Randy Moss and the Biggest Sports Divas
After a somewhat long hiatus, Randy Moss' recent complaint that he doesn't feel appreciated with the Patriots (despite the near $10 million they have paid him over the past three seasons) sprung him back into the discussion for Biggest Sports Diva.
But does he have what it takes to be the top diva of all time? Find out here.
10. Alex Rodriguez
1 of 10
An instantly recognizable nickname is a key factor in diva-making and Alex Rodriguez has been โA-Rodโ virtually as long as heโs been in the majors.
That alone doesnโt make him a diva; almost everything that has transpired since he left Seattle in 2000 does, however.
Itโs not his fault that the Rangers offered him $252 million but anyone who gets that type of payday is going to instantly earn diva points.
Then there was that whole trade to the Red Sox that fell through and the eventual landing with the Yankees that made him a bit more unlikeable.
Admitting to using PEDs didnโt help his image butโwith Derek Jeter right beside him day in and day outโhe doesnโt project low-maintenance.
In his book, A-Rodโs former manager, Joe Torre, shared some of the tales that earned him the nickname โA-fraudโ and his unreasonable demands as the Yankees star.
9. Tiger Woods
2 of 10
Tiger isnโt a diva in the traditional sense that he wants all the attention (far from it) or that he puts himself before the team: after all he plays an individual sport; he can be all the diva he wants.
But when Tiger isnโt playing well his antics are a bit annoying.
The club-dropping, the pouty face when he mis-hits a shot or when he looks in utter disbelief when a putt doesnโt fall.
Tiger gets a pass on most of that because the camera is on him so much more during a tournament than it is any other player.
But listening to his post-round debriefsโespecially after a bad roundโis sometimes painful.
Yes, we know that you score when the putts fall, and you donโt score when they donโt.
8. Barry Bonds
3 of 10
Much like Tiger, we are supposed to believe that Barry Bonds hated the spotlight. Watching those interviewsโespecially those conducted by ESPNโs Pedro Gomezโyouโd think he was at the dentist having his teeth pulled.
Some of his antics while with the Pirates, and then all his alleged clubhouse demands (leather chairs, televisions, etc) were well documented even before the BALCO scandal.
But in addition to learning HOW he (allegedly) used PEDs, the book "Game of Shadows" revealed even more layers of Bonds' inner diva.
According to the book, a major part of his motivation for cheating was his jealousy over all the attention Mark McGwire received during the 1998 home run binge.
If cheating to tarnish your legacy over jealousy isnโt divary, than nothing is.
.jpg?w=2560 "Steelers Football")
7. Joe Namath
4 of 10
The fur coat and the sunglasses on the sidelines was part of the VISUAL image that screamed โlook at me.โ
So did his movie career, his television commercials, and the talk show he hosted. But the guarantee prior to Super Bowl III was tops by far.
Prior to Namathโs guarantee, that type of bravado was unheard of in the NFL. And this is one case where being a diva wasnโt terribly destructive, either.
Namath guaranteeing victory over the 18-point favored Baltimore Colts was one of the greatest moments in the history of the Super Bowlโฆ..but only because he made good on the prediction.
6. LeBron James
5 of 10
Itโs hard to call someone a diva for one moment in an entire career, but LBJโs antics this summer came straight out of the Diva 101 textbook. Throughout his entire career, James managed to stay away from major criticism of the diva type, until July.
There was nothing wrong with holding us all in suspense about his decision: he had all the right to take his time.
And (unless you ask a Cleveland fan) there was nothing wrong with leaving his hometown to play in Miami for more money and with his pals. But to have to hold a nationally televised hour-long special was an absurd display of self-promotion.
And to top it all off the unintentionally hilarious catch phrase he coined that night while talking to Jim GrayโโIโm taking my talents to South Beachโโwas quintessentially ego-centric.
5. Randy Moss
6 of 10
The recent โyou would like to feel appreciated commentโ surged Moss back into the discussion for Americas Next Top Diva.
We tended to forget about Moss because he seemed to have fixed his image as a selfish player: his unbelievable 2007 season and the Patriots' 16-0 regular season helped people forget about his nightmarish tenure in Oakland.
We all thought the veteran leadership in the locker room, Tom Bradyโs presence and Bill Belichickโs no-nonsense attitude rubbed off on Moss. But it turned out to be fleeting.
Regardless, long before Mossโ most recent headlines, his โobscene,โ yet imaginary defiling of a goal post during the Packers-Vikings playoff game sparked debate over his diva-tude.
But that wasnโt nearly as bad as his admitting that he โtook plays off.โ Only a true diva would actually admit that and, for the most part, get away with it. ย
As a repeat offender whose offenses have now spanned three decades, Moss is truly one of the NFLโs most enduring divas. ย
4. Brett Favre
7 of 10
Like LeBron, Favreโs recent belly flop into the world of diva once seemed relatively out of character, even unthinkable.
Just a few years ago, Favre was one of the most respected names in sports and enjoyed a long career that was virtually all about football and not about him.
Nevertheless, the retirement, un-retirement, retirement, un-retirement, retirement, un-retirement of the previous three off-seasons has been maddeningโฆ(not John Madden-ing).
If we actually believed that Favre was wavering back and forth because he couldnโt make up his mind, then he would have no spot on this list.
But, if the claim of so many in the mediaโthat he only did this off-season hijinks in order to get attention (or worse yet, more money)โthen he is as much a diva as anyone.
3. Chad Ochocinco
8 of 10
Some people donโt find nearly as much fault with his attention grabbing episodesโthe signs he held up, the twittering during a pre-season game, the skits he performed with the ball after scoring a touchdownโbecause they seem to be playful or just fun-loving.
More often than not, the divas are criticized for their ego or me-first attitude. Although Chad Ochocincoโs stunts are sometimes humorous and not destructive to the team ideal, each is intended to put the spotlight on him.
Would he have his own reality show if he didnโt make himself a star? And legally changing your name to (sort of??) match your jersey number isnโt exactly a self-effacing action, either.
2. (Three-Way Tie) Special Owners Entry: Jerry Jones, Al Davis, George Steinbrenner
9 of 10
No one can question these menโs desire to win. And each man certainly achieved that: three Super Bowl titles for both Jones and Davis, seven World Series titles for the late Mr. Steinbrenner.
On the surface, it seemed that all of their meddling was borne out of a desire to do what they earnestly believe was best for the team.
And in most cases it probably was. But you canโt help but wonder if they wanted the credit for the decisions they made just as muchโor moreโas they wanted the championship rings. If so, that is divary at the highest level of authority.
1. Terrell Owens
10 of 10
The saddest part about T.O.โs image is that his image overshadows his career. From 2000 to 2004, there is an argument to be made that Owens was the best player in the NFL.
He blocked well, caught virtually everything thrown at him, and his ability to gain yards after the catch was unparalleled.
And the impact he had in his first season with the Eagles in 2004 ย would have won him the league MVP that year had he not been injured late in the season; his gutty performance in that yearโs Super Bowl (on an injured ankle) only enhanced his growing legacy.
But he wasted all that good currency by bashing his quarterbacks in the public: first Jeff Garcia then Donovan McNabb.
After he got to Dallasโand that bizarre trip to the hospital due to a hydrocodone overdoseโOwens had no choice but to try and get along with his quarterback. But he couldnโt even do that: publicly complaining about Tony Romoโs relationship with tight end Jason Witten.
A diva will always have trouble finding a stable home, especially in the NFL. Because T.O. has played with five different teams since 2003, he is the leagueโs premier diva.
.jpg?w=2560 "Players with Shocking Career Earnings ๐ณ")
