Many athletes handle fame and wealth with class. Hmm. . .Tim Duncan comes to mind. Brandon Roy scored 50 points in a game and credited his teammates for his performance! However, several athletes take it to another level. Instead of being grateful and respectful to their fan bases, their teammates and the sport itself, their attitude is emblematic of what’s wrong with professional sports. Here’s a countdown of the five most arrogant, narcissistic athletes playing professional sports today:

ALEX RODRIGUEZ

A-Rod redefined baseball salaries when he signed with the Yankees for $275 million. A-Rod makes so much money, he could single handedly jump start our nation’s economy by spending frivolously this month. Long considered one of the top talents in the game, Rodriguez continues to put up stout numbers… except in October. A-Rod has won two MVPs while in pinstripes but has yet to bring a title to the Big Apple.

His recent relationship with Madonna is nearly inexplicable. He’s 33, she’s 50. What… Bea Arthur wasn’t available? Oh wait.  Not that I have a problem with older women, particularly if they’re multi-millionaires, but he probably could have done better. Madonna’s served as muse to (many) other famous athletes like Dennis Rodman, Brian Shaw and Jose Canseco, so maybe she’ll be able to help get A-Rod out of his postseason funk. But does this mean we’ll be seeing Madonna and Hank Steinbrenner palling around together in the new Yankee Stadium skyboxes? Not if it means less spotlight for Me-Rod.

STEPHON MARBURY

While Stephon’s clothing line provides affordable apparel in an overpriced market is a worthy cause, he is still a man who sits on the sidelines for the New York Knicks and refuses to play while collecting millions of dollars from the franchise. Where can I find a job that pays me more than $20 million to do nothing? Memo to self: check monster.com for high-paying inactivity.

Even Marbury’s teammates have called him out, labeling him as the proverbial cancer in the locker room. Prior to destroying the Knicks clubhouse, he did the same in Minnesota, New Jersey and Phoenix. He was recently seen at a Lakers-Knicks game AFTER BUYING A TICKET. Think about that. He’s ON THE KNICKS’ ROSTER. Name one other industry where a person can refuse to work and still get paid. Stephon still considers himself to be the greatest talent to emerge from Coney Island. It’s unfortunate he’s the only one who feels that way.

BRETT FAVRE*

In a press conference last season, with the Jets’ playoff hopes still in sight, Brett Favre once again showed us he’s up to his old tricks. Football fans were subjected to another several months of “will he, won’t he” when it comes to Favre returning for another year of gridiron action. Despite missing the playoffs in Favre’s absence this year, many Green Bay faithful have to secretly be thankful they’re no longer glued to his seemingly daily press conferences, waiting on his “final” decision to call it quits.

Favre’s had more farewell tours than The Who, Cher and Barbara Streisand combined. It’s bad enough we’re submitted to his incessant Wrangler jeans commercials. Does anyone really care whether he returns? Michael Jordan didn’t retire this much. Yes, he’s good and the Jets are better with him behind center, but spare us all the melodrama of your indecision. Make your call once and for all and be done with it.

CHAD “OCHO CINCO” JOHNSON

Wide receivers (see Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin) have traditionally been the most boastful athletes on the field, and Chad Johnson is no exception. This is a man who legally changed his name to a number (in Spanish, no less!) so that he could put it on the back of his uniform. He has single handedly led an up-and-coming, talented Bengals team back to the bottom of the pack in the National Football League.

Known for his antics and touchdown celebrations, he once wore a large, yellow jacket with “Hall of Fame” written on the back while standing on the sidelines. Awfully pretentious considering his career has taken a considerable downturn. His touchdown celebrations are less and less frequent these days, as is the likelihood he’ll be wearing one of those yellow HOF jackets for real.

TERRELL OWENS

Without question, T.O. gets the nod for being the most self-centered and self-serving athlete in any sport today (and possibly ever). Only Owens could coin and copyright the expression, “I love me some me.”  The media circus that has become today’s Dallas Cowboys feeds this man’s ego even further. He is the very essence of narcissism. In fact, when Narcissus looked into that pool of water, he may very well have seen Owens’ reflection! Recently, T.O. felt quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten were conspiring to not throw him the ball. It reeked of a boy upset his siblings wouldn’t let him play with their toys. He later backtracked, claiming he never made those comments.

Years ago, he allegedly overdosed on sleeping pills then claimed that never happened either. Owens has his own publicist and holds press conferences shirtless in his front driveway while doing sit-ups. Rest assured that when human cloning is made legal, T.O. will be the first person to clone an entire entourage of himself and no one else.

*It is worth noting that Brett Favre is the only one of these athletes to have won a championship. In team sports, the rise of the individual often comes at the expense of the common goal, and to date, that has happened in the case of all these players.