#AthleteProblems

They may be successful, but if you met these professional athletes on the street, you may be surprised to hear what their career explorations are. Not every player fits the “mold” of their sport, but most of them still find a way to win, or at least achieve their dreams. In no particular order, here are some of the athletes I thought of:

Pau Gasol:

It’s difficult for any 7-footer to be coordinated enough to come off as an athletic specimen, but the Lakers big man epitomizes that issue. His full beard and often shaggy mop of hair present him as more of an animal you’d be likely to find in South America than a Spanish professional basketball player. Nonetheless, the sometimes awkward jump shot he takes every night seemed to earn him 2 NBA rings.

Clay Matthews:

The highly talented linebacker of the Green Bay Packers is a sight to see with his long flowing blonde locks. The undersized former USC Trojan makes up for his size with extreme intensity and hard-work, but many could confuse that emotion with one of a professional wrestler (and his cold stars and bursts of passion don’t help his cause).

C.C. Sabathia:

The New York Yankees ace has been nothing short of stellar throughout his 12 years in the big leagues, but it’s hard to question whether his body type fits the job. As a 6’7”, 290 pound left-hander, he intimidates the opposition by his presence alone. It’s clear the University of Hawaii wasn’t far off by offering him a chance to strut his stuff as a tight end on their squad because Sabathia certainly looks like he plays the wrong sport.

Chris Andersen:

The Denver Nuggets power forward (also known as Birdman) looks entirely out of place when he steps onto the basketball court, unless he is walking on stage to perform in a band. The colorfully tatted-up NBA player had an atypical journey to the league after playing one year of college basketball at Blinn College, and then being selected first overall in the D-League in 2001. He ran into some trouble with the law in 2006 after violating the NBA anti-drug policy, and solidifying my thoughts that he belongs in Rock music.

Brian Wilson:

The San Fran closer (currently out for the season with Tommy John surgery) is quite the character both on and off the mound. His sarcastic, often captivating sense of humor draws consistent attention from media personnel. Recently, he is known for his thick, dyed-black beard that reminds me of a Chasidic rabbi more than a professional baseball player.

Zdeno Chara:

The captain of the Boston Bruins and an extremely talented defenseman from Slovakia is far from the typical build of an NHL player. He 6’9” frame makes him the tallest man to ever step into skates in the National Hockey League. His gigantic size gives him the opportunity to present opposing players with punishing blows with regularity. Luckily for Bruins fans he didn’t take advice as a kid from coaches telling him to stick with basketball. 

There are plenty more professional athletes with the similar dilemmas, and may not seem like the "type" to play their sport. Who comes to mind that I may have missed? Share your thought below.