The Dumbest Things Athletes Have Ever Done

Athletes aren’t known for being the smartest people in the world. Everyone is well aware of the “dumb jock” stereotype, a stereotype that some athletes just can’t help but to reiterate with their actions. From passing out at bars to insulting fans and getting swept off their feet by automatic tarp machines, sometimes these professional sports stars make fans stop and scratch their heads, wondering how they’ve made it this far in life.

So here is a list of the dumbest things athletes have ever done.

Antonio Cromartie Dissing Teams Food

Twitter, it seems, may be too much responsibility for some athletes. When Antonio Cromartie tweeted about how disgusting he though the food served to his team was by the team’s catering service, he was fined $2500, and probably had at least several people mess with his food the next time they served him.

“Man we have to have the most nasty food of any team. Damn can we upgrade 4 str8 years the same ish maybe that’s y we can’t we the SB we need.”

Ricky Williams couldn’t say no to drugs

Ricky Williams missed not one, but two NFL seasons for failing drug tests and testing positive for marijuana use.

It happened once, OK it happens, but you would think he would have learned his lesson, or would have least expected, after being caught once, that they would test him again.

McNabb not knowing the rules of the game

After a 2009 tie between the Eagles and the Bengals, Donovan McNabb seemed genuinely shocked that NFL games could actually end in a tie.

You would think someone that had played in the league for nine years, at that point, would know all the ways a game could end.

Tony Allen dunking after the whistle

When the whistle blows, the play is over. But for some reason, athletes sometimes still continue on with the play just to show off.

And that kind of showing off cost Tony Allen in a game against the Pacers. He went for the dunk after the whistle had been blown and came down wrong on his leg, tearing his ACL and MCL, killing the rest of his season.

Dywane Wade comparing the team loss to 9/11

In a press conference in 2010, Dwayne Wade was trying to describe how the media would most likely blow any losses of the new dream team trio in Miami out of proportion, but in doing so said it would be like if the World Trade Centers came down again.

In his interview with AOL he reportedly said this:

“We’re going to be wearing a bull’s-eye,” Wade reportedly said. “But that’s what you play for. We enjoy the bull’s-eye. Plus, there’s going to be times when we lose two, three games in a row and it seems like the world has crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade is coming down again, but it’s not going to be nothing but a couple of basketball games.”

Wade said he didn’t mean to make such a gross comparison and quickly apologized for his remarks.

Pete Rose betting on his own team

After years and years of denial, in 2004 former Reds manager Pete Rose finally admitted to betting on his team while he was both a player and a manager.

The admission cost him any hope of becoming part of the baseball hall of fame.

Michael Phelps taking a picture while doing drugs

While athletes taking drugs is highly frowned upon, and can get them suspended or fined in their sports, if they are going to do them maybe they should make sure no one is taking photos while they do.

Michael Phelps found himself in a world of trouble after pictures were leaked of the Olympic swimmer smoking out of a bong in 2009.

Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg

In 2008, Plaxico Burress decided it was a good idea to take his gun with him to a Manhattan nightclub, tucked into the waistband of his sweatpants.

The gun went off, and not only did he end up shooting himself accidentally in the leg, insult was then added to injury when he was arrested for not having a valid New York concealed weapons permit.

Gus Ferotte headbutting the wall during celebration

Ah so now we know where Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino got his inspiration for head butting the wall during a fight in Italy.

In the first half of a 1997 game between the Redskins and Giants, Gus Frerotte ran his head into a padded wall behind the end zone to celebrate a touchdown he had made.

The celebratory move caused him to sprain his neck, forcing him go to the hospital instead of playing in the second half of the game.

Chad Johnson changing his name to his number (en Español)

Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson, decided while he was with the Cincinnati Bengals that changing his last name to his jersey number would be an excellent decision.

While it was a little off the wall, it worked for him, until he signed with the Patriots where the No. 85 was already taken.

Luckily the former owner of that number decided to be nice and give it up to Ochocinco so he wouldn’t look so dumb for changing his last name to a number.

Maurice Clarrett suing the NFL then failing to make a team

Maurice Clarett had a promising future as a college football player with Ohio State, but got a little too cocky after only his freshman year and sued the NFL to try and move on to the pros before his time.

He eventually won the chance to try out in the NFL, but ultimately didn’t make a team, and was later arrested for an armed robbery attempt.

Preston Parker passing out stoned in a McDonalds drive-thru

Preston Parker, a former Florida State receiver, decided he had a bad case of the munchies one night in 2008 and drove to McDonald’s while he was high.

According to reports, he ended up passing out behind the wheel in the drive through lane, with the car still in drive and his foot on the break.

When police banged on his window and finally woke him up, he tested positive for marijuana and was suspended for the first two games of the 2008 season after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana.

Elite.