Biggest Waste of Talent in Sports History?

[rubbrband]

Ricky Williams isn't a bad nominee.

[nutshot2]

Ricky Williams, Rich Harden, and Mark Prior are about 100 levels DOWN on the talent meter from guys like Strawberry and Gooden.

Two different classes IMO.

[Karak567]

mark prior

[TalkingDonkey]

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mark prior

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i don't think he qualifies yet, give him 5 years or 3 more surgeries

[mo42nyy]

prior has gotten hurt which isnt his fault

no way that strawberry is more of a waste than gooden
gooden couldve been as good as clemens
strawberry would have been a very good power hitter but not an all time great

[Colt McCoy]

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I nominate Mike Tyson

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Eh, he was only the undisputed heavyweight champ for like three years. If you want to talk boxing champs that never lived up, look at Leon Spinks.

[Pudge714]

This isn't that difficult and I can't believe I need to use algebra to explain this.
Player has X natural talent due to his own lack of work ethic, drugs, alcohol, etc. he became a player of X-Y value.
Injuries don't count and players who are all stars can't waste that much talent since they can't go that far down.
What player wasted more talent Shaq because his prime was cut a little short or Len Bias because he never played a game in the NBA?
Also VC did waste a lot of talent he is an incredible athlete, jumping and dunking isn't some arbitrary skill it is correlated with athleticism, which is correlated with being a good basketball player.

[slothinator]

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I nominate Mike Tyson

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Eh, he was only the undisputed heavyweight champ for like three years. If you want to talk boxing champs that never lived up, look at Leon Spinks.

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How about Tommy Morrison? AIDS FTL

[Cortz]

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I nominate Mike Tyson

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Eh, he was only the undisputed heavyweight champ for like three years. If you want to talk boxing champs that never lived up, look at Leon Spinks.

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How about Tommy Morrison? AIDS FTL

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tommy morrison was 1 of the most overrated in his time, if he wasnt white nobody would have known who he was...(for ex: if he was black hes just an average fighter)

[bernie]

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If you want to talk boxing champs that never lived up, look at Leon Spinks.

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Lived up to what? He's never been considered a great heavyweight. It's a joke he ever won the title.

b