The 41 Most Intimidating Athletes in American Sports History

Reputations that did some of the work before the whistle. Fear is not a stat, which is why this one is worth arguing about.

1. 1
   Mike Tyson

   Won his first nineteen professional fights by knockout, twelve in round one.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Lawrence Taylor

   Changed how NFL offenses were built because of one linebacker.
   782pts
3. 3
   Dale Earnhardt

   Nicknamed The Intimidator for what the black No. 3 did to a mirror.
   635pts
4. 4
   Michael Jordan

   Talked, stared and won six titles doing it.
   587pts
5. 5
   Bob Gibson

   Refused to speak to opposing hitters and threw inside on purpose.
   524pts
6. 6
   Ray Lewis

   Led the 2000 Ravens defense and the pre-game dance that came with it.
   469pts
7. 7
   Nolan Ryan

   Threw seven no-hitters and never apologised for pitching inside.
   407pts
8. 8
   Randy Johnson

   Six foot ten, a 100 mph fastball and no interest in where it went.
   407pts
9. 9
   Bill Laimbeer

   The Bad Boys Piston opponents disliked most, by design.
   335pts
10. 10
    Dennis Rodman

    Rebounded and needled his way to five championships.
    335pts
11. 11
    Ronnie Lott

    Had part of a finger amputated rather than miss games.
    335pts
12. 12
    Dick Butkus

    The Bears linebacker whose reputation preceded every snap.
    253pts
13. 13
    Serena Williams

    Served 128 mph and stared down opponents before the toss.
    253pts
14. 14
    Shaquille O'Neal

    Broke two backboards and forced a rule change on foul strategy.
    156pts
15. 15
    Gordie Howe

    Mr. Hockey, whose name became shorthand for a goal, an assist and a fight.
    156pts
16. 16
    Deion Sanders

    Told receivers what was coming and was still right.
    0pts
17. 17
    Joe Greene

    'Mean Joe' anchored the Steel Curtain defense that won four Super Bowls with Pittsburgh in the 1970s, and offensive linemen dreaded him.
18. 18
    Deacon Jones

    The Rams defensive end who coined the word 'sack' and used the head slap so often that the NFL banned it.
19. 19
    Jack Lambert

    The toothless Steelers middle linebacker whose snarl became the face of Pittsburgh's four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s.
20. 20
    Reggie White

    The 'Minister of Defense' retired as the NFL's career sack leader with 198, bullying tackles with his hump move.
21. 21
    Ty Cobb

    The Detroit Tigers outfielder famed for sliding spikes-high, he retired with a .366 career batting average, still the record.
22. 22
    Wilt Chamberlain

    The 7-foot-1 center scored 100 points in one game and averaged 50.4 a night in 1961-62, numbers nobody has approached.
23. 23
    Bill Russell

    The Celtics center won 11 championships in 13 seasons, and his shot-blocking changed how opponents attacked the basket.
24. 24
    Kevin Garnett

    The ferocious, trash-talking power forward who drove Boston to the 2008 title and the Defensive Player of the Year award.
25. 25
    Kobe Bryant

    Five-time Lakers champion whose 'Mamba Mentality' and cold stare made teammates and defenders equally nervous.
26. 26
    Sonny Liston

    The heavyweight champion who knocked out Floyd Patterson twice in the first round, his glare was considered the scariest in boxing.
27. 27
    Jim Brown

    The Cleveland Browns fullback led the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons, punishing anyone who tried to tackle him.
28. 28
    Ray Nitschke

    Bald, fierce Green Bay middle linebacker of Lombardi's five championship teams, known for crushing hits on every ball carrier.
29. 29
    Brian Urlacher

    Chicago Bears linebacker and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, combining a 258-pound frame with sprinter's speed.
30. 30
    James Harrison

    Steelers linebacker and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, fined repeatedly for hits and famous for his 100-yard Super Bowl interception return.
31. 31
    Ronda Rousey

    UFC's first women's champion won 12 straight fights, most by first-round armbar, often within seconds of the opening bell.
32. 32
    Brock Lesnar

    Former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion who won the UFC heavyweight title in his fourth pro fight and dominated WWE as 'The Beast'.
33. 33
    George Foreman

    Before his smiling comeback, the young Foreman knocked Joe Frazier down six times to take the heavyweight title in 1973.
34. 34
    Joe Frazier

    'Smokin' Joe' handed Muhammad Ali his first professional loss in 1971 with a relentless pressure style and a crushing left hook.
35. 35
    Jack Dempsey

    The 'Manassa Mauler' won the heavyweight title in 1919 by flooring Jess Willard seven times in the first round.
36. 36
    Roger Clemens

    Seven-time Cy Young winner who pitched inside without apology and famously threw a broken bat toward Mike Piazza in the 2000 World Series.
37. 37
    Pedro Martínez

    Three-time Cy Young winner and Red Sox ace, slight in frame but fearless about pitching inside to hitters who crowded the plate.
38. 38
    Goose Gossage

    Hall of Fame closer whose glare, Fu Manchu mustache and 100 mph fastball made late innings miserable for hitters.
39. 39
    Earl Campbell

    The Houston Oilers running back who ran over linebackers instead of around them and won three straight NFL rushing titles.
40. 40
    Bo Jackson

    Two-sport star whose famous run over Brian Bosworth on Monday Night Football in 1987 summed up his raw power.
41. 41
    Karl Malone

    'The Mailman' scored 36,928 points for Utah with a chiselled physique and elbows that opposing big men learned to respect.

Comments 1