The 7 most notorious bad boys of the sporting world

Mayweather is not reticent when it comes to moneyTo err is human. To forgive is, well, unbecoming of the public, especially when that human is an elite athlete or sportsperson. Average joes yell, throw objects or make their employees’ lives miserable. But take that personality trait and extrapolate it to include absurd wealth, negligible social cultivation and a media magnifying glass, and you have the quintessesntial sporting bad boy. The recent retirement of Floyd Mayweather has prompted us to create an assemblage of such specimens. The order is debatable, and the list could be bigger, but we decided to select only the most recognizable sportsters to grace this list.

#1 Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather is a cliche. From originating in a broken home in a bad environment to an Olympic bronze, Mayweather’s success story is inspiring in earnest, regardless of the public persona he has cultivated to deliberately estrange himself from his observers. His boxing credentials are beyond reproach, despite his much-maligned fighting style. But “Money” has made as many headlines for his controversies outside the ring as inside it.

“The Best Ever” has thrice been charged with battery and convicted twice, with the last conviction resulting in a 60-day prison term. He also caught the ire of the public for his derogatory remarks against rapper T.I’s wife and ensuing bust-up. His controversial knockout of Victor Ortiz when the referee was looking away and his strained relationship with his father are other instances of his irreverence.

#2 Diego Maradona

The Argentinian football demi-god is exemplary of a troubled public figure whose life took a rapid downturn after his sporting career, but managed to redeem himself and still keep the love of his fans. "El Pibe de Oro"(The Golden Boy), was worshipped by fans globally for his football mind, control, speed and reflexes. Maradona broke the record for transfer fees twice, remaining the only player to do so, and scored the “goal of the century” against England.

But his life outside football is in startling contrast to his on-field magic. From being suspected of being a Mafia member to openly befriending Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, Maradona shocked the public with his actions. His vociferousness against America and the Pope won a few hearts, but antagonised many. But perhaps the most saddening is his cocaine addiction, which lasted over two decades. After a major heart attack, a bypass surgery and treatment for hepatits and alchohol addiction, Maradona announced to the media in 2007 that he had been completely sober for over two years.

#3 Dennis Rodman

A member of the almighty Chicago Bulls during their golden years, Dennis Rodman was one of the greatest defensive players to ever step onto the hardwood. A 7-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 5-time NBA Champion and 2-time NBA All-Star, Rodman defied denigrations (he was 34 when traded to the Bulls) and alongside Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, was an indispensable part one of the most formidable teams in NBA history.

His life post-NBA made as much news as his career. His piercings and dyed hair were media darlings, but his stock really shot up after his much publicized affair with Madonna, the wedding dress he wore to launch his autobiography while claiming he was bisexual and DUI and domestic violence charges. But what is seared into peoples’ memory is his highly sensationalized friendship with Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea.The latter’s adulation of the Chicago Bulls led him to invite Rodman to his country, which resulted in Rodman becoming the first known American to have met Jong-un. Rodman, along with other ballers, played bsaketball in Korea, and he planned to coach the North Korean national basketball team. Needless to stay, the camarederie drew the ire of the US Government, with a Department of Treasury investigation in progress.

#4 John Terry

The former England and Chelsea skipper’s fall from grace began when allegations of an extramarital affair with a former teammate’s wife surfaced in 2010, just a year after he was named “Dad of the Year” in a survey. Terry was stripped of the captaincy while under investigation, but was reinstated later. But the most abhorrent incident came to light when he was accused of racially insulting fellow player Anton Ferdinand. Terry was stripped of the national team captaincy and arraigned.

Though initially acquitted by the FA in 2012, he was later charged with using racially abusive words and behaviour and suspended and fined. He retired from the English national team thereafter, but along with his club, came under fire for not being penalized justifiably. he received just a 4-match ban where Luis Suarez received an 8-match ban for a similar transgression.

#5 Mike Tyson

A 3-year prison stint was the worst of Tyson’s woes

Where do we start? Perhaps 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days? That’s how young Tyson was when he won the WBC, WBA and IBF Heavyweight titles. “Kid Dynamite” announced his thunderous arrival with knockouts characterized by their viciousness and quickness. The two-time gold medalist at the Junior Olympics Games would catch the attention of the boxing world as a rising prospect.

After knockouts of two legends in Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, “Iron” Mike was at his peak, a high that he would never surpass in the coming years. After a divorce from Robin Givens and a separation from longtime manager Bill Clayton and his mentor Kevin Rooney, “The Baddest Man on the Planet” would lose steam and experience what many call the biggest upset in boxing history at the hands of Buster Douglas.

In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington and served three years of a five-year prison sentence. A resurgence was cut short by a loss to Evander Holyfield, and the infamous ‘ear bite’ in the rematch would result in fines and a ban that would render him unable to fight in the US. Blow-after-blow would take the fight out of the erstwhile most feared boxer in the world. Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Struggles with substance abuse, alcoholism and penury have made Tyson a shell of his former self, not unlike the caricature of himself he plays in movies.

#6 Shane Warne

Something to brag about, in most other cases

Shane Warne’s career would be the envy of even the world’s best bowlers. But 1001 international wickets and oft-repeated highlight deliveries wouldn’t erase the blackmarks of his disreputable deeds. In 1998, Warne and Mark Waugh were fined for accepting money from bookies for divulging pitch information. In 2003, Warne was suspended for a year for taking a banned substance (a diuretic) and consequently missed the World Cup. ‘Warnie’ was also heavily criticized for his smoking habit, despite being a top sportsperson.

However, the biggest scandals of Warne’s life were reports of him sexting with various women and allegations of infidelity. He seperated from his wife, Simone in 2005 and a 2007 reconciliation was ended after he accidentally sent a text meant for another woman to his wife. Warne was in all the tabloids from 2010, after being spotted with actress Elizabeth Hurley. Reports of another sexting episode didn’t deter their relationship, as Hurley moved in with Warne and the couple got engaged. They ended their relationship in 2013.

#7 Mario Balotelli

A highly touted prospect in his nascence, the young Italian has been called ‘unmanageable’ by his once-coach, Jose Mourinho. Born to Ghanaian immigrants but raised by a Jewish mother and an Italian father, Balotelli made waves with his power, speed and technique. But success and fame would prove fickle friends, as he lacked the discipline and focus to maximize his potential. Multiple car crashes, setting his house on fire and throwing darts at a young player may not feature on the same scale as the predilections of the others on this list, but such delinquitism are major setbacks to a professional sportsperson, not just to his skill but also image, as their celebrity subjects them to intense media scrutiny.