Biggest Sportsperson Disappointment...

[MisterCreosote]

Speaking of the Saints: Ricky Williams, bust or nah?

He was the definition of mediocre with the exception of the year he won the rushing title.

 

[Azrael]

So far unmentioned:

Bust? Todd Marinovich

Fall from grace? Denny McLain

 

[BTExpress]

It was definitely my newspaper's biggest disappointment when the Miami Herald scooped us on Ricky Williams walking away from the Dolphins and retiring on the eve of training camp.

 

[Huggy]

In terms of on-field performance, Reggie Bush was a major bust compared to his hype coming out of college. But the morale boost the Saints got for drafting him is incredibly underrated. That was their first-round pick in 2006, right on the heels of Katrina. Having Bush fall to them at No. 2 was the first shot in the arm they needed to start clawing their way back into the city's good graces. It seemed like a miracle because it seemed like a lock the Texans would take him, and then they went with Mario Williams (who did end up having an outstanding career, maybe even borderline HOF).
Signing Drew Brees and having a great season in 2006 also helped, obviously. But drafting Bush was the first sign of hope. Maybe the only time that the No. 2 overall pick was a bust, but still totally worth it.

Tony Mandarich was a far bigger bust at No. 2.

 

[Batman]

Tony Mandarich was a far bigger bust at No. 2.

No doubt. But I don't think any Packers fans would say he was worth it, unless you follow the six degrees of separation logic where drafting Mandarich helped lead to the Holmgren/Wolf/Favre era.
Reggie Bush only had about two good years with the Saints and never lived up to his perceived potential, but I think he was still a great — or at least very important — draft pick for them in terms of what he symbolized. Definitely the right pick at the right time.

 

[Huggy]

No doubt. But I don't think any Packers fans would say he was worth it, unless you follow the six degrees of separation logic where drafting Mandarich helped lead to the Holmgren/Wolf/Favre era.
Reggie Bush only had about two good years with the Saints and never lived up to his perceived potential, but I think he was still a great — or at least very important — draft pick for them in terms of what he symbolized. Definitely the right pick at the right time.

Mandarich was definitely not worth it especially when you see who was picked right after him.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Mandarich was definitely not worth it especially when you see who was picked right after him.

And who was picked right after him. And right after him.

Hall of Famers taken at 3, 4 and 5.

 

[Tighthead]

And who was picked right after him. And right after him.

Hall of Famers taken at 3, 4 and 5.

I believe Lou Holtz advocated for him to be taken 1OA.

 

[Liut]

In terms of on-field performance, Reggie Bush was a major bust compared to his hype coming out of college. But the morale boost the Saints got for drafting him is incredibly underrated. That was their first-round pick in 2006, right on the heels of Katrina. Having Bush fall to them at No. 2 was the first shot in the arm they needed to start clawing their way back into the city's good graces. It seemed like a miracle because it seemed like a lock the Texans would take him, and then they went with Mario Williams (who did end up having an outstanding career, maybe even borderline HOF).
Signing Drew Brees and having a great season in 2006 also helped, obviously. But drafting Bush was the first sign of hope. Maybe the only time that the No. 2 overall pick was a bust, but still totally worth it.

Speaking of the Saints: Ricky Williams, bust or nah?

He was the definition of mediocre with the exception of the year he won the rushing title.

I just remember a Saturday listening to the late Buddy Diliberto ejaculate on air when the Ricky Williams deal went down.
@Batman good take on Bush and what it meant for the Saints. IIRC, Buddy D. died just prior to that draft. Still, what was left of the WWL talking heads went ga-ga.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

As a New York sports fan, it's Dwight Gooden. If you saw him in 1984-86, you would have thought that he would have been one of the top pitchers of all time. And his era of dominance was done in a flash and by the time he was 25 or so, he was a .500 pitcher.

I was thinking Gregg Jefferies. First round pick. Top prospect. He was supposed to lead the Mets Dynasty into the 1990s and beyond.

Instead, he played just Ok for the Mets, pissed off veterans and fans, and, while he had a longish career and a couple of All-Star seasons, was generally mediocre.

 

[Batman]

I was thinking Gregg Jefferies. First round pick. Top prospect. He was supposed to lead the Mets Dynasty into the 1990s and beyond.

Instead, he played just Ok for the Mets, pissed off veterans and fans, and, while he had a longish career and a couple of All-Star seasons, was generally mediocre.

I don't know if it was like this everywhere, but in New Jersey in 1989 if you snagged a Gregg Jefferies Donruss rookie card you felt like the king of the world.

 

[MTM]

Where do Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell fit in this debate?

Russell was overdrafted, which wasn't his fault, but never seemed to give a fork about playing.

There was a debate, at least in the media, if Leaf or Peyton Manning was a better choice and Leaf was a disaster from the start.