The Sleaze Also Rises

Back by not so popular demand is a second go at a top 10 sleaziest figures in sports.

This list contains some oldies but goodies, and some that many, other than myself, may not have even considered but I ask you to look at the facts. So without further ado, onto the list:

10. All Sports Agents

Scott Boras came in at number one in my last top 10. I've decided for this list I'd go ahead and lump in just about all of them. This includes Drew Rosenhaus and the rest of the crew that bleed the integrity and purity of sports dry.

9. Maryland Basketball Fans

As a Duke fan there is reason for Maryland to draw my ire, however, the fan base in College Park has taken poor taste to another level. Any school that doesn't address fans who throw bottles at opposing teams, wears shirts with the f-word, not to mention chants using it, needs a lesson in class.

I don't think they realize they ruin a good rivalry and help negatively shape the views of their program when they distract other fans, and viewers away from the game with that nonsense. Like him or hate him what Gary Williams did this year was impressive.

8. Ty Cobb

Yes, the Hall of Famer by all accounts was a cheating, beating, racist, slime-ball who was anything but peachy. Some of his exploits are legendary, yet for all his controversy he is in the Hall of Fame while country bumpkin Joe Jackson, who was every bit of a ball player, remains out.

7. Lawrence Phillips

The former Nebraska, and I hesitate to say NFL, running back was a thug. Hard to imagine a coach like Tom Osborne dealing with the likes of Phillips. Not sure anybody got more second chances with the exception of Adam "Pac-Man" Jones, who comes in at number...

6. Adam Jones

What can you say about the former Titan/Cowboy? He has forever soiled the purity of the name of the old Atari game with which I spent so much of my youth playing. He has possibly more arrests and court appearances than he does tackles.

5. T.O./ Chad Johnson

Couldn't decided who was worse so I just joined them together. They both are annoying, self-centered, drains to any team. Both can be funny and charming when on top of the world but when things don't go their way they are worse than a 4 year old throwing a tantrum.

4. Lane Kiffin

Kiffin has a lot to learn about PR. After the way he left the Raiders, it didn't take him long to open his mouth and insert his foot after taking the Tennessee job. Perhaps a coach who hasn't been all that successful running a program shouldn't be calling out the coach who is currently the most successful in college football.

Perhaps if he wins something people will spend more time listening to him, but for now I wouldn't anger Urban Meyer or Tim Tebow, you wouldn't like them when they are angry.

3. Al Davis

Kiffin's former boss could be a little higher on the list, but I'm weighing in the senile factor. Davis has truly lost it and he didn't have a very good grip to begin with. He helped establish the Raiders as one of the most respected and feared franchises in the NFL and has subsequently allowed it to drift into one of the most pathetic.

And he has done it in a way devoid of class, and tact.

2. O.J. Simpson

This past year got me thinking that Karma must really exist. More than 10 years after getting away with murder, Simpson was finally busted.

I remember him saying after his first trial that he would dedicate his life to finding the real killer of his former wife. And while his search of every exclusive golf course provided no leads, I'd like to think that his armed robbery plot was really a quest to strong arm people for information into the killings. 

1. Barry Bonds

Hindsight being 20/20, Bonds should have ended up on my original top 10, but it is never to late to make amends. Not only is he a cheater, but Bonds has been a jerk and sleaze from day one. I'm not sure if that is a side effect of the flax-seed oil or not though.

If he is wondering why no one wants to offer him even the league minimum he need look no further than a mirror. Perhaps with his lovely earring he could get a gig with the Pirates as their mascot. I think he'd look good with an eye patch.