15 Times Athletes Should Have Kept Their Mouths Shut

By Nicholas A. Marsico

15 Times Athletes Should Have Kept Their Mouths Shut

Manti Teo Hoax — Athletes aren't always known to be the most... intelligent individuals you might run into. Some of them have interesting imaginations, others have trouble with the English language and some just love to put their feet in their mouths. Here are 15 times it would have been far more prudent to be silent rather than speak up.

15. Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens

15. Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens — The media has always been pretty hard on T.O., but usually for good reason. The guy has a chip on his shoulder and a bad attitude. He's known for being brash and tough to get along with. He refuses to admit it, though. Or at least he tries to. “Don’t say I don’t get along with my teammates. I just don’t get along some of the guys on the team.” To be fair, he must assume that the media is referencing his entire team. He loves being literal.

14. Mike Cameron

Mike Cameron new york mets

14. Mike Cameron

Mike Cameron new york mets — In response to a reporter asking about Carlos Beltran losing a fly ball in the sun: "The sun has been there for 500, 600 years." Former outfielder Mike Cameron may have just misspoke. Or he wasn't thinking at all. Or he just doesn't know. Could be any, probably not all. Plus, what's his point? Is he defending the sun? Did somebody insult the sun for interfering with a live ball? The sun is the new Steve Bartman!

13. Bill Cowher

Pittsburgh Steeler coach Bill Cowher

13. Bill Cowher

Pittsburgh Steeler coach Bill Cowher — "We're not attempting to circumcise rules." Now look, maybe he was saying that the Steelers weren't trying to cut off the small flap on the back cover of the rule book.

12. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Media Workout

12. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Media Workout — Mayweather compares himself to a pair of iconic black leaders who went to jail for fighting for civil rights, not spousal abuse. “I took the plea. Sometimes they put us in a no-win situation. I had no choice, but I don't worry about going to jail. Better men than me have been there. I'm pretty sure Martin Luther King's been there, and Malcolm X. I have taken the good with the good so I'll accept the bad with the bad."

11. Fuzzy Zoeller

Fuzzy Zoeller

11. Fuzzy Zoeller

Fuzzy Zoeller — Somehow it always comes back to race. It's a shame, really. Remember back when Tiger Woods first started out and received this warm welcome? "You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the [heck] they serve.” Good old Fuzzy.

10. Harry Caray

Harry Caray

10. Harry Caray

Harry Caray — The beloved Chicago Cubs announcer was well-known for being a bit out of his mind, calling baseball with a flair that few were able to match. He would let it get out of hand sometimes, however, like when he decried opposing outfielder Jorge Orta for missing a fly ball. “Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun? He’s from Mexico.” Caray didn't get in any hot water due to the statement, but it's still very much remembered.

9. Cardale Jones

All State Sugar Bowl - Alabama v Ohio State cardale jones twitter

9. Cardale Jones

All State Sugar Bowl - Alabama v Ohio State cardale jones twitter — THE Ohio State backup quarterback Cardale Jones obviously didn't get recruited because he was a scholar, but who knew he was dumb enough to point that out on one of the most public forums that exists worldwide? He wrote on Twitter: “Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS.” It'll be fun to see what he does when he doesn't play pro ball. Sportswriter isn't likely.

8. Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson

8. Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson — Stevie Johnson dropped what would have been a game-winning catch. After the game he took to Twitter, where everybody goes to talk to God, and went all Jesus on Mount Gethsemane on us: "I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..." Maybe we shouldn't allow athletes on the Twitter machine.

7. Carl Everett

Carl Everett

7. Carl Everett

Carl Everett — “The Bible never says anything about dinosaurs. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them. Someone actually saw Adam and Eve. No one ever saw a Tyrannosaurus Rex." Too bad he doesn't use Twitter.

6. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather

6. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather — After being offered, and refusing, a contract for $ 12.5 million over a total of seven fights, Floyd Mayweather decided that it made sense to liken his plight to those of his ancestors. He said about the deal: "That's a slave contract." Dang, if that's the case, why are people so upset about slavery? That's a heck of a lot of money.

5. Ozzie Guillen

Philadelphia Phillies v Miami Marlins ozzie guillen

5. Ozzie Guillen

Philadelphia Phillies v Miami Marlins ozzie guillen — Ozzie Guillen has no filter. Everybody is aware of that and people expect a level of stupidity and insanity when it comes to the former White Sox manager. He went above and beyond after becoming manager of the Miami Marlins, however. "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that m*****f****r is still here." I'm not sure how that applies to anything whatsoever.

4. Bob Griese

Bob Griese

4. Bob Griese

Bob Griese — Bob Griese is the quarterback who led the 1972 Dolphins to the only undefeated season in NFL history. He's also the dope who made a Mexican food joke in reference to the whereabouts of a Colombian NASCAR driver. "He's out having a taco." Really, Bob? Really? What made that seem like a good idea?

3. Manti Te'o

San Diego Chargers manti te'o

3. Manti Te'o

San Diego Chargers manti te'o — Remember that time when the Heisman Trophy candidate randomly decided that he would try to get attention by faking the death of a girlfriend who never existed? Me neither. This statement's irony appears to have been lost on Mr. Te'o. "For me, the greatest fault would be to tell somebody something I'm not." Oh. Okay then. That clears things up.

2. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Marcos Maidana - Press Tour

2. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Marcos Maidana - Press Tour — You knew he would be here a bunch of times. "We’re going to cook that little yellow chump…Once I kick the midget ***, I don’t want you all to jump on my d***. So you all better get on the bandwagon now...Once I stomp the midget, I’ll make that m****rf****r make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice…We’re going to cook him with some cats and dogs." I don't think this rant from 201 directed toward Manny Pacquiao needs any further comment.

1. John Rocker - The Tame Beginning

atlanta braves john rocker

1. John Rocker - The Tame Beginning

atlanta braves john rocker — John Rocker doesn't like New York. When asked what he would do if he played in NYC he responded with an outburst that led to batteries being hurled at his head among other objects intended to cause bodily harm. Let's allow the quote to speak for itself: "I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair..."

1. John Rocker - But Wait, There's More!

John Rocker

1. John Rocker - But Wait, There's More!

John Rocker — That was just John getting warmed up. Let's move to the beginning of him putting his foot in his mouth: "...next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing..."

1. John Rocker - The Grand Finale

Rocker throws a pitch

1. John Rocker - The Grand Finale

Rocker throws a pitch — And finally, he bites down on his foot: "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the [heck] did they get in this country?" The best part is that he knew that the rant was going to be printed in Sports Illustrated!

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