The 10 Worst Career Moves in Sports History

Of course you have your GREAT career moves in sports history, like when Alex Rodriguez decided to leave the Rangers for even more money, extra fame, and pinstripes (and Madge, naturally).

Or when Shaq left Disney World to bring dynasty and drama along with former teammate Kobe Bryant in LaLa Land from the late '90s to the early aughts.

But as much as you try to suppress the sobering images of other sports icons who made "what-the-heck!?" career choices into the "delete!" neurons of your brains, I'm going to rehash the sore points.

Remember when His Airness Michael Jordan and The Great One Wayne Gretzky decided to lace up their shoes and wear different jerseys...in different towns...and failed to rekindle the "swag" they once possessed?

Well, then step right up and take a gander at Jordan's demise, Gretzky's bad gamble, and eight others in my Top 10 list of the worst career moves in sports history!

10. Randy Johnson: Arizona to New York

When the Big Unit stepped foot in the Big Apple, it seemed as if the Steinbrenner family and GM Brian Cashman were going to be perennial World Series champs.

But not too long after the 6'10" lefty got acclimated to the New York standard of living, a pesky paparazzi photographer got in Johnson's way and rubbed him the wrong way. That seemed to be an omen that No. 51 (No. 41 in the Bronx) could never erase.

Although he had decent stats (34-19 and 383 K's in 67 games), his ERA was an uncharacteristic 4.37. As a Seattle Mariner, Johnson beat up on the Yankees and beat them as a marvelous ace in Arizona, winning the 2001 World Series along with co-MVP pitcher Curt Schilling. Arizona was his best stay, with 118 wins, 62 losses, an ERA of 2.83, and 2077 K's.

After two years, Johnson left the Yanks without a World Series title, or even a World Series appearance.

9. Deion Sanders: Dallas to Washington

"Neon Deion" he wasn't in Redskins land.

After the All-Pro corner went two-for-two in successfully jumping ship from Atlanta to San Francisco, then San Francisco to Dallas (winning two Super Bowls in the mid-1990s for the 49ers and Cowboys in the process), Mr. Sanders thought he was going to strike it rich at Fed Ex Field in the 2000 NFL season.

He did intercept a few throws, but he wasn't as effective a shutdown cornerback as he was back in the 1980s and 90s. Plus, as a punt returner, he sucked, never showing any "Prime Time" moves into the end zone. It was a bittersweet, short stint of hell in the nation's capital.

And oh yeah, he did strike it "rich," alright: off the field and in the bank, never to return to Washington for a sequel.

8. Vince Carter: Toronto to New Jersey

Vinsanity was no more past 2000, the year he was crowned the slam dunk champion at the All-Star break.

Showing off ridiculous aerial assaults no longer wowed the crowd in Toronto and throughout North America, as he failed to take the Raptors to the NBA Playoffs more than once and keep his jealous, distant cousin Tracy McGrady on the same team (McGrady bolted to Orlando, and later to Houston).

After being traded to New Jersey, Carter continued his path of not living up to killer-instinct expectations, unable to match former Net Kenyon Martin's intensity. As a result, ex. Mr. Air Canada threw teammates Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson for a loop as he battled injuries and a bruised ego without a ring in five seasons in "Tha Jerz."

Let's hope Orlando is a better venture for him...

7. Terrell Owens: Dallas to Buffalo

Of ALL the places in the world, why Buffalo, TO? Buffalo?

You were a star, albeit petulant wideout for two very good NFC East teams. Then you go way up north, near Niagara Falls, to do what, see Rick James' grave? (FYI: Disco/Funk/R&B star Rick James was a Buffalo native.)

After three stellar seasons in Dallas (averaging 92 receptions, 1196 rec. yards, and close to 13 TDs a year), you sunk to great lows in your lone year with the Bills: 55 catches, 829 yards, and 5 TDs.

You're a brat, but a multi-talented brat, no doubt. Let's hope that a team like the Redskins pick you up to redeem your career.

6. David Beckham: La Liga to Major League Soccer

The fanfare and your annoying diva of a wife Posh Spice welcomed you to the States to make all of us Americans interested in your hands-free sport.

The media hailed you as the savior of soccer in America, the pied piper, responsible for getting thousands and thousands of lazy Yanks glued to the tube to see you wow us with your fancy footwork and amazing free-kick skills.

Well, your team won an MLS title without you. And the MLS is STILL getting ratings that even the poorly-rated Larry King Show on CNN would laugh at.

Thanks, Becks. Thanks for nothing. (Too bad you can't play for Milan or the English national team in South Africa this summer, because you may have the adoration and endorsements, but we don't want you anymore!)

5. Emmitt Smith: Dallas to Arizona

In the rich tradition of Dallas Cowboys halfbacks, Emmitt is up there with Tony Dorsett, Calvin Hill and Don Perkins.

He played behind a generous offensive line that his contemporary Barry Sanders was never blessed with in Detroit.

As a member of the Triplets, Smith was the ultimate complement to the brash receiver Michael Irvin and the collected quarterback Troy Aikman in their 1990s dominance, which included three Super Bowl titles.

But Mr. Smith decided not to quit while still on top of his game, like his friend Sanders did. Instead, he went to the Southwest and eclipsed the NFL rushing yards record held by Walter Payton for over 12 years. That's all Emmitt gathered: yards and a waste of his time.

4. Wayne Gretzky: Edmonton to Los Angeles

The Great One was always dazzling as the first-line center-forward for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.

Although he had fun tearing up the rinks with Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Marty McSorley, and Grant Fuhr, while also giving Mike Bossy and the New York Islanders fits, "The Trade" abruptly sent him to LA after the Oilers won their last Cup in 1988.

Although he didn't orchestrate or request the trade, he did in fact accept being shipped off from his beloved adopted hometown of Edmonton. That, and he was never able to recreate that magic touch in phenomenal stats, only taking the LA Kings to Stanley Cup finals in 1993, losing out to Montreal 4-2.

Businessmen with poor investing skills led to his move, but despite his influence on California and America, he was never No. 99 as he was up north.

Things didn't get any better as far as career moves are concerned when he spent time later in St. Louis and New York. He's still the Great One, but if he stayed with his first team, he'd be considered the Greatest One.

3. Johnny Unitas: Baltimore to San Diego

The buzzcut and No. 19 were indelible images of Unitas, who was in a vital role of what many still regard as the greatest game ever played, as his Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in 1958.

Though he won one Super Bowl (V) with the Colts, when he left the Colts for the Bolts, it seemed as if that fateful moment would be replayed a la "Groundhog Day" in various ways: The Colts leaving in a Mayflower van in 1984, Joe Namath and Joe Montana leaving for the Rams and Chiefs, respectively.

With his reputation intact, Unitas played to the best of his ability in San Diego for one season. Thank goodness that he didn't stay any longer in SoCal.

2. Willie Mays: San Francisco to New York

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Say Hey Kid was phenomenal as the centerfielder in both New York City and later in San Francisco, when the Giants moved out west in 1957.

He was the do-everything, rarest of athletes on the baseball field, a 12-time Gold Glove winner, 24-time All-Star selection, two-time NL MVP, and World Series winner in 1954.

Plus, he etched his named and lore in the annals of baseball history with The Catch, when Mays hauled Vic Wertz's drive at the warning track, with his back facing the ball, in the 1954 World Series.

Although able and steady, Mays probably pushed his limits by trying to show the sporting world that he could play into his 40s, moving back to New York in 1972. In perhaps what was the worse season and a half for any athlete past his prime, Mays should have stepped down A LOT earlier in San Francisco.

1. Michael Jordan: Chicago to Washington

It pains me to this day to see Jordan in a Wizard/Bullet uniform, especially how acrimoniously things went when MJ wrapped up his two seasons on the court and had to part ways with former majority owner Abe Pollin.

I wish a younger Michael Jordan could have been a Wizard/Bullet during his FIRST comeback tour, the one after his father's death, where Jordan switched from jersey no. 45 back to No. 23, hit 55 points against the Knicks, controlled a cross-dressing Dennis Rodman into a three-peat champion and set the NBA regular season number of wins record at 72.

Not so lucky. Yes, yes, he DID become the first 40-year-old to reach 43 points. But...those in Washington had to witness the old champion play with sub-par players like Tyronn Lue, Jahidi White, and Kwame Brown. Kwame. Brown.

Mike, you sold seats, merchandise, ratings, and rare air to us. But you barely scored over 20 points a game in two seasons. No playoffs. No Larry O'Brien trophy.

I know that you're with the Charlotte Bobcats now, but is it too late to get my money back?