Seven athletes in seven different sports. Something for everyone unless you live in Canada. These are seven athletes that started fast and looked like promising careers were in store but ultimately failed to live up to the hype with injury not to blame. You won’t see guys like Mark Prior or Greg Oden on this list since they were plagued by injuries. Nor will you see JaMarcus Russell or Darko Milicic whom were busts from the get-go. Conversely you’ll see these men that enjoyed early success and looked like they were going to live up to expectations but fell way short.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Son of The Intimidator. With legendary bloodlines and name, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed like he would be a force to be reckon with in stock car racing. Winning the Super Bowl of NASCAR three years after his father’s death in 2001, Junior looked poised to become one of the top drivers in the sport. However in 11 full years of racing, Junior has finished in the top 10 year end ranking only 3 times. For by far the most popular racer today, you would think he has a career like Jeff Gordon. But the results show otherwise. He can’t be satisfied with his success but his pocketbook is a different story.
Andy Roddick – The right place at the right time. Andy Roddick looked like a bright future for American men’s tennis. He looked to be the next #1 American to follow Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. In 2003 he won the Masters Series on hardcourt and also the US Open. Roddick had the hardest serve in the game and one of the best forehands in the game. Then along came Roger Federer and the rest was history. The following February he lost his #1 ranking and never got it back. He reached 3 finals at Wimbledon since but hasn’t come close at the French, Australian or US Open. His lone slam win was post Sampras, before Roger was Roger and Andre Agassi was on his last legs.
Freddy Adu – An American child prodigy soccer player. At the age of 14, Ghanaian born but American Citizen Freddy signed a professional contract. The year was 2004 and Adu played in his first Major League Soccer game with the DC United. Two weeks later he scored his first goal. Adu went on to play 2 MLS All Star Games and was selected captain of the Under 20 American World Cup team. Today Freddy plays for a Second Division Turkish team. He has bounced around Europe since his MLS days and has never been invited to play for a World Cup team. Not quite what was expected to be the great American footballer.
Sergio Garcia – Tiger Wood's rival. Another child prodigy that made the European Tour at the age of 16, which was the youngest ever. In 1995 Sergio won the European Amateur Championship and in 1998 won the World Amateur Championship. In just six tour starts Sergio won the Irish Open. In what was suppose to be many head to head matchups, Sergio dueled Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship and finished runner up. He then became the youngest ever Ryder Cup entry. In 2001, in Forth Worth, Texas, Garcia won his first PGA Championship. To this date Sergio has 7 PGA Tour victories and one top 5 ranking. His best results in Major Championships have been runner up in the British Open and the PGA Championship twice. He dominates in the Ryder Cup but golf is an individual sport measured on Major Championships in which he has none.
Rick Mirer – The next Joe Montana. In Notre Dame, Rick Mirer set the school record for touchdowns and was second in career total offense and passing yards. Like Montana, Mirer could also run and also finished his career winning the Cotton Bowl. Mirer was also Co-MVP of the Sugar Bowl the year before. Mirer was selected 2nd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 1993. Mirer set NFL rookie records for attempts, completions and yards. He also started all 16 games, which had happened only three times since 1970. In just his rookie year, Rick was 5th in yards in the AFC. After a promising rookie year in which he showed great potential Mirer had 3 more mediocre years in Seattle. Before the 1997 draft, Mirer and a 4th round pick were traded to Chicago for a 1st rounder. He did not throw a single touchdown for Chicago that year and lost his starting job and never regained it for the rest of his career with five other teams.
Harold Miner – Failed to live up to nickname. In 1992 Harold Miner was named by Sports Illustrated as the best college basketball player, over such greats as Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner. In 1993, Baby Jordan, won the slam dunk contest and again in 1995. Miner averaged 10 points a game in his first two years but then fell to 7 points and then 3 points. After year four he was out of basketball. He had the nickname but not the game.
Ben McDonald – Greatest pitching prospect ever. 6’ 7” Ben McDonald led LSU to two College World Series and set the SEC record for strikeouts. McDonald played on LSU’s basketball team and was called the best athlete he ever coached by Dale Brown, head coach of the Tigers. He also led the 1988 US Olympic Team to gold with complete game victories over Puerto Rico and South Korea. In 1989, the All-American won the Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s best amateur baseball player. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him #1 overall later that year. McDonald debuted against the White Sox July 21, 1990 and threw a complete game shutout. In his first game, he threw his best game. McDonald lasted seven years with the Orioles and two more with the Brewers. He never made an all-star team and had a respectable career for anyone other than what many scouts had as their highest rated pitcher ever.
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