Top Ten Bad Boys of All Time

By John Lorge
Eaglesblog.net Writer

Published: April 5, 2009

Bad boys, bad boys.

Professional athletes tend to do everything to the extreme, that’s how they got to where they are today. They don’t practice a little, the practice all day. There is no option whether or not they are going to the weight room on any given day.

Unfortunately, that extreme tendency also flairs tempers and causes our “heroes” to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Ever since the cowboys of the wild-west, America has been consumed with the bad boy image. Today’s (Dallas) cowboys continue to be as bad as they want to be.

Here are the top 10 bad boys of all-time.

10. Ron Artest

Any time you have a defensive minded baller from the Queensbridge projects in Queens, NY, you know he’s going to be a bad dude. Artest is the type of guy who is a great friend and teammate, that you never want to cross.

On November 19, 2004, John Green decided to test Artest. Nobody wants to have a drink thrown at them and from that moment on it was on. Other NBA bad boy Stephen Jackson was at Artest’s back and the Pacers almost mowed through all of Motown one hay-maker at a time.

In 2007, Artest was once again in-trouble with the law for not feeding his dog and domestic abuse. Through it all Artest has served less than two weeks in prison but he has had to pay his fair share in fines, suspensions, and legal fees.

9. Darryl Strawberry

The most promising baseball player of his era, Strawberry has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated seven times only to be one-upped by his eight arrests.

The former Rookie of the Year has gone as far as faking his own kidnapping in an attempt to get a $50,000 ransom. Strawberry is also a notorious alcohol and cocaine abuser who’s evaded his taxes, served time in prison, and has fathered illegitimate children.

As a cancer survivor, we need not beat-up Strawberry too much but he definitely paved the way for many athletes to come.

8. Pete Rose

Liar! Nobody wants to be called one and since the time we were young we were taught not to be one.

Charlie Hustle was one of the toughest to every play the game, nobody will rob him of that, but he needed to fess-up a little sooner. Baseball has made gambling the biggest sin there is, putting Rose into infamy with Shoeless Joe Jackson on the permanent ban list.

The federal courts cared more about Rose’s tax evasion and in 1990 he pleaded guilty for not reporting income he received from selling autographs and served five months in the pen.

Bad boy? Yes. Hall of Famer? Let him in.

7. Michael Vick

It’s only fitting that Vick comes in at number seven, the same number that many of America’s youth wore before he was convicted of body slamming dogs.

Many athletes have been caught in scandals involving dogs but none have been as elaborate as the one that occurred in Surry County, Virginia.

Along with the dog fighting, Vick has been connected to multiple marijuana allegations. He has used the alias “Ron Mexico” to purchase herpes medication, a condition he was accused of passing to various partners.

Mike’s brother Marcus was also brought-up on charges of brandishing a fire arm and purchasing alcohol for minors while at Virginia Tech.

6.Adam “Pacman” Jones

Oh Pacman. Seriously, what is it about clubs? Strip clubs, night clubs, billy clubs, you’ve seen them all. As a rapper, wrestler, pro athlete, and a baller you’ve established quite the bad boy reputation for yourself.

On the field, the 5’10″ Jones will get in the face of any man and he won’t back down off the field either.

We all know about his multiple arrests, making it rain and the shooting that followed. If we learn one thing from Pacman it’s that when you throw money on a stripper, no matter how much, you don’t get it back.

5. Tonya Harding

As far as skating is concerned, it doesn’t get any badder than Harding.

In 1994 she “allegedly” hired Shane Stant to take out fellow American Nancy Kerrigan’s knee before an event. Kerrigan had ousted Harding for the Bronze Medal in the 1992 Olympics and this was her way of getting a competitive edge.

After she was run out of competitive skating, Harding entered the world of Porn, staring in a film that landed in Penthouse. Much like Pacman, Harding also tried her hands at wrestling as the manager of the deceased Art Barr.

Harding also has appeared in several celebrity and professional boxing matches, making the most of her athletic ability.

4. Dennis Rodman

Most recently, The Worm has appeared on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice where he left a lasting image of being an ill-tempered, oblivious, vodka-cran guzzling drunk.

Unlike most on this list, Rodman hasn’t participated in criminal activity off the court (aside from fashion crimes) but his personality set the tone for his infamous bad boy status.

Rodman’s last three books were titled, “Bad as I Wanna Be” (1996), “Walk on the Wild Side” (1997), and “I should Be Dead by Now” (2005). He hasn’t killed any dogs that we know of but he has entered the Pro Wresting world like many on list.

In 1997, Rodman kicked sideline cameraman Eugene Amos. There was no immediate action taken but Rodman eventually paid Amos $200,000 in a settlement and lost his signature shoe endorsement with Converse.

Although Chris Anderson is trying, I don’t think we will ever see another Dennis Rodman.

3. Lawrence Taylor

The most recent football player to put on his dancing shoes for Dancing with the Stars, Taylor defined what it meant to be a bad boy.

If you haven’t read his biography, “LT: Over the Edge” I highly recommend it. Taylor would dis his coaches (Bill Belichick), break opponents’ legs, drink Kamikazes by the pitcher, snort coke, and smoke crack.

One of the most fearless football players ever, LT lived his life with reckless abandon until he crashed and burned.

Taylor has successfully rehabilitated his life and is enjoying his celebrity status as Lawrence, not LT, these days.

2. O.J Simpson

If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit. It doesn’t mean America will believe you, however.

Simpson was an American football hero, a former Heisman Trophy winner, NFL MVP, and College & Pro Hall of Famer, the Juice had it all.

O.J. had successfully transitioned into a Hollywood star but trouble was just around the corner.

In 1994, the NBA Finals were interrupted to watch O.J. Simpson’s infamous white Ford Bronco driving down the California freeway with adorning fans pulled-over waving.

Simpson was acquitted of murdering Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman, thanks to Kim Kardashian’s father.

Most recently Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for rounding up a gang of goons and kidnapping C.J. Stewart and robbing him of possessions that were formerly Simpson’s.

Will the Juice ever be loose again?

1. Mike Tyson

Everyone has done it, tried out your high-pitched Mike Tyson voice. Would you do it if Iron Mike was in the room? Not a chance.

The most devastating fighter of all-time, Mike Tyson was a pit bull in the ring and equally uncontrollable out of it.

Rape, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, assault, battery, and bankruptcy oh my.

Let’s not forget about his teeth either. Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear, twice, and bit Lennox Lewis’ leg at a press conference.

Tyson’s tribal face tattoo has forever tarnished his image. Keep your children away because he will eat them. Praise be to Allah.

Top Ten Bad Boys of All Time

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