Misery Loves Company: Promising Sports Stars Who Became Injured

This is the one list Stephen Strasburg really wanted to avoid.

Now that the Nationals' rookie phenom is facing Tommy John surgery and at least a year of missed action, let the comparisons begin to young potential superstars who got hurt and never recovered.

Hopefully Strasburg is able to bounce back from his injury, but if not, he will forever be grouped with these highly-touted athletes whose bodies never let their careers become what they could have become.

Shaun Livingston

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LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 26: Shaun Livingston #14 of the Los Angeles Clippers grimaces in pain after dislocating his knee during the NBA game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center on February 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won

Perhaps we should have seen this one coming when the Clippers drafted him.

Livingston was the co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game in 2004 and passed on a full ride to Duke to opt for the NBA Draft.

The Clippers took the young point guard fourth overall in 2004, and although Livingston struggled out of the gate in his first two seasons, he was in the midst of a career year in 2007 when he blew out his knee against the Bobcats.

Three years later, Livingston is on his fourth NBA team and has been toiling in obscurity. Not quite the career fans expected out of the high school superstar from Illinois.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1VLN2dlbV0

Charles Rogers

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 13: Wide receiver Charles Rogers #80 of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on November 13, 2005 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Cardinals 29-21. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

Fans were enthralled with the ability of Michigan State receiving star Charles Rogers as he entered the NFL.

Rogers won a Biletnikoff Award, broke MSU and NCAA records, and was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in 2003.

He charged out of the gate, hauling in three touchdowns in his first five NFL games before breaking his collarbone in practice.

Rogers missed the rest of the season and upon his return in '04, he broke his collarbone yet again on the third play of the season.

Rogers never physically recovered and fell into a world of substance abuse, leading him to spend more time in jail than on a football field.

Anfernee Hardaway

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CHICAGO - MARCH 20: Anfernee Hardaway #1 of the New York Knicks stretches before the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on March 20, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 87-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that

Penny tasted a great deal of success, but nagging injuries robbed Hardaway and fans alike from what should have been an all-time great career.

After finishing second in the ROY race, Penny started two All-Star games, was named to two All-NBA first teams, and made an NBA Finals appearance, all in his first three years in the league.

After Shaq left Orlando, the injuries began piling up for Penny.  He missed parts of 96-97, and most of 97-98. He then was traded to Phoenix, where he had microfracture surgery in 2000.

Injuries plagued Hardaway for the rest of his career as he bounced around to the Knicks and Heat. His playoff scoring average is still second to only Michael Jordan, but needless to say, Penny had a lot more to give.

Jason Williams

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16 Mar 2002: Jason Williams #22 of Duke drives to the basket during their game with Notre Dame during the NCAA 2nd round basketball game at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina. DIGITAL IMAGEMandatory Credit: Craig Jones/Getty Images

Perhaps the only guy on this list who really can be blamed for his downfall.

Williams dazzled the nation while at Duke.  He won Naismith and Wooden Awards, was an All-American, and even had his jersey retired by the Blue Devils.

Williams was taken by the Bulls second overall in the 2002 NBA Draft after Yao Ming.  After a mediocre season, hopes were high that Williams would become a leader on the Bulls in years to come.

But fate was not having any of it, as Williams crashed him motorcycle into a streetlight in the offseason.  Williams severed a nerve in his leg, broke his pelvis, and tore up ligaments, including his ACL, in his left knee.  He was lucky to survive and even needed therapy to learn to walk again.

WIlliams was not licensed to drive a motorcycle in Illinois, and was in violation of his contract by doing so.  He also was not wearing a helmet.

After a stint as an ESPN commentator, Williams made an ill-fated comeback with the Nets, and then in the D-League before he was waived due to injury.

Mark Prior

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PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 5: Pitcher Mark Prior #22 of the Chicago Cubs pitches during a play against the Seattle Mariners during Spring Training at Peoria Sports Complex March 5, 2007 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Perhaps the scariest of all, yet the most obvious of comparisons for Stephen Strasburg.

After a stellar career at USC, Prior was the can't-miss prospect of the 2001 draft. The Cubs selected him and were treated to an 18-6 2003, where Prior finished third in the CY Young race, despite missing three starts due to injury.

Those three missed starts were just the tip of the iceberg. In 2004, Prior missed the first two months due to an injured Achilles and faced rumors of Tommy John. He finished the year at 6-4 in 21 sub par starts. 

Prior started 2005 on the DL once again, but returned and pitched well until being struck by a line drive in the pitching arm, leading to a fracture and more DL time. However, he finished the year 11-7 in 27 starts.

In 2006, he again missed the first two months with a strained shoulder, He made four horrendous starts until straining an oblique, taking BP and returning to the DL. After another return to action, Prior was shelved for good in 2006 with tendinitis and finished with a 1-6 record and a 7.21 ERA.

In 2007, the Cubs said Prior had been diagnosed with a "loose shoulder" which led to many of his injuries. He met with the infamous Dr. Andrews and had exploratory surgery that showed structural damage, leading Prior to miss the entire season and effectively ending his Cubs career.

In 2008, the Padres signed Prior, but after tearing his shoulder in a rehab start, he never made it to the big club and missed the entire season.

Prior did not get called up by the Padres in 2009, and was eventually released, and now pitches in the Golden Baseball League.

Needless to say, we hope Strasburg can avoid this fate.