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Top 5 Most Active Trash Talkers In Sports Today

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Most athletes who have experienced intense competition have either endured or dealt a decent amount of trash talk. Like it or hate it, trash talk is part of sports.

We take a look at five of the most active trash talkers in sports today:

5. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers adjusts his jersey during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. (credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Few professional athletes are as competitive as the Black Mamba. As any player who has had the misfortune of trying to defend him for a living will tell you, there is no filter between Bryant's mind and his mouth. His trash talking on and off the court is nothing new. In fact, some would argue that it has played a role in his success. It fuels him. However, his trash talk is on a level of its own, simply because of his friendly fire. Kobe will not hesitate to talk trash to anyone, including his own teammates. Bryant has gotten into verbal altercations with teammates like Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. When asked who would win between him and LeBron James 1-on-1, Kobe looked almost insulted by the question, giving a quick nod of his head and claiming "I would win." Consider it general knowledge that, if you play for the Lakers in the Kobe era for any amount of time, you are liable to receive the Mamba's trash talk at any time during or after your NBA career.

 

4. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks
Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts on the sideline after tipping a pass which led to a Seahawks game-clinching interception late in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (credit: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Sherman has not been in the NFL for long, but he has already earned a Super Bowl ring, as well as a reputation as one of the most boisterous trash talkers in the league. Sparking the initial media attention to his chirping in 2012 was his calling out of veteran quarterback Tom Brady after defeating the Patriots. However, the former Stanford standout ignited national attention after an intense rant following Seattle's NFC Championship win over the San Francisco 49ers. After breaking up a potential game-winning pass to Michael Crabtree, an altercation between the two players led to a postgame interview in which Sherman proclaimed: "I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result (you're) gonna get!"

Richard Sherman - interview after victory against 49ers January 19, 2014 by LikeClassicalJokes on YouTube

 

3. A.J. Pierzynski, St. Louis Cardinals

Chicago White Sox v Oakland Athletics
(credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

There's a reason A.J. Pierzynski was voted Major League Baseball's meanest player. In 2006, Pierzynski's scuffle after a home-plate collision with Cubs catcher Michael Barrett was reportedly a feeling shared with plenty of ballplayers. When 215 players were polled by Sports Illustrated to see who was the "meanest" player, Pierzynski won 29 percent of the vote. He doesn't stop at players, though. He has a reputation for going after umpires as well. Granted, the position of catcher is often associated with its fair share of trash talking while behind the plate. Even Ham Porter from "Sandlot" took part in some chirping with opposing batters! The aspect that sets Pierzynski apart, however, is the fact that, as far as his status as a bully in the league, he seems to like it.

A J Pierzynski gets Ejected by CakeDust on YouTube

 

2. Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn Nets

Washington Wizards v Boston Celtics
Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics tries to intimidate Andray Blatche #7 of the Washington Wizards on March 7, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 86-83. (credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

He's made now-teammate Andray Blatche nearly cry, he's talked about other NBA stars' wives in between plays, there were even reports that he had called Charlie Villanueva a "cancer patient." Garnett, possibly more than any other player in the NBA, knows how to get into another player's head and ruin his  game through emotional frustration. Oftentimes, it won games. It was one reason he was so loved by Celtics fans during his time in Boston, and it was why he was widely labeled as an unnecessary bully by everyone else. Additionally, Garnett has a reputation for taking his competitive edge beyond the realm of verbal and into the domain of physical.

 

1. Floyd Mayweather, Professional Boxer

Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Canelo Alvarez - Weigh-In
Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) and Canelo Alvarez face off during the official weigh-in for their bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 13, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fighters will meet in a WBC/WBA 154-pound title fight on September 14 in Las Vegas. (credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Being undefeated in any professional capacity requires a different degree of competitive nature. For "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr., being undefeated can go to the head and inflate one's ego to unprecedented proportions. Throughout his career, Mayweather has taken shots at Shane Mosely, calling him "a guy who's extremely desperate," announcer Larry Merchant, saying he was "just a commentator (and) he don't know nothing about boxing," and at mixed martial arts in general, claiming the sport "is for beer drinkers." However, time and again, Mayweather has been able to back up his mouth — apart from the long-anticipated showdown between him and Manny Pacquiao.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER TRASH TALK PUNKS GUERRERO! ..."YOU EASY WORK"!! by HardworkDedication on YouTube

 

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