Sports Phenoms Who Never Lived Up to the Hype

[Dos Equis]

What if Detroit took Wade instead of Darko? 

I remember Marinovich.  Poor kid. 

Sports Phenoms Who Never Lived Up to the Hype
 
Even a change of scenery hasn't helped Darko Milicic.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com

When the Reds called up outfielder Jay Bruce this week, baseball fans watched with baited breath and internet message boards started buzzing. Would he handle the pressure and make it in the big leagues? Would he wobble and flirt with disaster only to rebound spectacularly (like SI coverboy Josh Hamilton)? Or would Bruce, like so many other sports phenoms from the past, bottom out, never to be heard from again? Here are my top five most memorable sports phenoms who never lived up to the hype.

1. Brien Taylor: Selected by the Yankees as the first overall pick in MLB's 1991 draft, Taylor squeezed a then-record $1.55 million signing bonus out of the Yanks. Two years later, this hard-throwing lefty tore up his shoulder in a street fight and effectively ended his career without ever making The Show.

2. Darko Milicic: In the 2003 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in order to select the largely unseen and internet-hyped Darko Milicic. Darko got paid big bucks last summer in free agency and has posted solid if unremarkable numbers in the NBA, but he's never come close to matching the hype that followed him into the League.

3. Todd Van Poppel: Back in 1990, Van Poppel was projected by some as the greatest high school pitcher of all time. The Braves, drafting first, were wary of Van Poppel's salary demands, and instead, then-Braves GM Bobby Cox drafted a shortstop named Larry Wayne Jones, who has turned in a Hall Of Fame career.

4. Ryan Leaf: One of the most dominant college quarterbacks of his era, Leaf stirred debate over who should be taken first in the 1998 NFL draft, himself or Peyton Manning. The Colts went for Manning, the Chargers went for Leaf, and soon after, Leaf went off. He bounced around the NFL for four years and retired with nearly three times as many interceptions as touchdowns.

5. Todd Marinovich: The perfect storm. As a high schooler, SI told the world that Todd's dad, Marv, was raising him to be the ultimate quarterback, even keeping him from eating McDonald's. He went on to USC and even took snaps in the NFL, but consistent brushes with the law and problems with drugs kept Todd from achieving the sky-high goals he (or his father) set for himself.

Who are the most memorable sports phenoms who couldn't match the hype? Let us know below...

Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/scorecard/daily_list/2008/05/sports-phenoms-who-never-lived-up-to.html

[Earl1972]

if the pistons passed on darko and took wade they would've won 3 titles in a row

E

[americanbulldog]

What if Detroit took Wade instead of Darko? 

I remember Marinovich.  Poor kid. 

Sports Phenoms Who Never Lived Up to the Hype
 
Even a change of scenery hasn't helped Darko Milicic.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com

When the Reds called up outfielder Jay Bruce this week, baseball fans watched with baited breath and internet message boards started buzzing. Would he handle the pressure and make it in the big leagues? Would he wobble and flirt with disaster only to rebound spectacularly (like SI coverboy Josh Hamilton)? Or would Bruce, like so many other sports phenoms from the past, bottom out, never to be heard from again? Here are my top five most memorable sports phenoms who never lived up to the hype.

1. Brien Taylor: Selected by the Yankees as the first overall pick in MLB's 1991 draft, Taylor squeezed a then-record $1.55 million signing bonus out of the Yanks. Two years later, this hard-throwing lefty tore up his shoulder in a street fight and effectively ended his career without ever making The Show.

2. Darko Milicic: In the 2003 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in order to select the largely unseen and internet-hyped Darko Milicic. Darko got paid big bucks last summer in free agency and has posted solid if unremarkable numbers in the NBA, but he's never come close to matching the hype that followed him into the League.

3. Todd Van Poppel: Back in 1990, Van Poppel was projected by some as the greatest high school pitcher of all time. The Braves, drafting first, were wary of Van Poppel's salary demands, and instead, then-Braves GM Bobby Cox drafted a shortstop named Larry Wayne Jones, who has turned in a Hall Of Fame career.

4. Ryan Leaf: One of the most dominant college quarterbacks of his era, Leaf stirred debate over who should be taken first in the 1998 NFL draft, himself or Peyton Manning. The Colts went for Manning, the Chargers went for Leaf, and soon after, Leaf went off. He bounced around the NFL for four years and retired with nearly three times as many interceptions as touchdowns.

5. Todd Marinovich: The perfect storm. As a high schooler, SI told the world that Todd's dad, Marv, was raising him to be the ultimate quarterback, even keeping him from eating McDonald's. He went on to USC and even took snaps in the NFL, but consistent brushes with the law and problems with drugs kept Todd from achieving the sky-high goals he (or his father) set for himself.

Who are the most memorable sports phenoms who couldn't match the hype? Let us know below...

Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/scorecard/daily_list/2008/05/sports-phenoms-who-never-lived-up-to.html

How about Ben McDonald.  I have 150 rookie cards from various brands.  Upperdeck, Fleer, Donruss, Tops that are all worthless.  He was the flamethrowing phenom out of LSU who was supposed to be the second coming of Roger Clemens.  Had one good season, then got hurt and disappeared. 

Todd Marijuanavich was partying like a rock star at USC.  Must be related to William Jefferson Clinton because he sure liked the reefer and young wimminz. 

Chris Washburn of NC State was taken with the third pickof the 1986 draft.  He played 72 games over four years and was taken ahead of...

Chuck Person, Roy Tarpley, Arvidas Sabonis, Mark Price, Dennis Rodman, Drazen Petrovich.

In 1985 Jon Koncak and Joe Klein were taken in front of Chris Mullin, Detlef Shrempf, Charles Oakley, Karl Malone, Joe Dumars. 

1998 NBA Draft, Michael Olowokandi, taken ahead of Mike Bibby, Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki.

1999 NBA draft, Jonathon Bender, taken ahead of Rip Hamilton, Andre Miller, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry, Ron Artest, Andrei Kirilienko, and Manu Ginoblii.

[ATHEIST]

Dan McGuire (SP) from SD State.
i bought a whole bunch of his rookie cards.

Michael Stonebreaker (sp) LB from ND.

[CARTEL]

I think Tony Mandarich was a pretty big bust after getting that SI cover before the draft.

[mass 04]

gotta be Leaf

[MidniteRambo]

"[Heath] Shuler was a first round selection in the 1994 NFL Draft, taken by the Washington Redskins with the third overall pick. He held out of training camp until he received a 7-year, $19.25 million contract . . .As a pro, his career passer rating was a low 54.3 and in 2004 ESPN rated him the 17th biggest 'sports flop' of the past 25 years.[1] In 2008, ESPN rated him the 4th biggest NFL Draft bust of all" (emphasis added).

time"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Shuler

[Grape Ape]

gotta be Leaf

I always think of Leaf first when these type of things come around.

[jerseyhurricane]

Eric Lindross and Shawn Bradley "the player who would change the game" according to then sixers GM Jimmy Lynam.

Steve Emtman, Quinton Coryatt

Virtually every no.1 pick except for Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer.

[body88]

I think Tony Mandarich was a pretty big bust after getting that SI cover before the draft.

Mandarich at least had an average NFL career. and he did well with the colts. Leaf was just a total bust in every way shape and form. Sort of like Darren Mcfadden will be, hahaha!!!


Felix Jones fan here.

[Palpatine Q]

Brian Bosworth?

[CARTEL]

Mandarich at least had an average NFL career. and he did well with the colts. Leaf was just a total bust in every way shape and form. Sort of like Darren Mcfadden will be, hahaha!!!


Felix Jones fan here.

That's true.

I just think he was labeled a bust because he never lived up to the hype.

But then again, who could've lived up to that?

I would pick Leaf as the biggest NFL bust ever.