ESPN graphic: "The Could Have Beens"

ESPN.com identifies the top 25 examples of "unfulfilled potential."

My main problem with the list is that some of these guys just weren't good enough. Matt Leinart, Akili Smith, and Drew Henson come to mind, among others. It seems odd to have such a list with Matt Leinart, but no Dwight Gooden or Len Bias. He's not done yet, I suppose, but Derrick Rose would belong on the list above some others, as well.

We expected better: Top 25 of unfulfilled potential

 

Neat idea.

Tony Horton must be No. 26.

 

Yeah, plenty of guys on that list got more than their share of opportunities to show what they could do.

Joel Embiid might head the list someday.

 

The first guy I always think of, not that I'd expect ESPN to notice, is Eric Lindros.

 

Bo Jackson????

 

I thought P90 X was highly successful

 

Derrick Coleman has to be on a list like that

 

Next on ESPN: The Mt. Rushmore of underachieving.

 

He stuck around for a nice enough career, but there was a time that Grant Hill looked like the next Jordan.

 

Also: Herb Score

1955: 16-10, 2.85, leads AL in SO, Rookie of the Year
1956: 20-9, 2.53, leads AL in SO and shutouts
1957: 2-1, 2.00, hit by Gil McDougald line drive
1958-62: 17-26

 

On a similar note, I always think of David Thompson. I know it's weird to think a Hall of Famer and five-time All-Star had "unfulfilled potential," but he sort of did.

 

Bobby Hurley?