The Humble Brag: Top 25 Offenders in Sports

Amber LeeJun 30, 2011

The #humblebrag is a classic, yet recently defined, tool used by the rich and famous to demonstrate how normal they are while reminding us how not-normal they are. Like “Oh, I just had to have the bathroom in my pool house renovated after my pet cheetah destroyed it”.

It may sound fun perusing the 140 character windows into the souls, minds and psyches of the professional sports world, but it’s more complicated. Eventually it begins to wear on you like FBI deep cover; you enter the world of organized crime seeing things in black and white and soon enough you don't know who to believe.

This is the existential crisis of Twitter: these verbal outbursts quickly move from unbelievable spectacle to gospel and I found myself sucked in. Is the NBA actually a dictatorship preventing free speech? Who knows anymore….

Please take note, as a sports fan(atic), I absolutely love (most of) these guys and I appreciate the fact that they are ready, willing and able to put themselves out there in a way that most of us wouldn’t. That being said, I think that they, and their fans, can take a little good-natured ribbing.

Now, let’s count down the top 25 #humblebrags in sports and decipher both the humble and the brag.

25. Terrell Thomas, New York Giants

1 of 25

@terrellthomas24: I try to show up late, and I'm still early lol

Humble: Punctuality benefits everyone!

Brag: Even when I’m late, I’m early! Haters gonna hate.

24. Matthew Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks

2 of 25

@hasselbeck: Making hotel reservations. Why do so many hotels discriminate against children?

Humble: Discrimination is wrong, and it can happen to anyone.

Brag: I’m going on a sweet vacation with my kids and my biggest problem (child discrimination) is a probably a colorful exaggeration to make my life seem more relatable.

23. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars

3 of 25

@jones_drew32: Just got done signing 500 cards and now its time for some video games..

Humble: Phew.. work is tough sometimes but these 500 cards will make 500 Jags fans really happy.

Brag: The greater part of my day is spent in my mansion playing video games.

22. Martellus Bennett, Dallas Cowboys

4 of 25

@martyisdope: I need to sit down with @mcuban and get some entrepreneur tips.

Humble: I sure have a lot to learn about business.

Brag: I get business tips from the billionaire owner of the world champion Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban.

21. Collin Balester, Washington Nationals

5 of 25

@ballystar40: At the mall with @cstammen35 and @jfmandel went in the apple store for an hour and not one human talked to me #odd

Humble: Went to the Apple store and was completely ignored by staff. Customer service these days, sheesh!

Brag: A couple of major league pitchers like me, Collin Balester, and my buddy, Craig Stammen, hanging out in the Apple store usually causes quite a ruckus, it’s extremely #odd to me that not one human approached me for an entire hour.

20. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

6 of 25

@kdtrey5: Shooting shots from the chair for the kids. Made that one lol

Humble: Just workin with kids in the off-season, gotta give back!

Brag: Think you can make that shot? While sitting down? With an audience of children who consider you their personal hero? Didn’t think so.

19. Nick Mangold, New York Jets

7 of 25

@nickmangold: I was invited to @Mark_Sanchez's #JetsWest this year, however I was not consulted on the dates therefore I won't be attending. #damnshame

Humble: It’s disappointing that I can’t go to my friend’s birthday party this year =(

Brag: By the way, my friend is famous Jets' QB @Mark_Sanchez and he usually consults me on the dates of his party.

18. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills

8 of 25

@steviejohnson13: I Think Thats So Dopee People Actually Have Me as THEIR Twitter BackGround. Unreal To Me! I Follow Automatically When I See That Luv... #CFW

Humble: I’m so flattered that fans have my likeness as their Twitter backgrounds.

Brag: I’m so dope that people actually have me as their Twitter background.

17. Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

9 of 25

@mark_ingram22: I'm supposed to be in LA at BET Awards but I have to keep training... #Sacrifice

Humble: I’m so dedicated to my training that I’m willing to miss major events.

Brag: My idea of sacrifice is missing the BET Awards to train for my multi-million dollar rookie season in the NFL.

16. Jay Feely, Arizona Cardinals (kicker)

10 of 25

@jayfeely: I should write a book entitled "me & my dock" I have battles with my floating dock and strong winds every summer. Today the dock won!

Humble: I’m just like you; sometimes things just don’t go my way.

Brag: Not only do I have a dock, I’ve got a big phat boat to tie to that dock and it's in close proximity to what must be a glorious summer house. Oh, and I might just write a book because people will pay (semi)celebrities to write just about anything.

15. Shawne Merriman, Buffalo Bills

11 of 25

@shawnemerrimam: My boys trying to get me in the studio to rap I told them the only thing I'm rapping is my wrist before I do power cleans

Humble: Why can’t my boys understand that I’m dedicated to preparing for the upcoming NFL season because it’s been three entire years since I’ve played for real.

Brag: When I’m done getting paid piles of money to ride the bench in Buffalo, you can look forward to my awesome rap album.

14. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

12 of 25

@chrisjohnson28 : It's crazy how people say I'm crying bout my contract I haven't even mentioned it. I done heard I'm overrated to trade him I luv Tennessee

Humble: Everyone is always starting rumors about me, I don’t get it! Why would you think I care about a new contract or want to leave Tennessee?

Brag: Ha, overrated? Let’s see how you feel next season when I’m playin for a new team with a fat contract and run for all over ya’ll on my way to 3000 yards.

13. Coco Crisp, Oakland Athletics

13 of 25

@coco_crisp: I have 2 start cutting of my phone at night. It's like a freaking time bomb every 10 mins... Ring... Vibrate! Went 2 bed at 10 n still tired

Humble: Don’t you hate when you go to bed at 10 p.m. and still don’t get enough sleep, then you’re tired all day at work : (

Brag: Guess what keeps me up! My phone lightin’ up like a time bomb all night because I’m a famous baseball player. Sorry you can’t relate, bra.

12. Tony Hawk, Skateboarder

14 of 25

@tonyhawk: Ebay autograph seekers lurking as I check into my hotel. Dunno whether to be honored or annoyed. How do they know where I'm staying anyway?

Humble: It’s an honor to have such dedicated fans.

Brag: It’s so annoying that my autograph is worth so much on eBay that people are stalking me at my destination... that I announced on Twitter.

11. Brandon Flowers, Kansas City Chiefs

15 of 25

@bflowers24: S/o to baby d..she knew kc kept delaying my flights since yesterday and I really wanted to get home for fathers day so she sent the jet out

Humble: I’m so glad that the bad weather in Kansas City didn’t keep me from my girlfriend and baby on Father’s Day.

Brag: Can you believe she wanted me home so badly that she sent a private jet to pick me up?

10. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds

16 of 25

@datdudebp: Dinner with the ACES family was a HUGE eye opener... It felt good to hear their input about me! Just what I needed... I love my agents

Humble: Sometimes you just need a nice meal with friends to put things in perspective.

Brag: Thank God I have a talented team of agents who I pay big time money to give me their input; it really opens my eyes. I am definitely doing something right because in all my years with the ACES family, “yes” is the only word I’ve ever heard.

9. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

17 of 25

@r_mendenhall: When I go to the local gym, people don't understand the way I lift weights.. But other athletes do...

Humble: I’m just a regular, misunderstood guy who hangs at the local gym.

Brag: Because I’m a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, my workouts are so intense and complicated that yokels don’t even understand what I’m doing. It takes an athlete to understand.

8. Landon Donovan, U.S. Soccer

18 of 25

@landondonovan: Trying to take a nap before the game and there are little girls outside my house screaming "Landon Donovan, come to our birthday party!"

Humble: I’ve got to go work in a little bit and all I want to do is catch a few zzz’s.

Brag: Work is playing soccer and I can’t sleep because there are adoring fans outside of my house who want nothing more in the world than for me to attend their birthday party.

7. Kerry Rhodes, Arizona Cardinals

19 of 25

@kerryrhodes: Just got embarrassed on flight! Flight attendant made an announcement about me being inducted and everybody got up and applauded. #teamshy!

Humble: Isn’t flying hard enough without being embarrassed by the flight attendant? I’m just a shy guy who wants a little privacy which is why I don’t brag about my accomplishments.

Brag: Did I mention that when the flight attendant announced that I am the youngest inductee ever into the Kentucky Hall of Fame all the passengers broke out into applause. It’s sure a lot of pressure to be included in a group that includes greats like Phil Simms and Gayle Sayers!

6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

20 of 25

@dwyanewade: I wanna thank everyone who has read and responded to my Newsweek article..just alil insight on what drives me to become a Leader in Life..

Humble: I’m so touched by everyone who read my article; Miami Heat fans are amazing.

Brag: You’re welcome, Newsweek, for letting you publish my article. You’re welcome America: for my leadership.

5. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers

21 of 25

@chriskaman: O dang, lock out is almost here. I wonder if I will be able to have free speech on Twitter now?!?!

Humble: I’m concerned about the lockout, just like NBA fans around the country.

Brag: Thankfully I’ll finally have the right to say whatever I want on Twitter because the NBA is a dictatorship that pays me millions of dollars but asks me not to be an idiot on Twitter. Now I can have millions of dollars AND be an idiot on Twitter. Smh.. you wouldn’t understand.

4. Eric Wright, Cleveland Browns

22 of 25

@ithinkurwright: Every year someone sets me up to go the BET Awards.. I be like cmon man, what makes u think I wanna go to that? Seriously..

Humble: Don’t you hate tedious social commitments? Why don’t people ever listen =(

Brag: I’ve got better things to do than travel first class to Los Angeles to see the grody old BET Awards. Are you seriously being serious?

3. Darnell Docket, Arizona Cardinals

23 of 25

@ddockett: I know I know! I'm arrogant and cocky and rich! Naw I'm humble and I love life stop judging me! Walk in in my shoes and you'll seen! Love U

Humble: I’m humble and I want people to stop judging me. Oh, and I love you.

Brag: I know I’m arrogant and cocky and rich! BOOM, how you like me now?

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

24 of 25

@aaronrodgers12: To the 2 grown men awkwardly videotaping me getting take out tonight, in case u didn't hear me: super lame.

Humble: I just want my privacy guys, stop being super lame.

Brag: Having won the Super Bowl, I’m so rich and famous that even grown men are trippin over the opportunity to watch me walk away with a bag of Italian hoagies.