Image via Complex Original
When it comes to ringless yet highly acclaimed athletes, a few of the usual suspects always come to mind: Charles Barkley, Dan Marino, Ted Williams. Despite the fact that these Hall of Famers have accomplished much more than the vast majority of their peers, fans still get hung up on them never winning a championship. Well, today, we're changing all of that. Thanks to a little Photoshop work and the fact that it's April Fool's Day, we're giving you a chance to take a look at the Forgotten Sports Champions.
Elgin Baylor
One of the best forwards in NBA history who happened to play on the league's second-most decorated franchise finally wins a title in 2010. We'll just forget about that whole retiring at the beginning of the Lake Show's historic '71-'72 season thing. Thank you, Photoshop Based God!
Ted Williams
Freezing your remains can not only bring you back to life later on but win you a title, give you the ability to travel through time, and cause franchises that were once sworn enemies to unite.
Patrick Ewing
If big men like Chuck Nevitt and Jack Haley have rings then The Warrior deserves not one, not two, not three...
Marcel Dionne
Dude's name is Marcel Dionne. It just has a championesque ring to it. Plus, he's fourth on the all-time goal scorers list (731) and sits only behind Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux on the list of players with most 100+ point seasons. Give him the god damn cup already.
Karl Malone
He's second on the all-time scorers list and had it not been for that one dude hogging all the rings in the '90s, Malone would have a few. He deserves 'em. Actually, on second thought, fuck all that. He's a terrible, terrible person.
Dan Marino
Word is Dan used his newly acquired jewelry to bag that CBS assitant a few years ago.
Don Mattingly
He got to the BX a little after the Yankees racked up two titles in the late '70s and then Donnie Baseball retired the season before the Bombers' Dynasty of the late '90s. If that weren't bad enough, Mattingly worked as the hitting coach for the Yankees from 2004-2007 dipping out just before they won their last title in 2009. Some dudes just can't win. Unless it's April Fool's Day on Complex.
Ty Cobb
Yes, in baseball heaven everyone gets a ring. Emphasis on baseball heaven. Anyone who knew Ty personally knew dude had a reserved seat in hell waiting for him.
Barry Sanders
What? You didn't hear about Barry's trade to the 'Boys back in the mid '90s? With their undersized frames (and the fact that their mugs were concealed by helmets), you probably mistook Barry for Emmit. It's alright, people do the same for Chris Bosh and T-Rex all the time.
Charles Barkley
Who's more deserving of rings than Sir Charles? If not for his contributions on the court then surely for the several sonnings he's handed out behind the desk on TNT.
