Top 10 most embarrassing Seattle athletes

I thought it'd be fun to rank the top 10 most embarrassing Seattle athlete stories/rap sheets. Unfortunately when thinking of these people, I kept coming up with more and more UW football players. So I tried to keep it fairly balanced. Admittedly, some of these athletes committed their crimes/embarrassing moments before or after their time in Seattle, but we can all relate to these folks as they were all at one time prominent figures in our local area. Feel free to add/comment.

So without further adieu, my top 10:

1. Billy Joe Hobert: The man Husky fans love to hate. One of the greatest quarterbacks in UW history, led the 1991 team to a national championship. Accepted an improper $50,000 loan from a booster that got the program on probation and effectively derailed the UW football dynasty and arguably ended Don James' career.

2. Alex Rodriguez: Madonna, ugly divorce, alleged prostitutes, and steroids...need I say more. Former Mariner is front and center in the tabloids these days.

3. Shawn Kemp: Arguably the greatest Supersonic of all time, the Reign Man was the poster child for fathering illegitimate children. Was arrested in Shoreline in 2005 when found with cocaine, about 60 grams of marijuana and a pistol.

4. Jerramy Stevens: Standout UW tight end and former Seahawk has a long list of legal troubles ranging from assault with a deadly weapon in high school, to sexual assault and hit and run of a nursing home while at UW, to multiple arrests for DUI/DWI during his current NFL career.

5. Tonya Harding: Not exactly a Seattle athlete (currently resides in Clark County,) but I couldn't resist. Former olympic figure skater/Nancy Kerrigan attacker/porn star/celebrity boxer apparently has a new lease on life as a competitive angler.

6. Ruben Patterson: Former Supersonic entered a modified plea in 2001 to an attempted rape charge involving his children's 24 year old nanny whom he forced to perform a sex act on him.

7. Jeremiah Pharms: Standout UW linebacker served 27 months after entering a plea on a robbery charge -- not admitting guilt, but acknowledging there was sufficient evidence for a conviction. Was recently charged in Sacramento with two felonies: illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner that could harm or kill. Those charges are still pending.

8. Koren Robinson: Two-stint Seahawk repeatedly violated the NFL substance abuse policy, getting him a one-year suspension. Was sentenced to 90 days in jail in 2007 for fleeing police in August 2006.

9. Scott Greenlaw: Former UW defensive back and founder of the former Merit Financial, once one of Washington's largest mortgage brokerages with an impressive history of shady business practices that left a trail of angry ex-employees, expensive lawsuits, unpaid taxes, and government investigations.

10. Scott Spezio: One-time Mariner battled substance abuse throughout his MLB career, was also charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, hit and run, aggravated assault, and assault and battery.