In “The Art of War,” perhaps the most famous treatise ever written on the strategy and tactics of warfare, author Sun Tzu wrote: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” It’s very doubtful that the vast majority of professional athletes have ever read the great Chinese epic, but many of them have chosen to employ this famous quote through the use of “trash talk.” These athletes have used their ability to psychologically defeat their opponents before or during the contest itself. Whether it’s through the media, or directed at the opponent itself, they’ve been able to do just as much damage with their “bark” as they have with their “bite.” Here are 15 professional athletes who were some of the greatest artists in the use of “trash talk”:
