Rory MacDonald and Mike Trout

When it comes to these two “kids,” their potential has no ceiling. MacDonald just turned 23 years-old and (as of last week) Trout was legally able to buy a case of schnapps if he wanted to. Needless to say, these two are the future of their sports. We have seen The Waterboy do some amazing things inside the octagon during his short tenure and he is the heir apparent to GSP’s crown in the welterweight division. Trout was brought back from Triple A in late April this year and has proceeded to hit .340 with 21 home runs, 65 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. Both guys will be Berserkers in the not-to-distant future and it is scary to think how they will perform once they figure it all out.

Josh Koscheck and Sean Avery

An athlete can not last 13 years in the NHL unless they have some skills. Furthermore, a UFC fighter can not make 21 octagon appearances unless he is pretty damn good. Both Josh Koscheck and Sean Avery have been around the block a few times. Lengthy careers have seen the two achieve a certain amount of success, but a championship has eluded both. Then there is the “dick” factor that each possess. When it comes to being absolute buttholes, Koscheck and Avery are unrivaled. Recently Koscheck cemented his legacy in the Jerk HOF when he made comments about his former gym, AKA, and his hopes of it burning to the ground. Prior to that, Avery topped the a-hole charts with an epic “sloppy seconds” blast directed at his ex-girlfriend and another NHL player which eventually got him placed on waivers by the Minnesota North Dallas Stars.

Nick Diaz and Ron Artest

To be fair to Meta World Peace (who has been on his best behavior), I am talking about Ron Artest and his seemingly volatile temper. Nick Diaz is no stranger to impulsive behavior and the two share a common bond for being major participants in brawls that aired live on television (but sometimes these things happen  . . . . aaaaaaah forget it). Both guys are tougher than leather and have proved it. Also, they have both shown signs of maturation through the years yet it is only a matter of time before either one (or both) goes Pompeii. Both have won championships (albeit Nick’s have not come in the UFC) and if they are not your opponent, chances are, they entertain the hell out of you.

Chuck Liddell and Joe Namath

Nobody is going to confuse the sheer extravagance of Broadway Joe with the reserved monotone of The Iceman, but both were instrumental during the formative years of their sports. When the ESPNs and Jim Romes of the world first started giving the UFC legitimate coverage, Chuck was the face of the franchise. Likewise, Namath made his remarkable guarantee prior to the third AFL vs. NFL World Championship Game (Super Bowl III) which led to the merger of the two leagues. Both men were prominent figures in building the brands and they also share another less enviable distinction. Liddell and Namath both made legendary appearances while presumably being less than clear-headed. Chuck’s was on a morning news show in Texas and Joe Willie’s was during an NFL game broadcast. Both were awesome (and let’s be honest, it’s the only reason these two are sharing a side-by-side photo here).

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