Jun 28, 2016

Sporting superstars who've gone off the rails. In Australia the story of Ben Cousins is all too familiar to the general public. The former football superstar who was on top of the world but crashed and burned for more than a decade.

Have a read of his wikipedia for a general understanding of his triumphant highs and his disastrous lows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cousins

He was a substance abuser, a high functioning drug addict who used cocaine, m---, ice, prescription drugs, anything, you name it. He had underworld links and numerous run ins with police. For much of his career it was all routinely dealt with, but from late-2005 onwards everything spiraled out of control.

He was delisted aka waived by the team he captained in West Coast in 2007 due to his many f--- ups, was banned from the league in 2008 for "bringing the game into disrepute", came back in 2009 and retired in 2010. Since his retirement he's been in the news countless times for a variety of bizarre situations such as evading police, drug binges, drug induced psychosis, rehabilitation, psychiatric support, underworld criminal links, so on and so forth.

Just recently he was found on the freeway, incoherent, directing traffic and nearly caused an accident when he tried to pull someone off a bike GTA style.

His story is such a sad one because he had the world at his feet, was arguably one of the greatest players of the modern era yet for all that his name has been tarnished because of his demons and addictions.

So my question is, are there any other instances of superstar professional athletes who have/have been disgraced? Another one that comes to mind is Mike Tyson.

 

Jun 28, 2016

i think Oscar Pistorius is one of the most disgraced atm, just because with most cases the accused just gets locked up, with Oscar the trial is still going on

 

Jun 28, 2016

Oscar Pistorius
Lance Armstrong

 

Jun 28, 2016

OJ Simpson's name came to me instantly. I don't really think anyone comes close. I'd say tied for second would be Pistorius and Armstrong.

 

Jun 28, 2016

 

Jun 28, 2016

g.d. it Max.

 

Jun 28, 2016

*insert token Australian athlete*

 

Jun 28, 2016

OJ Simpson... at one point he could k--- two people at once and get away with it.

Now he can't even steal his own shirts back without going to prison for decades.

 

Jun 28, 2016

Aaron Hernandez.

f--- him. Hate him so much.

 

Jun 28, 2016

Could've at least linked the real version...

 

Jun 28, 2016

that Lance Armstrong dude comes to mind. Super duper popular god tier biker that was loved by all (here in U.S.). I even remember in elementary we got like armstrong bracelets that we wore to keep us motivated to chase our dreams or someshit.

then poof! he got in trouble for doping, looked quite down on now. Not the worst but its the first that one comes to mind for me just cause i personally noticed the big change in how he was viewed