We’re in an era of sports where being out of shape is unacceptable considering how high the standards are to stay competitive. However, all across sports you find out of shape players that still have excellent athletic abilities and sometimes use their impessive weight to their advantage. More often than not, players that are out of shape are held to a higher standard.
One does not see an abundance of players in the middle of the pack or at the bottom that have weight issues. In fact, just about every name on this last is near or at the top of their sport. It is not uncommon to see a baseball player be overweight and be successful. Take C.C. Sabathia for example, who claims that the extra weight helps his game and keeps him strong.
On the flip side, others such as John Daly, who have remained competitive, never really prospered or reached their full potential. Some of the best nicknames in sports have come out of poking a little fun at an overweight player. Does anyone remember Jared Lorenzen, aka “The Hefty Lefty” or “The Pillsbury Throw Boy”? He was a pretty incredible athlete too
Growing up, we all had that one friend who made us wonder, how the hell is he doing that? Typically when we think of the best athletes we automatically think muscular and trim. However, there are a handful of players who have played at their best while still being a little bit out of shape and a lot of those guys make this list.
5. Jeroen Verhoeven
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That is probably what Jeroen Verhoeven’s motto is. Since he ‘s playing in nets, it is a little bit easier for Verhoeven to get away with being out of shape, as there’s far less running involved and he can recover while the ball is on the other side of the field. He stays quick and agile enough to manage his weight and be a contributing goalie.
Though it is pretty uncommon to see players actually make it on the field at as a heavyweight in soccer, Verhoeven has had a fairly successful career as one of soccer’s larger players.
4. Andre Smith
Throughout Andre Smith’s career, he has come into training camp having to battle weight issues and many wondered if the former first rounder would be a flop because he couldn’t get himself into shape. Being a large mountainous man is usually the goal for NFL offensive lineman, but generally teams have a goal playing weight for most players to keep that allow them to play at their best.
Though this year reports are that Smith is doing strenuous workouts to keep his weight down, it hasn’t always been that way and pictures like this one can find their way on to the internet.
3. Eric “Butterbean” Esch
There have been many out of shape boxers to have success throughout the history of the sport. When someone has the ability to knockout their opponent quickly, they don’t need to rely on stamina and endurance to outlast the other fighter. That is exactly how Eric “Butterbean” Esch found his rise to fame.
Also nicknamed “The King of Four Rounds,” Esch never had to rely on anything other than his powerful fists to win him bouts. He hasn’t fought in a couple of years, but he hasn’t officially retired either, which allows us to sneak him onto this list.
2. Phil Mickelson
Being at the top of his golf game in a time where Tiger Woods was also in his prime had to have been frustrating for Phil Mickelson. Often named in the same sentence, the two have been inseparable for almost twenty years.
Constantly in Tiger’s shadow, the golfer known as “Lefty” also pales in comparison to Woods physique. While Woods has one of the best bodies in the world, Mickelson has been playing with a little extra throughout his career.
1. Tony Stewart
Some people believe that it doesn’t take much stamina to race in NASCAR, but if you look across the sport, you will find very physically fit and athletic humans. There has even been a recent trend of former NFL and college football players jumping to the sport to work for team’s pit crews.
However, if you look at Tony Stewart, the last thing you think is athletic. If you don’t believe us, he’s been referred to as the most out of shape driver in NASCAR by fellow driver Carl Edwards.