Image via Complex Original
The fact that there have been many father-son duos in sports history shouldn't come as surprise. After all, many of your favorite ballers come athletic families where having the right genes has given them an edge on the competition. Not all athlete sons live up their father's legacies (ahem, Marcus), but there are a few who not only live up to lofty expectations but outshine their pops.
Guys like Richard Petty and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. went on to become some of the best in their respective sports and have their fathers to thank. The same can be said about Kobe Bean Bryant. Today Kobe's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, celebrates his 58th birthday. Joe Bryant is just one of many athletes to be outshined by their sons. Peep the list and see for yourself.
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Al Horford
Father: Tito Horford
Son's Stats: 4,056 PTS 12.8 PPG 9.5 RPG 2.4 APG 1.1 BPG, 2x NCAA Champion, 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA
Father's Stats: 93 PTS 1.5 PPG 1.3 RPG
Tito Horford was just the third Dominican-born player in the NBA. The 7'1" center had a nice run at the U, nearly averaging a double-double the two years he was there. His game didn't translate to the pros and he only played in 63 games during his three-season career. His son can ball, though.
Al Horford helped the Florida Gators win back-to-back NCAA championships and is having himself a solid NBA career. He's a bit undersized at center, but Al is an exceptional defender and can score the rock. His PPG average rose from 10.1 to 15.3 in his first five years in the league and he's looking to have a strong comeback season after missing most of last year with a muscle tear.
Kyrie Irving
Father: Drederick Irving
Son's Stats: 944 PTS 18.5 PPG 3.7 RPG 5.4 APG 1.1 SPG, 2012 Rookie of the Year
Father's Stats: N/A (played overseas)
Kyrie's dad, Drederick, played in Australia for the Bulleen Boomers for a couple years. Dre was also Boston U's all-time leading scorer (1,931 career points), once upon a time. Kyrie went to basketball powerhouse St. Patrick's High School and starred at Duke for a season that was mostly lost to injury. He still felt like he was good enough for the NBA and with a weak draft class, he was all but guaranteed to be the first pick. Kyrie won Rookie of the Year honors with the Cleveland Cavs, helping the fanbase to get over LeBron. He's a shoot-first point guard, but isn't selfish. He just likes to take matters into his own hands. All signs poing to Kyrie having a lengthy and memorable NBA career.
Clay Matthews III
Father: Clay Matthews, Jr.
Son's Stats: 147 TKL 37.5 SK 4 INT 7 FF, 1x Super Bowl Champion, 3x Pro Bowler
Father's Stats: 1,561 TKL 69.5 SK 16 INT 27 FF, 4x Pro Bowler
We might be a little early on this one, but it's safe to say that Clay Matthews III is a bonafide star. If you compare his first four years with his father's, the youngin' blows his pops out of the water. He gets sacks like nobody's business and has already racked up half as many as his father in only four seasons. Daddy was a baller, too. Matthews, Jr. had a nose for the ball amassing 16 picks and forcing 27 fumbles in his 19-year career. They come from a prominent NFL family with a bunch of brothers and uncles having successful careers in pro football, including Grandpa Clay, Sr...Matthews rules! (Billy Madison, holler at your boy).
Moises Alou
Father: Felipe Alou
Son's Stats: .303 BA 2,134 H 332 HR 1,287 RBI, 1x World Series Champion, 6x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger
Father's Stats: .286 BA 2,101 H 206 HR 852 RBI, 3x All-Star, 1x NL Manager of the Year
This is a close one. Both were solid hitters but Moises hit for a higher average and had a bit more power. Moises had a long, successful career playing for a bunch of good teams, but couldn't stay healthy for long periods of time. He always seemed to be that veteran teams needed to get over the hump. His father, Felipe had a couple solid years as a player, but is best known for being a good manager. He won the NL Manager of the Year with the Montreal Expos during the strike-shortened season of 1994. That year was probably his only real shot at making it to the World Series as the Expos had the best record in baseball. He also had a four-year run with the Giants, winning 100 games in 2003. Moises played under his father on the Expos and the Giants.
Prince Fielder
Father: Cecil Fielder
Son's Stats: .287 BA 1,178 H 260 HR 764 RBI, 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger
Father's Stats: .255 BA 1,313 H 319 HR 1,008 RBI, 1x Champion 3x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger
Both guys are monster hitters, both have hit 50 home runs in a season and both have worn a Detroit Tigers uniform. You think these two are related? Prince is an all-around better player than his pops. He has a decent glove at first base and can hit for power as well as average. Cecil was basically just a power hitter, but a very clutch one. The OG Fielder is one of the best hitters in Tiger history. Detroit is in their first World Series since 2006 so maybe Prince can match his father in rings as well. You mad, Yankees fans?
Royce Gracie
Father: Helio Gracie
Son's Stats: 14-2-3
Father's Stats: Record N/A (19 Pro Fights)
Helio invented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but his sons took it to the next level. They helped popularize UFC in the States and used their father's technique to dominate, especially Royce Gracie. He was the first UFC champion and beat guys twice his size (what up, Akebono Tarō?!). This is when there were no weight classes and MMA was too real for TV. Many major events could only be seen on pay-per-view or by households that lived that illegal life and possessed jail-broken cable boxes. Royce's older brother, Rorian, co-founded the UFC and put his father's martial art on a global stage.
Peyton & Eil Manning
Father: Archie Manning
Peyton's Stats: 65.0 CMP% 413 TD 56,636 YDS 202 INT, 4x MVP, 1x SB MVP, 1x Super Bowl Champion, 11x Pro Bowler
Eli's Stats: 58.7 CMP% 196 TD 29,351 YDS 134 INT, 2x Super Bowl Champion, 2x Super Bowl MVP, 2x Pro Bowler
Father's Stats: 55.2 CMP% 125 TD 23,911 YDS 173 INT, 2,197 RuYDS 18 RuTD, 2x Pro Bowler
Archie was a damn good quarterback, but had the unfortunate luck of playing for the Saints back when they were known as the Aints. During his 13-year career, he never played for a winning team. He was a more mobile quarterback than his two sons, rushing for more than 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's also a great teacher of the game. Peyton and Eli have two very successful NFL careers. One is an all-time great who holds a ton of records and the other is a two-time Super Bowl MVP.
After missing all of last year to injury, Peyton has returned in 2012 like he never left. So far he has 14 TDs to 4 INTs and led the Broncos to a glorious comeback vs. the Chargers on Monday night. Eli plays for the defending champions and is on his way to another solid season. He's thrown for 11 TDs to 5 INTS and the Giants are 4-2 after putting a beating on one of the best teams in the league in the 49ers. We'd say Archie did a pretty good job.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Father: Ken Griffey, Sr.
Son's Stats: .284 BA 2,781 H 630 HR 1,836 RBI, 1x MVP, 13x All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers
Father's Stats: .296 BA 2,143 H 152 HR 859 RBI, 2x World Series Champion, 3x All-Star
Kenny Greffey, Jr. is arguably the greatest player of his generation. He was a five-tool player with a swing blessed by the Gods. Before injuries robbed him of his abilities, he was on his way to the all-time home run record, but Barry and BALCO beat him to it. His father wasn'st a shabby ball player either. Griffey Sr. hit for average and has something his son never had a chance at getting—two World Series rings. They played two seasons together in 1990 and 1991 and became the first father-son duo to play in the same outfield and were also the first father-son duo to hit back-to-back homers in 1990 against the Angels.
Roberto Alomar & Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Father: Sandy Alomar, Sr.
Robby's Stats: .300 BA 2,724 H 210 HR 1,134 RBI 474 SB, 2x Champion, 12x All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 4x Silver Slugger
Sandy's Stats: .273 BA 1,236 H 112 HR 588 RBI, 1990 AL Rookie of the Year, 6x All-Star
Father's Stats: .245 BA 1,168 H 13 HR 282 RBI 227 SB, 1x All-Star
Sandy, Sr. was a good defensive infielder that was able to play multiple positions in the outfield and infield. He played for 15 years and since retiring in 1978, has been a coach for various minor and major league teams. He bounced around the league during his playing days, mainly due to his lack of offense. His offense was subpar, but had good speed and was a smart baserunner, so he always had a job. His coaching proved to be better than his play as his sons went on to have very successful careers in the majors. Robby was recently inducted into Cooperstown in 2011 and is one of the greatest second basemen to do it. He's a switch-hitting, career .300 hitter with a glove to match. His older brother, Sandy, Jr., was one of the better defensive catchers in his day and is now a coach for the Cleveland Indians. Sandy, Jr. was a good hitter as well, finishing his 20-year career with a .273 batting average.
Richard Petty
Father: Lee Petty
Son's Stats: 200 Wins and 712 Top-10 Finishes, 7x NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Father's Stats: 54 Wins 332 Top-10 Finishes, 3x Grand National Champion
The King owes everything to his father. Lee Petty got a late start and began racing at the age of 35. He started Petty Enterprises in 1949 and won the first ever Daytona 500 in 1959 driving the No. 42 car. He had a successful racing career, but not like his son's. Richard Petty is NASCAR's all-time leader in wins with 200 and tied with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in championships with seven. He also helped run Petty Enterprises, one of the more successful teams in NASCAR history, as a driver and after he retired.
Barry Bonds
Father: Bobby Bonds
Son's Stats: .298 BA 2,935 H 762 HR 1,996 RBI 514 SB, 7x MVP, 14x All Star, 8 Gold Gloves, 12x Silver Sluggers
Father's Stats: .268 BA 1,886 H 332 HR 1,024 RBI 461 SB, 3x All-Star, 3 Gold Gloves
Bobby Bonds was a gold glove rightfielder and All-Star that had speed and hit for power. Barry, on the other hand, puts his father's resume to shame. He (allegedly) 'roided out of his mind and shattered records. But, even before he became the all-time leader in home runs and walks, Barry was already a Hall of Famer. By the time he started to go hammer in 2001, he was a three-time MVP and a nine-time All-Star. He's also the only member of the 500/500 club (500 homers and 500 stolen bases). The great Willie Mays is his godfather, too. Barry was destined to blow. Ayo!
Kobe Bryant
Father: Joe Bryant
Son's Stats: 29,484 PTS 25.4 PPG 5.3 RPG 4.7 APG 1.5 SPG, 1x MVP, 5x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 14x All-Star, 14x All-NBA, 12x NBA All-Defense, 2x Scoring Champion
Father's Stats: 5,252 PTS 8.7 PPG 4.0 RPG 1.7 APG 0.9 SPG
Jellybean Bryant left for Italy after playing an average eight-year stint in the NBA. That turned out to be a great move. He became a star in Europe which, in turn, helped his son Kobe out tremendously. There, a young Kobe developed his love for basketball and soccer. He grew up idolizing Mike D'Antoni as he watched him run the point on various Italian clubs. Fast forward to the future and Kobe is one of the best to ever pick up a basketball. He's a diabolical scorer with ice in his veins. Joe Bryant got the name "Jellybean" for his style of play, always bouncing around and scoring in bunches. His son plays the same way, but is more consistent and a better defender. Joe has coached in the WNBA, Japan, and Europe.
Robinson Cano
Father: Jose Cano
Son's Stats: .308 BA 1,459 H 177 HR 715 RBI, 1x Champion, 4x All-Star, 1 Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger
Father's Stats: 1 W 5.09 ERA 8 K
Jose Cano played two seconds in the majors. Well, not exactly but he only played in six games and made three starts for the Houston Astros. Jose's favorite player was Jackie Robinson and he named his son after him.
Robinson Cano is turning into one of the best players in baseball (let's just not mention his 2012 playoff performance) and has one of the sweetest swings you'll ever see. He makes the game look easy and is often criticized for not hustling. He's also becoming a great second baseman and will probably be handed the keys to the Yankees franchise once Jeter hangs it up. His father pitched to and helped him win the 2011 Home Run Derby. Team work FTW.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Father: Cal Ripken, Sr.
Son's Stats: .276 BA 3184 H 431 HR 1,695 RBI, 1x World Series Champion, 2x MVP, 19x All-Star, 2 Gold Gloves, 8x Silver Slugger, 1982 AL Rookie of the Year
Father's Stats: N/A (minor leagues)
Cal Ripken, Sr. never made it to the big show. He played in the minors for the Orioles farm system and eventually became a coach. He managed the Baltimore Orioles minor league team for 13 years and eventually went on to manage the Orioles on a couple occasions. Ripken, Sr. spent 36 years with Baltimore as either a player, scout, coach or manager. In 1987, he became the only person to have managed two of his sons (Billy and Cal) at the same time.
Junior's playing career was the complete opposite. He played for one team his entire career and broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak in 1995 (2,130). Cal did it with class, too. He revolutionized the shortstop position by being productive offensively and with his size, paving the way for guys like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. His legacy was solidified when he was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Father: Floyd Mayweather, Sr.
Son's Stats: 43-0 with 26 KOs, Five-Division World Champion, 2x Fighter of the Year
Father's Stats: 28-6-1 with 18 KOs
Easily the most entertaining duo on this list, the Mayweathers are boxing royalty. Papa Mayweather had a decent boxing career but was later locked up for dealing drugs. After doing his bid, Mayweather, Sr. became a successful trainer. He trained Oscar De La Hoya, Chad Dawson, Laila Ali and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
His son is arguably the greatest fighter of his generation (we said "arguably," relax Pac fans). Junior's defensive style is up there with the all-time greats. Whether Floyd, Jr. likes to admit it or not his dad did play a role in his success. Now if Mayweather Sr. could just convince him to fight Manny Pacquiao. *cues the soundtrack*