was gonna lead St. Johns to all this propserity and stuff. He was very good in college but not God like

[Guest Redhawk]

Pro basketball: Sam Bowie, C, Blazers -- How can you go against this one? He was picked BEFORE Michael Jordan.

That's just dumb on the Portland front office's part. Bowie had an OK career.

 

My guy here has GOT to be Chris Washburn. Came into college as one of those can't miss guys, a seven-footer with talent. Got into trouble at NC State, left early, picked third in the draft, then got into drugs and was banned from the league after three years.

 

Curry is a good pick for college football, but I'd also think about Ron Powlus. Of course, the guy was doomed after Beano Cook laid that ridiculous "He's gonna win three Heismans" curse on him.

I see your point about Washburn, but Bowie did not have an "okay" career. Maybe okay for a rookie free agent, but for a No. 2 pick overall, he did nothing.

 

To make a modern comparison: Joe Smith has had a decent career, but considering that he was the No. 1 pick...

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

When I think flop, the first thing that comes to my mind is Ryan Leaf.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Leaf looked good in the preseason of his rookie year, but, yeah, he was major bust for a number 1 pick. At least the guy that got picked next is with the same team, much less still in the league.

[Guest D'Lo White]

Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher, and Paul Wilson with the Mets.

 

I know injuries had alot to do with it, but they were hyped to dominate the league for years in the Mets rotation.

 

I know Izzy has become a solid closer and Wilson is still pitching , I think with the Devil Rays. I'm not sure about Pulsipher.

[Guest Eagan469]

The Atlanta Braves and Buffolo Bills clubs, both are huge dissapointments.

I don't know how the Buffolo Bills are doing, but I know the Buffalo Bills had a great season and are playoff contenders.

[Guest Bricks]

Leaf looked good in the preseason of his rookie year, but, yeah, he was major bust for a number 1 pick. At least the guy that got picked next is with the same team, much less still in the league.

The guy that got picked next was Andre Wadsworth... and he was a bust too. I don't think he's in the league anymore.

[Guest the pinjockey]

Mike Mamula- god damn combines making scouts think he has talent that he never showed on the field.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Daigle, Todd Van Poppel, and Ryan Leaf are some of the biggest that come to mind for me. XFL "star" Jim Drukkenmiller was a bust for the 49ers both on and off the field as well.

 

Quick trivia for the hockey folks: This person (picked right after Daigle in the same draft) was also considered a bust until fairly recently. Who is it? Who was he later traded for? And which coach helped turn him around into the star power he is today? Gold star for whoever can get this one right as its one of my all-time favorite trades.

[Guest Bricks]

Quick trivia for the hockey folks: This person (picked right after Daigle in the same draft) was also considered a bust until fairly recently. Who is it? Who was he later traded for? And which coach helped turn him around into the star power he is today? Gold star for whoever can get this one right as its one of my all-time favorite trades.

Chris Pronger. Brendan Shannahan. Mike Keenan.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher

 

I remember when these two were hyped huge. I remember when I was younger I thought, "Man, these two are going to be big someday." Too bad they never were. I also remember feeling the same when I heard about Todd Van Poppel...then he ended up on the Tigers and I was like, "Yeah. He sucks now."

 

As for mine, what about Andre Ware and David Klingler? What happened to Houston anyway? I remember for like a few years they were a top team, then they fell off the face of the planet, and now are a doormat in Conference USA. How the heck did that happen?

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Quick trivia for the hockey folks: This person (picked right after Daigle in the same draft) was also considered a bust until fairly recently.  Who is it? Who was he later traded for? And which coach helped turn him around into the star power he is today? Gold star for whoever can get this one right as its one of my all-time favorite trades.

Chris Pronger. Brendan Shannahan. Mike Keenan.

We have a winner

[Guest razazteca]

Jeff George and Mark Rypien were the QBs that could, Jeff does not get along with anybody and Mark thought his Superbowl win was all him and not the system or the coaching.

 

Vin Baker and Kenny Anderson in the trade of DOOM~ they make great bench warmers today.

[Guest RevEvil]

Gino Toretta

Eric Crouch

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Oh yeah. Heath Shuler, too. I will never forget the year he was drafted, the ESPN draft guy(Mel Kiper?) was having a fit over the fact that the Colts drafted Marshall Faulk over Heath Shuler and Trent Dilfer even though they needed a quarterback. He even went as far as to argue with the Colts GM or Owner or something because he felt it was such a stupid pick.

 

Gee, in hindsight, Faulk, despite having greater success with the Rams, is, by pretty much all accounts, a future hall-of-famer. Dilfer is a solid, intelligent qb who was damn close to being a bust until he signed with the Ravens, and Shuler has long since been out of the league. I just always found it funny that he found it to be such a horrible pick, when, in hindsight, the Colts were completely right to pick Faulk because the other two guys would have probably not done much for them.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

The Colts drafted Trev Alberts instead of Dilfer. Bill Polian got pissed at Kiper. Alberts has since admitted that he was a bad pick.

 

This one goes over most people head.Dave Spehar was supposed to be the next great player to play hockey for Minnesota. In the boys tournament he scored close to 20 points.

[Guest starvenger]

Gino Toretta

Eric Crouch

I think Crouch may yet emerge. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the CFL or World League next year.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

The Colts drafted Trev Alberts instead of Dilfer. Bill Polian got pissed at Kiper. Alberts has since admitted that he was a bad pick.

 

I guess he was right. That was a pretty bad pick. Heck, I did not even know Trev Alberts played in the league. I just always thought he was some analyst for CNN or something who just happened to play at Nebraska.

[Guest the pinjockey]

Well IIRC it was a career ending injury that knocked Alberts out of the league not his play. And speaking of the Colts what about Steve Emtman.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Well IIRC it was a career ending injury that knocked Alberts out of the league not his play.  And speaking of the Colts what about Steve Emtman.

That's true. But Albert's has admitted that he wasn't deserving to be a Top 10 pick in the first place.

 

Steve Emtman had knee problems, and he had them at Washington. Drafting guys who've had serious injuries in the past is asking for trouble.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

How about Quentin Coryatt? I believe that is what his name was, if I remember correctly, he was taken like right after Emtman in that draft, and ended up sucking royally for the Colts. Or another favourite draft bust of mine, Lawrence Phillips. At least he seems to be doing well in the CFL now.