Who is Modern Pro Sports History's Biggest Asshole?

[EarlJam]

Sorry EJ, but giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Following your logic, if Hitler gave millions to charity under the same conditions as Steinbreener then he wouldn't be an asshole.

Um, that's a pretty GOD DAMN big "IF!"

Hitler. REALLY?

-EJ

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Steinbrenner was an asshole for most of his reign as Yankees owner. He mellowed as his health failed in recent years, but deep down, he was probably still an asshole. But he was also the best owner in baseball in the last 47 years.

[Miles]

Steinbrenner was Soooooooooooooooo unique. He gave millions to charity but made it conditional. The condition? That NO press or publicity should be made of what he gave. How aweome and unique is that?

Was he a shrewd, Trump-like businessman, yes. But he had a good heart.

-EarlJam

Sorry EJ, but giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Following your logic, if Hitler gave millions to charity under the same conditions as Steinbreener then he wouldn't be an asshole.

Steinbrenner was manipulative, unreasonably outspoken, had a foul mouth, and was suspended from baseball twice. He was a criminal that got one of the sweetest plea deals that it makes multiple top ten lists for shady presidential pardons.

He was, in every sense of the word, a shining example of an asshole.

You really didn't invoke Hitler in your argument, did you?

You are automatically disqualified. Bzzt. Debate over.
...
EJ doesn't win however. I agree with Miles. Steinbrenner was still an asshole. Hell, he was a yankee owner AND a tarheel fan. The Lord burn his miserable soul in hell.

I truly am sorry if invoking Hitler has offended you or if I come across as insensitive. I certainly did not mean to come across that way. I recognize that it was crude and unnecessary; I should've taken more time to consider a more appropriate figure.

However, my lack of patience and foresight does not disqualify me from this debate. It only shines light on a flaw that I'll honestly work to correct.

[Miles]

Sorry EJ, but giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Following your logic, if Hitler gave millions to charity under the same conditions as Steinbreener then he wouldn't be an asshole.

Um, that's a pretty GOD DAMN big "IF!"

Hitler. REALLY?

-EJ

Point taken EJ, I'm sorry if I have offended you too.

[EarlJam]

Sorry EJ, but giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Following your logic, if Hitler gave millions to charity under the same conditions as Steinbreener then he wouldn't be an asshole.

Um, that's a pretty GOD DAMN big "IF!"

Hitler. REALLY?

-EJ

Point taken EJ, I'm sorry if I have offended you too.

LOL, no worries Miles! I know you are one of the "good guys" and I am not so easily offended.

I didn't take offense, but I just thought, "Hitler?" "Are you kidding me?"

"Herr Goebles! After I've exterminated millions and taken the freedom from milllions of innocent people, I would love to 'give back' a little." I can't even go on and joke about it. Hitler. The ULTIMATE asshole. The fact is that Steinbrenner "gave." Hitler, to my knowledge, did not give to charity. Oh sure, maybe he bought some girl scout cookies one year. But overall, I really doubt that Adolf Hitler gave a lot to humanitarian causes.

-EarlJam

[Miles]

Um, that's a pretty GOD DAMN big "IF!"

Hitler. REALLY?

-EJ

Point taken EJ, I'm sorry if I have offended you too.

LOL, no worries Miles! I know you are one of the "good guys" and I am not so easily offended.

I didn't take offense, but I just thought, "Hitler?" "Are you kidding me?"

"Herr Goebles! After I've exterminated millions and taken the freedom from milllions of innocent people, I would love to 'give back' a little." I can't even go on and joke about it. Hitler. The ULTIMATE asshole. The fact is that Steinbrenner "gave." Hitler, to my knowledge, did not give to charity. Oh sure, maybe he bought some girl scout cookies one year. But overall, I really doubt that Adolf Hitler gave a lot to humanitarian causes.

-EarlJam

I like Ozzie's take on this and I agree. Steinbrenner did seem to tone it down a bit later in life.

Even though the Hitler comment sucked, the point still stands that giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Maybe I should've used Roy Williams?

[EarlJam]

LOL, no worries Miles! I know you are one of the "good guys" and I am not so easily offended.

I didn't take offense, but I just thought, "Hitler?" "Are you kidding me?"

"Herr Goebles! After I've exterminated millions and taken the freedom from milllions of innocent people, I would love to 'give back' a little." I can't even go on and joke about it. Hitler. The ULTIMATE asshole. The fact is that Steinbrenner "gave." Hitler, to my knowledge, did not give to charity. Oh sure, maybe he bought some girl scout cookies one year. But overall, I really doubt that Adolf Hitler gave a lot to humanitarian causes.

-EarlJam

I like Ozzie's take on this and I agree. Steinbrenner did seem to tone it down a bit later in life.

Even though the Hitler comment sucked, the point still stands that giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Maybe I should've used Roy Williams?

Maybe, but doesn't it say a LOT about a guy with as big of an ego as Steinbrenner, when, in this age of "me, Me, ME," a man can give so much to charity, help build hospitals for children, etc., and demand that NO publicity come from it? That, to me, says a lot about his character. And I HATE the Yankees!

-EarlJam

[devildeac]

Sorry EJ, but giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Following your logic, if Hitler gave millions to charity under the same conditions as Steinbreener then he wouldn't be an asshole.

Steinbrenner was manipulative, unreasonably outspoken, had a foul mouth, and was suspended from baseball twice. He was a criminal that got one of the sweetest plea deals that it makes multiple top ten lists for shady presidential pardons.

He was, in every sense of the word, a shining example of an asshole.

You really didn't invoke Hitler in your argument, did you?

You are automatically disqualified. Bzzt. Debate over.
...
EJ doesn't win however. I agree with Miles. Steinbrenner was still an asshole. Hell, he was a yankee owner AND a tarheel fan. The Lord burn his miserable soul in hell.

I truly am sorry if invoking Hitler has offended you or if I come across as insensitive. I certainly did not mean to come across that way. I recognize that it was crude and unnecessary; I should've taken more time to consider a more appropriate figure.

However, my lack of patience and foresight does not disqualify me from this debate. It only shines light on a flaw that I'll honestly work to correct.

No offense taken. I probably shoulda added a winking smilie as I just thought that historically/traditionally any one that invoked Hitler/Nazis in any sort of discussion was automatically eliminated from the debate. That's why I added that big space in my reply and said I agreed with your Steinbrenner assessment.

[devildeac]

Point taken EJ, I'm sorry if I have offended you too.

LOL, no worries Miles! I know you are one of the "good guys" and I am not so easily offended.

I didn't take offense, but I just thought, "Hitler?" "Are you kidding me?"

"Herr Goebles! After I've exterminated millions and taken the freedom from milllions of innocent people, I would love to 'give back' a little." I can't even go on and joke about it. Hitler. The ULTIMATE asshole. The fact is that Steinbrenner "gave." Hitler, to my knowledge, did not give to charity. Oh sure, maybe he bought some girl scout cookies one year. But overall, I really doubt that Adolf Hitler gave a lot to humanitarian causes.

-EarlJam

I like Ozzie's take on this and I agree. Steinbrenner did seem to tone it down a bit later in life.

Even though the Hitler comment sucked, the point still stands that giving to charity doesn't preclude you from being an asshole. Maybe I should've used Roy Williams?

Ol' roy mighta been a better choice, but, even then, I wouldn't consider him an A-hole. And I loathe the 'holes about as much as any person here. Doofus. Disingenuous. Insensitive. Inappropriate. Tiresome.

Dare I go on?

[DukeUsul]

Miles, I think DD was just trying to call you on Godwin's Law. It of course doesn't nullify your argument.

[captmojo]

The banter here brings a question to my strange-working head.
'How many times did Hitler fire Rommel before doing it for keeps?'

Hitler=ultimate world champion asshole, I think he had a Hell of a lot more than one.

[Miles]

Miles, I think DD was just trying to call you on Godwin's Law. It of course doesn't nullify your argument.

Ahhhh cool. I've never heard of Godwin's Law. Thanks for sharing.

[devildeac]

Miles, I think DD was just trying to call you on Godwin's Law. It of course doesn't nullify your argument.

That's it! I never knew it was Godwin's Law.

[EarlJam]

The banter here brings a question to my strange-working head.
'How many times did Hitler fire Rommel before doing it for keeps?'

Hitler=ultimate world champion asshole, I think he had a Hell of a lot more than one.

Hitler: Rommel, you're fired!

Rommel (sarcastic): Oh TANKS! Tanks a lot!

-EarlJam

[colchar]

The banter here brings a question to my strange-working head.
'How many times did Hitler fire Rommel before doing it for keeps?'

I can't remember if he relieved Rommel from duty once or twice before Rommel got caught up in the July Plot and was ultimately offered the chance to commit suicide.

[bjornolf]

They're all up there pretty high, though I like Barkley. I think Laettner should get some consideration. I think he's an ass, but we LOVED him for it cause it was that attitude that helped us win.

I also think that Albert Haynesworth should get some consideration. He gets paid $100M, and acts like a fat, entitled little baby. If somebody paid me $100M, I'd work my ASS off to be in the best shape possible and play EVERY down. Also, that whole purposely stepping on a guy's un-helmeted head a couple years ago. That's just wrong.

I picked MJ because, he, like Tiger, was always considered such a great guy because of marketing and his "public" persona, whereas in private, he's a total bastard. I've heard a lot of bad stories about him in closed Bulls practices and stuff. The guys that hide their true form are the ones that get me the most.

There are some others that definitely deserve consideration. I think LeBron earned some consideration after "The Decision". That was a total dick move. What a tool. Gilbert Arenas should be there. Ron Artest and his buddies for the whole situation in Detroit. Latrell Sprewell for choking his coach and turning down a multi-million dollar contract because he "has to feed his kids". Michael Vick probably deserves some consideration, after the whole dog thing and the incident at his birthday party (and for charging $50 for people to come worship him at his birthday party...how sad is that). Pac-man Jones probably deserves some because he just kept blowing it after getting SO many chances. Maybe that's more a stupid award than an asshole thing. Several coaches for their treatment of their teams...Roy Williams and Nick Saban come to mind first. Rick Pitino's gotta be up there, as does John Calipari. I like Pete Carroll, but if he really didn't know ANYTHING was going on with Reggie Bush, then he's just dumb. Then he takes of for Seattle, which means I think he saw the writing on the wall. So, he's an ass for lying I think. Lane Kiffin for screwing over Tennessee for USC. I think he got what he deserved there. Finally a coach gets punished for what he does, it's just that in this case it's cause he "escaped" to the wrong place. I know that coaches need to do what's best for them, but it bugs me when the run because they see sanctions coming, or when they lie to or betray their school and especially their players.

Sorry, I missed the PRO sports. Though if you want to be sarcastic, many think that college sports is such big business, it should be considered Pro, at least for the coaches and schools. ;)

[devildeac]

Miles, I think DD was just trying to call you on Godwin's Law. It of course doesn't nullify your argument.

;)

[rockymtn devil]

Brett Favre.

[EarlJam]

Brett Favre.

Favre is definitely the biggest Diva.

-EJ

[bjornolf]

Brett Favre.

Favre is definitely the biggest Diva.

-EJ

I was gonna say that. Favre is ONE of the biggest divas, but not the biggest asshole. Lebron is in the running for biggest diva, if nothing else than for the hour special, "The Decision". Even if he was humble and anti-diva for the rest of his career, he'd deserve it for that alone.