Worse Than Michael Jordan Playing Baseball: The Worst Combos In Sports History
Good or bad, there are some players, coaches and teams that just do not belong together.
People like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky may be considered the best ever in the sports they played, but they have been involved in some terrible combos.
Not to take away from any of these athletes, but they just find themselves in the top 15 worst combos in sports history. This can include player-player combos, player-coach combos, player-team combos and in one man's case player-sport combo.
Some of these players may be the best in their sports and some may be the worst, however the one thing they all have in common is a horrible combo between them and someone/something else.
15. J.J. Redick and Stan Van Gundy
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Going into the NBA, J.J. Redick was coming out of Duke as one of the best three point shooters in college basketball history, if not the best. He had very high expectations being picked number 11 in the 2006 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.
In his first couple of years, he sat on the bench and had very minimal minutes out on the court. Redick demanded a trade, but Gundy kept on telling the media that he did not want to trade Redick away. This feud would go on for a couple more years, until finally, Redick was put in to play more.
With another team, Redick could have continued where he left off in college, but instead he is averaging 7.5 points per game playing for the Orlando Magic.
Don't get me wrong, Redick is doing alright now for the Magic, but when you go from the best shooter in college to the best sitter in the NBA, something is obviously wrong. Redick in my mind was good enough to play from the start, but Gundy obviously sees different than me.
Being one of the best shooters ever in college just doesn't make the cut for Gundy.
14. Fab Five and Michigan
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Chris Webber and the Michigan Wolverines were supposed to win many championships together. Instead, Webber and the rest of the fab five declared for the NBA just after two seasons.
Michigan lost in the championship game their freshman year against the Duke Blue Devils and the following season they lost the championship against the North Carolina Tar Heels, thanks to Webber's infamous timeout that lead to a technical foul, costing them the game.
Eventually, all of the achievements and awards from these two seasons were taken away because some of the players received some money while playing for Michigan.
Two championship appearances may seem like a good combination, but when you get blown out of one of those games and make the biggest mistake in your college career, the combination isn't looking so good anymore.
The fab five was just not meant for college, hence they lost the championship two seasons in a row and caused major problems for their school, leading to all of their achievements getting taken away.
I would consider this team the fab five of losing championships and getting its school history erased.
13. Wayne Gretzky and Coaching
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We all know him as "The Great One" and he is without a doubt the best player to ever play the game of hockey. Wayne Gretzky was a legend out on the ice. Unfortunately, that was out on the ice.
As a coach, Wayne Gretzky is simply horrible. Gretzky had a .473 winning percentage for the Phoenix Coyotes and with a record of 143-161-24, he only lasted four seasons behind the bench.
Looks like he's not "The Great Coach."
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12. T.O. and Ochocinco
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When you add two of the best wide receivers in the NFL together, you get a record of of 4-12. Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens do not belong on the same field together, let alone the same team.
They talk by far the most crap in the league and when you put these two people on the same team you have a disaster. Both of them have always complained about not getting enough passes, so how do you make them both happy? You don't.
If Ochocinco and Owens are on the same team next year look for some smack talking to start, which is what they do best.
11. Moss and Vikings Take Two
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There is no reason to get rid of a player and then eventually get that person back on your team. Not to mention this player caused havoc all the time.
Don't get me wrong, the first time Moss played for the Vikings it was a good match, but when you have to take every opportunity and make it into a bad one, come on.
Moss didn't even like the catering that the Viking provided for him. Instead of filling his mouth with this lovely food, he filled his mouth with criticism after a Monday night loss to the New England Patriots.
The Vikings knew the way Moss acted and they couldn't even handle him. As a result, this relationship ended once again after four games.
Looks like the catering got the last laugh.
10. Michael Jordan Meets Baseball
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If you are good at something, then why not keep doing that something. Not to mention, you're name is Michael Jordan and you just won your third straight NBA title.
Michael Jordan retired for the first time to play baseball. At first it was crazy, but being Michael Jordan I am sure everyone thought he could do it, but he couldn't. Jordan had a .202 batting average in just one season for the AA Birmingham Barons.
The next season, he was back playing for the Chicago Bulls.
9. Rich Rodriquez and Michigan
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Rich Rodriquez was on his way to stardom, and then he met the Michigan Wolverines. Rodriquez went an astonishing 60-26 coaching for the West Virginia Mountaineers, with two of his last three seasons making it to a BCS Bowl game.
When Rodriquez arrived at Michigan he was supposed to restore the very successful program. Instead he had a coaching record of 15-22 and was fired after his third season.
Rodriguez may be good, but he's not Michigan good.
8. JaMarcus Russell and Tom Cable
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JaMarcus Russell was picked number one by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 NFL draft. Instead of living up to his expectations, he had a combined 18 touchdown passes in three seasons.
In 2009, Tom Cable thought he had a really good team in the Raiders, however Russell did not perform and Cable blamed Russell for the team's struggles.
Russell went from the number one draft pick to jobless in a span of three years.
7. Terrell Owens and Jeff Garcia
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Typical Terrell Owens in this relationship. Jeff Garcia and T.O. led the San Francisco 49ers into the playoffs, where they beat the New York Giants. The next game they lost against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All fingers were pointed at Garcia by T.O. and he eventually called Garcia some very disrespectful names. This relationship ended shortly after that. Off to the Philadelphia Eagles for Owens.
6. Leaf and The Chargers
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Ryan Leaf was supposed to be the next big star in the NFL. The San Diego Chargers took him as the number two draft pick in the 1998 NFL draft.
What followed was two horrible seasons with the Chargers and the infamous locker room breakout from Leaf. This combo between Leaf and the Chargers led to the Chargers getting rid of Leaf.
At least Leaf was known for something.
5. Al Davis Vs Any Coach
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When Al Davis was combined with any coach, there was likely to be some controversy. Davis is well-known for feuds with Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable and Jon Gruden, not to mention he moved the Oakland Raiders from Los Angeles.
If a coach was to get on Davis' bad side, he would simple fire them or start controversy with them.
4. Donovan McNabb Welcomes T.O.
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Just like the San Francisco story, Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles lost in the playoffs, but this time it was in the 2004 Super Bowl.
Although Donovan McNabb threw the ball to Owens for 9 receptions and 122 yards, once again Owens began to point fingers. He blamed the loss on McNabb's performance and this hit off the feud between McNabb and Owens.
3. Babe Ruth and the Red Sox
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When Babe Ruth played for the Boston Red Sox, he was known for being a pitcher. Although he pitched really well for the Red Sox, this is not where he would find his calling card.
At the end of his career with the Red Sox, Ruth was developing as one of the best hitters in the game. Apparently he was not good enough though because the Red Sox got rid of him after the 1919 season.
With a chip on his shoulder, Ruth went on to win four World Series with the New York Yankees and is considered one of the best baseball players of all-time. If only he would have been so kind to the Boston Red Sox.
Maybe red wasn't Ruth's color.
2. Shaq and Kobe
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Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant did wonders together for the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, after three NBA titles, Los Angeles was not big enough for the both of them.
This resulted in Shaq being traded by the Lakers and the rival between the two began. For years, the two criticized each other. Although they have recently made up, Shaq and Kobe will no longer be considered the great duo, Shaq and Kobe.
1. LeBron and the Cavs
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LeBron James took the Cleveland Cavaliers to heights that they have never even imagined. James completely transformed this team and made it one of the best teams in the NBA for seven solid years.
When James' contract was nearing with the Cavaliers, the fans and everything that was associated with the Cavaliers worshiped him and tried getting him to stay with the team. King James had other plans though and in the summer of 2010 he signed with the Miami Heat.
The moment James signed with the Heat, the city of Cleveland completely turned on him. They began burning his jerseys and taking signs of him down. They automatically hated him and acted like he did nothing for that city.
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are now by far the worst combo in sports history.
At least Dan Gilbert promised that the Cavaliers would win before the King, that counts for something right?
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