Controversial Players That Make Sports More Interesting
Stars who stir debates beyond their field of play.
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Attention-Grabbing Sports Stars Who Stir Debates Beyond Their Fields of Play - Athletes like Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are stars that stir current debates well beyond their field of play. With Mayweather set to face Manny Pacquiao in a mega fight on Saturday (May 2) we take a look at the bad guys who people love to hate. The colorful characters who have us anticipating their next wild stunts and the polarizing players who spark debates over their ability. (Photos from left: Elsa/Getty Images, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images, Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Alex Rodriguez - So, let’s get this straight—Alex Rodriguez gets suspended for the entire 2014 Major League Baseball season, putting the media circus surrounding him to rest for one year. But with his return to the New York Yankees, the media circus is right back. Love him or hate him, anything he does can be front and back-page news this season.(Photo: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant - The more we watch Kobe Bryant, the more we feel like he's okay with being the bad guy of basketball...and that's pretty cool. The NBA just doesn't feel the same without the Black Mamba at the top of his game and his third straight season-ending injury have more haters out in full force saying he's more done than ever. The fun of it is seeing if the five-time champion can prove them wrong. You know he's going to try.Colorful characters who make you watch to see what crazy shit they’ll do next (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Marshawn Lynch - Marshawn Lynch is going to do what Marshawn Lynch does. The Seattle Seahawks star running back is going to keep it short with the media and give opposing defensive lines that action every Sunday. Love him or hate him for it, Beastmode is going to stay Beastmode.(Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Follow Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Instagram and you know he racks up extravagant purchases like he does victories in the ring. Okay...he cops more jewelry, cars and clothes than he ever could Ws in boxing. But as colorful a personality as Mayweather, with his "Money" persona, continues to be, his 47-0 record keeps boxing fans and even non-boxing fans wondering if his next fight will be his first loss. That magnet-like attraction keeps fans glued to him, despite controversial domestic-violence incidents and brash trash talking. There's no disputing the man's greatness and draw.(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
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