Photo: Ralph Notaro (Getty).
There have been a lot of crazy haircuts in sports. Some may be mistakes, no doubt about that, but otherwise there’s simply no other explanation. Except, perhaps, one: the outrageously-coiffed competitor in question thought such a crazy cut gave him/her an advantage.
Think about it: how many times have you been running your local court, marking your guy, boxing out like a boss, and then you look down at the guy’s shoes, and you have to stop for a second because they’re just so cool. As you’re thinking about how much you really want a pair and how much they might cost, you’ve lost your concentration. The next thing you know, your guy gets the ball deep in the lane for an easy layup, right past you and your old sneakers.
It’s the same idea with an outrageous haircut. You distract the guy marking you just long enough for a window to open and then– BAM! You’re cutting to the hole, on your way to a wide open dunk. Or, if you’re anything like me, you blow it by dribbling it off your foot.
No doubt similarly-motivated, the athletes below generally had much success. Fortunately for us, their barbers didn’t.
11 Most Outrageous Haircuts in Sports History
There’s more to sports stars than ridiculous ‘dos: The Hardest Partying ’80s Athletes
Most Outrageous Sports Haircuts
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Mark Davis
When I go get my haircut, I show the barber a picture of George Clooney in The American and say, “Do your best to make me look like him, minus the salt and pepper.” Mark Davis apparently shows his barber a picture of Lloyd Christmas. Although you have to respect the fact that Dumb & Dumber is a far better movie.
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson (Getty).
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Andre Agassi
It was the ‘80s; what do you want from Andre? Acid-wash jean tennis shorts, you say? Well then acid-wash jean tennis shorts Andre provides. Of course, he eventually had to resort to meth to live with his fashion mistakes.
Photo: Bongarts (Getty).
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Dennis Rodman
It’s hard to choose which Rodman cut -- for The Worm rocked many outrageous ‘dos -- was his zaniest. So we'll just go with the first pic available of him surrounded by lingerie-clad ladies (seen at the very top of this list). Seems like I nailed it, right?
Photo: Ralph Notaro (Getty).
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Brian Bosworth
Very few linebackers played college ball as well as Brian Bosworth. Many played pro better. But none had a more awesome mullet.
Photo: Owen C. Shaw (Getty).
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Barry Melrose
I may have to rename this list "Most Outrageous Mullets." Can we just agree that other than a rat’s tail, a mullet is the most outrageous haircut around? Particularly nowadays, since media sites like mulletjunky.com have clued us in to the inanity of such a buzz. Unlike Andre or Brian, Barry defiantly continues to wear his, and out in public no less. Look, I get it, when you find your go-to ‘do, you stick with it. But I feel like maybe Barry gave up a little early on his search.
Photo: Rebecca Taylor/NHLI (Getty).
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Yannick Noah
Yannick, Joakim’s dad, may very well be the first man I ever saw with dreadlocks. Odds are good that I would have witnessed Yannick winning the 1983 French Open before having ever been introduced to Bob Marley. Of course, in large part because of Bob, dreads are now commonplace. But for this white kid growing up in Reagan-era suburbia, Yannick’s cool ‘do stood out, and may very well be the reason I started following Phish.
Photo: Steve Powell (Getty).
Also: The 11 Naughtiest Professional Tennis Outfits
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Pete Rose
I have a hard time believing Pete Rose has ever looked at himself in a mirror. Unless, of course, he did this to make himself laugh every time he saw his ridiculous pumpkin haircut. While his flat-top these days is getting unsteadily thinner, his follicle decision making is getting no less outrageous.
Photo: B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios (Getty).
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Carlos Valderrama
I kind of want to live underneath Carlos’s dome. Like, on a rainy day, though; not a hot one.
Photo: GERARD CERLES/AFP (Getty).
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Chris 'Birdman' Anderson
Mad respect must be paid to the Birdman, because in a league that pays guys to be athletic freaks, the once great Nugget takes it a step farther, basically admitting to the world that he’s a freak in all aspects of life. In particular, his hair care. It’s true, he’s super freaky.
Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP (Getty).
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Glen Plake
Where would the Birdman be without Plake? It’s obvious that he grew up watching Plake mowing through moguls on DH boards, the very embodiment of snow punk. Alas, apparently Getty Images thinks he was a golfer, because there are no shots of the greatest free skier ever doing any skiing.
Photo: Harry How /Allsport (Getty).
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Iman Shumpert
Does he look like Play? Or was it Kid? Either way, it’s outrageous. And I love it. Like I do all the ‘dos on this list. Originality is a beautiful thing. What would we have to laugh at without it?
Photo: Jason Miller (Getty).
