Putting jerks in their place

Posted May 30, 2009 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated May 30, 2009 at 07:11 PM

There’s only one question I had after reading Michael Freeman’s rollicking, scathing, and humorous book, “The All-Time Biggest Sports Jerks” (Triumph Books, $14.95).

There were only 100?

Of course not, but you have to limit your list, I suppose. Doesn’t matter. Freeman, a national columnist for CBSSports.com, has seen his share of “difficult” athletes. His list of 100 will spawn plenty of debate, but not because of who he chose.

The usual suspects are aptly represented. The area that
readers will find fascinating and worth arguing about is the placement of these athletes. Tyson, for example, did not crack the top 20.

The table of contents is amusing: Freeman put the subjects in alphabetical order “because I’m not giving the rankings away that easily.”

And the list is a good one: Tonya Harding, O.J. Simpson, Mike Tyson, Barry Bonds, Bob Knight and John McEnroe are on the list. Some others: Alexander Rodriguez (Freeman is being way too formal here), Michael Vick John Rocker and Randall Simon.

Freeman picks on animals (Uga V), fans (Cubs, Vikings, college football), countries (China, Spain), Hall of Famers (Ty Cobb, Cap Anson, Wilt Chamberlain), and media members (Don Imus). It’s a quick read, and lots of fun — except, probably, for the athletes themselves and their fans.

You might say that Freeman knows how to put them in their place.