The 20 Most Racist Sports Statements of the Past 25 Years

They said WHAT?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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On this day, 38 years ago, one of baseball's all-time controversial figures was born. Yes, we're talking about none other than former Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians pitcher, John Rocker. A human firestorm of controversy, Rocker basically took a can full of gas and a handful of matches to his public image all the way back in 1999, when his remarkably off-the-cuff interview with Sports Illustrated essentially ostracized himself from civilized humanity by taking shots at homosexuals, women, and races of all types. It remains today as one of the most impressively unabashed expressions of racism and prejudice by any athlete ever. 

Of course, Rocker certainly isn't the first figure in sports to use a racial slur or two. Over time, many major sports have accumulated a dirty laundry list of one racially-charged incident after the next. But to narrow them down a bit for you guys, we shortened that list to the 20 Most Racist Sports Statements of the Past 25 Years. From 1988 to the present, who put their foot in their mouth the worst? Don Imus, Fuzzy Zoeller, Rob Parker? You be the judge.

RELATED: The 20 Biggest Stereotypes in Sports History

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Fritz Korbach's "Football Language"

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Hall W. Thompson Explains Selective Racism

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Ron Atkinson Bows Out of Broadcasting in Disgrace

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John Rocker Expresses His Hate for New York City

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Kelly Tilghman Jokes That Other Golfers Should "Lynch" Tiger Woods

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The Big Aristotle Makes a Big Mistake

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Riley Cooper Makes Every Country Music Fan Look Bad

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Jason Whitlock Questions Jeremy Lin's Manhood

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The AC Milan Vice President Has a Nickname for Mario Balotelli

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Gold Medal-Winning Sprinter Thanks His Slave Ancestors for His Speed

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Carl Crawford is Called a "Monday" by Massachusetts Police Officer

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Don Imus' 'Nappy Headed Hoes' Rant

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Rob Parker Says Robert Griffin III is a "Cornball Brother"

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Fuzzy Zoeller Plays Into Every Racist Stereotype About Golf

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Rush Limbaugh Thinks Donovan McNabb is Overrated Because He's Black

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Jimmy The Greek Says Black People are Better Athletes Thanks to Slavery

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Marge Schott Shows Her Prolific Ignorance

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John Rocker Calls Teammate a "Fat Monkey"

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