Do Not Invite These Sports Figures to Holiday Dinner

Tis' the season to be jolly.

It's the greatest time of the year, with joy, happiness and gratefulness being spread nearly everywhere we go, with people anticipating the holidays.

And while we should all be excited about spending time with friends and family, that doesn't mean it's always necessarily a great time.

Whether it's the uncle who gets way too festive, the overachieving cousin who just seems to talk about himself or your parents being grinches because they have to host dinner, the holidays have a few things that aren't worth looking forward to.

Just like your family, there are some sports figures who have proved to be a real thorn, doing things that would make anyone grumpy if they sat down around for dinner during the holidays—and these are some who wouldn't get the invite from me.

Mark Sanchez

While current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez might not be as bad as Takeru Kobayashi at housing some food, the guy has proved to really enjoy eating.

From his suggestion to teammate Nick Foles earlier this year about trying the chicken fingers during a game to his scarfing of a hot dog a few years back on the sideline, Sanchez seems like the type of guy who would happily finish the rest of the mashed potatoes before everyone gets their first helping.

Oh, and the guy's a prankster, too, and might wipe a booger on you unexpectedly when you're not paying attention.

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith

ESPN might pay Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless a lot of money to debate and argue over sports topics every day on TV, but no one would want that type of stuff around the holiday dinner table.

We all might think our families are the most dysfunctional people in the world when all together, but things would be a hell of a lot stranger with these two under the same roof during the holidays.

Both surly and opinionated, no one would be able to get a word in once these two got started, so it'd be best to just claim their invite got lost in the mail if you share bloodlines with them.

Jeffrey Loria

Joe Skipper/Associated Press

Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria may have, finally, spent a ton of money to keep slugger Giancarlo Stanton in South Beach for the next 13 years, but one shouldn't expect him to do the same if he's headed over for the holidays.

Known for being one of the cheapest owners in sports, Loria is known to splurge every once in awhile before deciding it wasn't the best idea, retracting on his move and trying to make as much back as he can—making him somewhat disliked.

Loria would either come empty handed or bring a ton of gifts and a smorgasbord of treats to eat—with him keeping the receipts in either instance.

Tom Brady

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

You know that overachieving cousin who the entire family just won't stop bragging about because he or she just graduated from Harvard Law School and is starting their own business?

Yeah, that's basically Tom Brady's life.

A three-time Super Bowl winner, future Hall of Famer, one handsome fellow who is married to a supermodel and the quarterback of a team that has reached the playoffs in 11 of the past 12 seasons, Brady has truly proved to be Tom Terrific.

Oh, and when he's not talking about his football success, he can always just, nonchalantly, bring up the $40 million house he and wife Gisele Bundchen sold to rapper Dr. Dre earlier this year as just a little side project they worked on.

Tim Duncan

He's, quite possibly, the best power forward to ever play in the history of the NBA, but no one will ever describe the San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan as being much of a character.

Never known to either promote himself nor his team, Duncan's nickname of The Big Fundamental is about as spot-on as any in sports, as the guy just seems to do what is expected without much self-promotion.

For that reason, how boring would it be to be sitting next to him during dinner and trying to have a conversation? Or, worse, how about when he opens a gift and barely shows the slightest smirk?

Duncan's a great guy and a hell of a basketball player, but he's not someone who will be giving a holiday toast or talking too much around the dinner.

Madison Bumgarner

Much like the aforementioned Tom Brady, no one else should expect to get much talking in if San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner is sitting at the dinner table for the holidays.

That's because, well, the guy was the talk of the MLB postseason in 2014, putting together a string of some of the finest performances the sport has ever seen.

And with three World Series titles in the past five seasons, Bumgarner has plenty of stories that will keep the attention of everyone if he's sitting at the head of the table.

Oh, yeah, and the guy can drink handfuls of beer at once, so don't expect to get any alcohol if he shows up around the holidays.

Joey Chestnut

John Minchillo/Associated Press

While Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez might take an extra helping of food before everyone else gets their first serving, competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut might make holiday dinner something just for him.

It goes without saying that Chestnut knows how to absolutely tear up some food, as he has been known to eat nearly 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes during a competition.

With him winning his eighth Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest earlier this year, it's safe to assume no one would be eating much once he sat around the dinner table, so it might just be best to keep him off the invite list.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He's undefeated in his boxing career, talks trash as much as any athlete in sports right now and has millions of dollars, do I really need to give reasons why having Floyd Mayweather Jr. vacant from a holiday dinner would be a wise move?

I would imagine he would either brag about his success after showing up in one of his flashy sports cars and expect to be catered to once he finally made his way inside.

On the positive side, Money Mayweather would give some sick presents.

Gregg Popovich

He's one hell of a basketball coach, holding five championship rings during his time at the helm of the San Antonio Spurs, but Gregg Popovich doesn't exactly show the best personality at times.

Known to be surly and short, Pop wouldn't want to talk about anything going on with you nor him and would probably be the Grinch around the dinner table.

Of course, he has shown a penchant for joking around once in awhile, but, more often than not, he's going to have nothing but a blank stare on his face.

Bill Belichick

As bad as it would be to have Gregg Popovich sitting next to you during holiday dinner, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would be even worse, thanks to his monotone and vague conversations.

The future Hall of Fame coach cares about one thing: football.

So while the holidays are expected to be about family, friends and some relaxation, the head coach would probably sneak away during dinner to go watch film of his next opponent.

Of course, that's if he isn't giving one-word replies to any conversation he's having with someone at dinner.

Kobe Bryant

You better not pass the dinner rolls to the left if Kobe Bryant said to take one and send right, otherwise you might get chewed out big time.

Competitive as they come, the Black Mamba wouldn't take crap from anyone who's sitting around the table with him, making sure that everything is eaten and that, if there is some food left, he'll be the one finishing it off by shouldering the burden of doing so—no matter how stuffed he is.

Oh, and if the ham is undercooked, expect Bryant to let you know about it, as he's as opinionated as he is combative, ignoring how his words might affect someone.

Rob Gronkowski

One of the biggest characters in all of sports, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will, no doubt, own the entire conversation while sitting around the table.

In addition to his mouth running with crazy thoughts, there's a good chance he'll be boozed up worse than your Uncle Charley, who is known for passing out before dinner is even served.

And, maybe it's just me, but I have a feeling that things would get a little bit rowdy when Gronk is in the house, with the guy going all meathead on people.