It takes a special person athletically to play one sport professionally, let alone two. Yet, some people just can’t help themselves in at least giving it a try. While a few two-sport stars have come along in the past, the 15 athletes below aren’t them, because, in their attempt to play another sport, they failed at it. Just stick to what made you famous in the first place, guys.
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15. Marion Jones
She may have played hoops and ran track for the North Carolina Tar Heels while in college, but former Olympic champ Marion Jones couldn’t pick up hoops again once she stopped focusing on it full-time. Following a PED scandal stripped her of her medals, Jones tried to play for the WNBA’s Tulsa Chock, averaging pedestrian numbers for a few years.
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14. Drew Henson
A former Michigan Wolverines quarterback and New York Yankees prospect, Drew Henson just couldn’t make up his mind on what sport he wanted to stick with. Unfortunately, for him, he proved to be mediocre at both. Rather than stick with the Yanks and become a potential starter down the road for them, he tried to play for the Dallas Cowboys, completely flopping in his attempt at starting under center for them.
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13. Marcus Jones
Selected in the first-round of the 1996 NFL draft, Marcus Jones played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until the start of the 2002 season, leaving to pursue a career in the UFC. Following back-to-back defeats and just six bouts, Jones left MMA for good after seeing that it wasn’t for him.
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12. Johnnie Morton
Another former NFL player, Johnnie Morton wasn’t a massive linebacker or defensive lineman like some of the other guys on this list, but, instead, a wide receiver who was shifty and quick. It’s too bad that didn’t translate for him into the ring as a UFC fighter, with Morton getting knocked out in just 38 seconds during his only fight.
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11. Wes Shivers
After being drafted in the seventh-round of the 2000 NFL draft as an offensive lineman by the Tennessee Titans, Wes Shivers decided that he wanted to give up the hopes of playing football for a career in MMA fighting. Given the opportunity to compete in the TV show The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, Shivers lost during his bout and has never again stepped into the Octagon.
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10. Brock Lesnar
Following a successful career in the WWE, former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar thought he would try his hand at some unscripted fighting and went to the UFC. Unable to handle the punishment that the Octagon presented, Lesnar left the UFC and returned to the WWE after just a few bouts.
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9. Darko Milicic
Who would have ever thought that the player selected after LeBron James and before players like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the 2003 NBA draft would be doing MMA now? That’s the case with Darko Milicic, though, as the former NBA bust tried to win in the ring. It hasn’t gone well for him, so far, with him being disqualified in his first match after being too bloody.
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8. Lolo Jones
Although she gets a lot of publicity, U.S. summer and winter Olympian Lolo Jones hasn’t exactly performed too well. After a disappointing ending to her Olympic events in 2012 in London, Lolo thought bobsled might be for her, making the team in 2014 for the Winter Games in Sochi. It’s too bad she didn’t perform well there, either, with her now focusing on getting ready for the 2016 Games in track. Girl needs to make up her mind on what she wants to do.
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7. Jose Canseco
Former MLB player Jose Canseco may have had a lot of power while standing in the batter’s box, but he didn’t have the same type of strength while in the ring as an MMA fighter. Openly admitting—and throwing others under the bus—for using steroids, Canseco could have used a little boost in his fight with 7’2″ Korean fighter Hong Man Choi, who pummeled him during their matchup.
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6. Robert Griffin III
He may have been a Heisman Trophy winner while at Baylor and the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, but Robert Griffin III showed that his career is football and not in track and field. While RG3 was a hurdler on the Baylor team that won the Big 12 championship in 2008, it has been a long time since he has trained in that sport, and, last he did, was seen finishing 11th in the U.S. Olympic Trials that same year. Not terrible, but not world-class, either.
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5. Tracy McGrady
A 13-year NBA veteran, former All-Star Tracy McGrady was one of the best scorers of his era, even pouring in 13 points in 33 seconds once. That athleticism didn’t translate to the baseball field, though, as T-Mac tried to mac a resurgence a couple of years ago for a minor-league team, showing that his pitching form isn’t quite as good as his shooting form was.
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4. Justin Gatlin
Following a four-year ban from track and field after doping, U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin thought he would try his hand at pro football, trying out for a few teams several years ago. Not playing the game since high school, Gatlin wasn’t given a contract and was forced to put his focus back on sprinting, where he scooped a bronze medal in the 2012 London Games.
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3. Chad Johnson
One of the most outspoken and confident athletes to ever suit up in any sport, Chad Johnson thought that his love for the sport of soccer would translate into him performing well in it. When given the opportunity, though, he flopped, performing horrendously after Sporting Kansas City brought him in for a tryout, leaving him to stick to the video game FIFA to get his kicks.
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2. Terrell Owens
Another one of the most outspoken athletes ever, former NFL wideout Terrell Owens wanted to put his basketball skills on display, hoping that an NBA team might take notice. While he was good in celebrity games against subpar competition, when T.O. stepped on the floor with semi-pros, he wasn’t nearly as effective, all but refusing to play defense and looking rather unathletic against those who get paid to play hoops.
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1. Michael Jordan
Although former Chicago Bulls six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan is regarded as one of the best athletes ever, he didn’t really prove to be when he left the Bulls in 1993 to pursue a career in baseball. MJ looked a little bit more normal in his attempt at baseball, mishandling flyballs and incapable of hitting a curveball.
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