Image via Complex Original
Being the son of a famous athlete should be awesome, right? Imagine if your dad was Michael Jordan or John Elway or Jack Nicklaus. Just about everything you could ever want in life would be yours! That is, until it came time for you to start following in the their footsteps, because, right or wrong, with your bloodline comes the weight of expectations, and a public that will be eagerly watching to see if you fulfill them. What is it about athlete sons that make us so desperately want to see them succeed? Are we hoping that they'll be able to recreate all the magic moments that their fathers once provided us? Do we believe that they'll somehow be even better? Whatever the reason, it's often the case that these kids just can't live up to these unreasonable standards. As a result, we get A History of Athlete Sons Who Could Never Get Out of Their Father's Shadows. However, MJ's son, Jeffrey is living in his shadow, he turns 25 today and is set for life. At least he has that going for him.
Gerry Abel
Father: Sid Abel
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 1949 NHL MVP, 2x Stanley Cup Champion
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Played one game in the NHL
When your number is retired by a franchise as historic as the Detroit Red Wings, then it's safe to say that you had a pretty noteworthy career. Sid Abel was the league MVP for the 1948-49 season, and helped guide the Wings to two Stanley Cups during his playing days. His son, Gerry, on the other hand, who played in the junior leagues for a few years before throwing in the towel on the pros, only got to play in one NHL game. The apple fell pretty far from the tree on this one.
Marty Howe
Father: Gordie Howe
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 23x NHL All-Star, 4x Stanley Cup Champion,
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 12-year playing career
What's worse: being constantly overshadowed by your dad or being constantly overshadowed by your younger brother? Unfortunately, Marty Howe—son of Mr. Hockey, himself—had to suffer both of these embarrassments, failing to make the Hall of Fame as his father, Gordie, and younger brother, Mark both did for their achievements on the ice. While he was able to put together a nice 12-year career of his own, it'll always pale in comparison to hockey's other Howes. But hey, at least he was a part of hockey history, having been able to play alongside both his father and brother when they were all teammates on the WHA's Houston Aeros for the 1973-74 season. How many other people can say that?
Larry Mikan
Father: George Mikan
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 4x NBA All-Star, 5x BAA/NBA Champion, named to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list in 1996
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Played for one season in the NBA
George Mikan was the NBA's first dominant big man, responsible for the institution of the goaltending rule due to the fact that his 6'10" body towered over the smaller players of the league. Mikan was also the reason that the lane was widened from six feet to 12 feet, because of his ability to so effectively clog the paint. His son, Larry, was far less revolutionary. Indeed, the younger Mikan only played one season in the NBA with the Cavaliers, averaging only 3.0 PPG and 2.6 RPG, before calling it a career.
Kellen Winslow II
Father: Kellen Winslow
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 5x Pro Bowl selection, 3x First-Team All-Pro, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 1x Pro Bowl selection
Kellen Winslow completely changed the game for tight ends everywhere as a part of the "Air Coryell" offense the San Diego Chargers instituted throughout the 1970s and '80s. Until Rob Gronkowski broke it in 2012, the 1,290 receiving yards that Winslow hauled in during the 1980 season were an all-time record for tight ends. His son, on the other hand, has mostly made his name catching flack. Back during his college days he attracted some negative attention when he referred to himself as a "f***ing soldier," and then dug an even deeper hole for himself when a motorcycle accident kept him off the playing field for the entire 2005 season. Widely regarded as selfish and immature, Winslow—though selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl—has never been able to live up to his father's good name in the league.
Jarrett Payton
Father: Walter Payton
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 9x Pro Bowl selection, 1x Super Bowl Champion, 1977 AP NFL MVP
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 2004 Orange Bowl MVP
The son of Sweetness was like saccharin compared to his old man. A starter at the University of Miami, Jarrett Payton was only able to earn 33 carries during his time in the NFL, when he played for the Tennessee Titans during the 2005 season. Do you know how many carries Walter Payton had throughout his career with the Chicago Bears? 3,838. Yeah, you could say that there's a bit of a discrepancy there. After floating around in NFL Europe, the CFL, and the indoor leagues for a few years, Jarrett hung up his cleats in 2012.
Pete Rose Jr.
Father: Pete Rose
Father's career stats and accomplishments: All-time MLB hits leader, 3x World Series Champion, 17x All-Star
Son's career stats and accomplishments: N/A
It was probably already pretty tough being Pete Rose's son when Junior had to live up to the name of Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader. But when he also had to deal with the gambling scandal that ultimately left his father banned from the league, the younger Rose was likely feeling doubly cursed. And though he tried his best to get a career going in the bigs, Rose Jr. wallowed away for 20 years in the minor leagues, playing from 1989 all the way to 2009. Apart from one, very brief go with the Reds in 1997, Pete Jr. was forever a step behind to the man they called Charlie Hustle.
Brian Griese
Father: Bob Griese
Father's career stats and accomplishments: Starting quarterback for the 1972 Miami Dolphins, 2x Super Bowl Champion, 6x Pro Bowl selection
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 1997 Rose Bowl MVP
After leading the Michigan Wolverines to a 1997 Rose Bowl victory over Ryan Leaf and the Washington State Cougars, quarterback Brian Griese looked primed to follow in the footsteps of his father, Bob. The elder Griese, known for leading the 1972 Miami Dolphins during their perfect season, was a Hall of Famer, and Brian, after being picked by the Denver Broncos in the 1998 NFL Draft, appeared to be on the same trajectory. After being groomed by an aging Elway, Griese would take over the team and start a new era in Denver, right? Wrong. While he would pick a Super Bowl ring of his own in the NFL, it came as a third-string QB for Denver when Elway led the team to a title during his final season in 1998.
After that, Griese took over the team for a few seasons—even earning himself an invite to the Pro Bowl in 2000—before ultimately losing the job to Jake Plummer. After that, he was a career journeyman, never able to carve out a spot in the league like his father did with Miami many years before.
Gary Nicklaus
Father: Jack Nicklaus
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 18 major championship wins, 73 PGA Tour victories
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 3-year PGA Tour member
Many may not be aware, but Gary Nicklaus was one of the original victims of the hype machine. The cover athlete for Sports Illustrated's March 11, 1985 issue, Gary had the burden of expectation placed upon him at the mere age of 16. Though he would one day make it to the Tour, Gary was never able to match his father's one-of-a-kind accomplishments, failing to ever a win a tournament in his career or even play in the Masters, British Open, and PGA Tournament.
Luke, Chris, Nate, and Adam Walton
Father: Bill Walton
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 2x NBA Champion, 1978 NBA MVP, 3x Naismith College Player of the Year
Luke's career stats and accomplishments: 2x NBA Champion
Chris' career stats and accomplishments: Played Division I basketball
Adam's career stats and accomplishments: Played Division I basketball
Nate's career stats and accomplishments: Played Division I basketball
Not one of the Brothers Walton was ever able to get out of the shadow cast by their highly-regarded father, Bill. Though Luke picked up two championship rings with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, he earned those about as much as the team ball boy did. At least he made it to the league though. Chris, Adam and Nate were far less fortunate in with their basketball careers, each playing at Division I schools in college, but also failing to earn a spot on an NBA roster when the time came to go pro.
Chris Simms and Matt Simms
Father: Phil Simms
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 2x Pro Bowl selection, 2x Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl XXI MVP
Matt's career stats and accomplishments: Current back-up quarterback for the New York Jets
Chris' career stats and accomplishments: Former starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Though Matt is freshly in the league—a backup to Geno Smith for the New York Jets—Chris had his shot in the NFL, and was unable to compare to his Super Bowl-winning father, Phil. Though he was the primary starter for the 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Simms was never good enough to establish himself as a dependable quarterback in the NFL. After later playing for the Titans and Broncos, Simms found himself out of the league in 2009. Will Matt be able to work his way up from the depth chart one day and restore the family name?
John Henry Williams
Father: Ted Williams
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 19x All-Star, 2x AL MVP, 2x Triple Crown winner
Son's career stats and accomplishments: N/A
If you want to talk about nepotism, look no further than John Henry Williams. After his father used his considerable clout with the Red Sox to get John Henry a spot on the organization's rookie team in the Gulf Coast League, the kid of The Kid ended up blowing his shot by breaking his ribs while trying to catch a foul ball. Did this maybe have something to do with the fact that he was 33 at the time and essentially talentless? Probably, yes.
Gary Matthews Jr.
Father: Gary Matthews
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 1979 All-Star, 1983 NLCS MVP
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 2006 All-Star
Save this unbelievable web gem, Gary Matthews Jr. was never able to top his father's legendary performance for the Philadelphia Phillies when they were matched up against the L.A. Dodgers in the 1983 NLCS. Nicknamed Sarge throughout his playing days, Matthews Sr. was also the 1973 Rookie of the Year. His son, while earning an All-Star appearance in 2006, had a slightly less noteworthy career, stringing together 12 seasons in the league before finally bowing out with the Mets in 2010.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Father: Dale Earnhardt
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 7x Winston Cup Series Champion, 1998 Daytona 500 winner, 76 Sprint Cup Series victories
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 2004 Daytona 500 winner, 19 Sprint Cup Series victories
While his career pales in comparison to his father's, Junior's own public profile has undoubtedly been raised by the original Dale Earnhardt's name. Consider the fact that Earnhardt Jr. has been named the Sprint Cup Series' Most Popular Driver 10 times throughout the course of his career, despite the fact that he's only picked up four titles since 2005. You think his dad's name doesn't have something to do with the fact that the younger Dale is still marketable despite his lack of success? You're crazy.
Ralph Sampson III
Father: Ralph Sampson
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 4x NBA All-Star, 3x Naismith College Player of the Year, 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Division I basketball player at Minnesota
The son of one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, Ralph Sampson III came into Minnesota with neither the height nor the skill of his gargantuan father, Ralph Sampson Jr. Granted, RSIII's 6'11" frame is nothing to sneeze at, but when your dad is 7'4" and was once known as a Twin Tower, you're almost always going to be looking up to pops. While knee injuries famously derailed the career of Ralph Sampson Jr., his son's playing days were cut short simply by lack of ability. Currently, RSIII is grinding away for the Loimaa Bisons in the Finnish Korisliiga.
Patrick Ewing Jr.
Father: Patrick Ewing
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 11x NBA All-Star, 1984 NCAA Champion, 1985 College Player of the Year
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Division I basketball player at Indiana and Georgetown
Aside from one brief stint with the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2011, Patrick Ewing Jr. has never been able to make it in the NBA like his father did with the New York Knicks. After playing at Indiana for two seasons, and then transferring to Georgetown for two more, the younger Ewing was picked up in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. Passed around the league for years, Ewing Jr. now plays for Aries Trikala in the Greek League. Already 29 years old, and still without a solid NBA season to his name, it doesn't appear likely that Junior is ever going to be able to make up ground on his dad.
Nick Montana and Nate Montana
Father: Joe Montana
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 8x Pro Bowl selection, 4x Super Bowl Champion, 2x NFL MVP
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Both played Division I football
Admittedly, not all hope is lost for Nick yet, but for Nate, things aren't really looking so good. After walking-on to his dad's alma mater, Notre Dame, in 2008, Nate had a whirlwind college career that saw him go to Pasadena City College, Notre Dame (again), Montana, and then West Virginia Wesleyan before going unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Nick, started out with the Washington Huskies before playing juco ball at Mt. San Antonio College in 2012, and then transferring to Tulane. This season, Nick has been the starter for the Green Wave, but has so far only tallied 10 TDs against nine INTs on the season. He likely won't fare much better in the NFL.
Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan
Father: Michael Jordan
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 5x NBA MVP, 6x NBA Champion, 14x NBA All-Star
Son's career stats and accomplishments: Both played Division I basketball
Even if Jeffrey or Marcus Jordan was good enough to have gotten out of their father's shadow, do you really think that someone as freakishly competitive as Michael Jordan would've let them? Both Jeffrey and Marcus made it to the Division I ranks before ultimately realizing that they'd never be able to cut it in the pros like their dad did. After spending a couple seasons at Illinois, Jeffrey transferred to the University of Central Florida to play with his younger brother, Marcus. Unfortunately, both of them made the decision that year to leave the game for good. Don't worry guys, just about every single basketball player post-Jordan can sympathize with your struggle.
Jack Elway
Father: John Elway
Father's career stats and accomplishments: 9x Pro Bowl selection, 1987 AP NFL MVP, 2x Super Bowl Champion, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Son's career stats and accomplishments: 2008 Colorado All-State team, previously played for the Arizona State Sun Devils
Imagine if your dad was a franchise hero—no, a state-wide hero. John Elway is the pride and joy of every Colorado sports fan, and is often revered as one of the most fearless and prolific quarterbacks to ever play the game. So yeah, you could say that the bar was set pretty high for Jack. After redshirting at Arizona State University for just one year, the younger Elway made the decision to quit the game for good. Thankfully, his father was understanding of the decision saying at the time, "Just talking to him, it's like the world has been lifted off his shoulders. So I'm happy for him."