Saddest waste of talent

[Grmlock]

By this I mean players that had several standout years or seemingly endless potential but injuries derailed their careers not drugs/alcohol, etc
NFL-Gale Sayers, Terrell Davis
NHL-Mario Lemieux(the worst of all), Mike Bossy, Eric Lindros
MLB-Ken Griifey, Jr., but nothing else comes to mind...
NBA-Jayson Williams, Jason Williams(Duke standout), Bobby Hurley

The saddest story is without a doubt Mario Lemieux;the guy was BETTER than Gretzky, but between cancer,back problems,etc he just didnt have thesame impact as 99

[Matthew D]

NBA - Sam Bowie, Ralph Sampson

[Grmlock]

Yeah definitely agree with Ralph Sampson...I could only imagine what it could have been for the Rockets w/ Hakeem

[yankees3]

Bo Jackson in either sport.

[DieTrying]

MLB-Ken Griifey, Jr., but nothing else comes to mind...

No way is/was Griffey Jr. a waste of talent. He missed two years because of injury, but was the best player in baseball for 10 years. The guy will probably finish with 40 HRs this year on one of the worst teams in baseball.

[DieTrying]

Baseball- Kerry Wood is on his way

[Iron Warrior]

Bo Jackson was a tremendous loss, the Raiders were wasted by the Bills in AFC title game the following week.

[jmh80]

I have to say Bo, but not because of injuries. I think the 2 sport stuff killed his chance at being the best ever in football.

I think had he concentrated, he coulda been the best RB ever. I think if he had concentrated on baseball, he would have been very great.

[natedogg]

Barry Sanders gave up way too soon. Imagine if he hadn't retired. I would almost guarantee he would have passed, no obliterated Walter Payton's rushing record and Emmitt Smith would be sitting in a distant 2nd place. One of the most exciting players I have ever watched play the game.

[natedogg]

Bo Jackson? How about the guy he ran over. What was his name again? Oh yes, Brian Bosworth. There was a overhyped, talentless ****. He had a nice hair doo though huh.

[EEmain]

Billy Sims :

Heisman Trophy winner in 1978…Drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions in 1980 (first player selected in 1980 draft overall)…A very creative, but strong runner who would move the pile…Rookie season rushed for 1,303 yards and 13 TD’s…Played in three Pro Bowls…Currently ranks second on Lions’ all-time rushing list with 5,106 yards with 1,131 attempts and 42 TD’s…Also a receiving threat, ended his career with 186 catches for 2,072 yards and 47 total TD’s…Major knee injury in the 1984 season ended career abruptly

[Iron Warrior]

Billy Sims :

Heisman Trophy winner in 1978…Drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions in 1980 (first player selected in 1980 draft overall)…A very creative, but strong runner who would move the pile…Rookie season rushed for 1,303 yards and 13 TD’s…Played in three Pro Bowls…Currently ranks second on Lions’ all-time rushing list with 5,106 yards with 1,131 attempts and 42 TD’s…Also a receiving threat, ended his career with 186 catches for 2,072 yards and 47 TD’s…Major knee injury in the 1984 season ended career abruptly

I heard about him and his great career at Oklahoma as well, never got to watch him but those numbers are pretty impressive. That's like 5 yards per carry.

[Grmlock]

No way is/was Griffey Jr. a waste of talent. He missed two years because of injury, but was the best player in baseball for 10 years. The guy will probably finish with 40 HRs this year on one of the worst teams in baseball.

I agree but he has not been the same player since he left Seattle...during that stretch 40 HR would have been modest numbers. He is still one of the greatest players of all-time but he undeniably would have passed Aarons HR record if he had stayed healthy from 2001-2004

[doggzj]

I agree but he has not been the same player since he left Seattle...during that stretch 40 HR would have been modest numbers. He is still one of the greatest players of all-time but he undeniably would have passed Aarons HR record if he had stayed healthy from 2001-2004

And would have broken the HR record in 94 if they didn't go on strike.

[CEDeoudes59]

Terrell Owens????

[captain chet]

Len Bias - Drafted 2nd overall by the Boston Celtics in 86 i think? Died of a cocaine overdose less than 48 hours after he was signed. He was an all american in college and was Atlantic coast confrence player of the year in 85 and 86. Could have been a great while he didnt even get a chance to play 1 game in the NBA...

Thats the first name that comes to mind when i think of a sad waste of talent derailed due to drugs.

[houseman]

By this I mean players that had several standout years or seemingly endless potential but injuries derailed their careers not drugs/alcohol, etc
NFL-Gale Sayers, Terrell Davis
NHL-Mario Lemieux(the worst of all), Mike Bossy, Eric Lindros
MLB-Ken Griifey, Jr., but nothing else comes to mind...
NBA-Jayson Williams, Jason Williams(Duke standout), Bobby Hurley

The saddest story is without a doubt Mario Lemieux;the guy was BETTER than Gretzky, but between cancer,back problems,etc he just didnt have thesame impact as 99

Better than Gretzky?

Are you on crack?

lol

[houseman]

Bo Jackson? How about the guy he ran over. What was his name again? Oh yes, Brian Bosworth. There was a overhyped, talentless ****. He had a nice hair doo though huh.

Gotta agree with Bo here.

Pure amazing talent. Watch him (even though I was sill young), I knew I was watching something of pure greatness.

[natedogg]

Better than Gretzky?

Are you on crack?

lol

I was going to say the same thing. I think it's funny how they're saying this kid Crosby who was drafted by the Penguins is the next Gretzky and has yet to play an NHL game. Same goes for the 17 year old Bynum in LA who everyone is touting as baby Shaq.

[natedogg]

Gotta agree with Bo here.

Pure amazing talent. Watch him (even though I was sill young), I knew I was watching something of pure greatness.

Yeah, Bo was fun to watch. What I remember most about him though are those silly "Bo knows" commercials with Bo Diddley and at the end the narrator guy says "Bo knows Diddley". Stupid, I know.