Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Tim Duncan may be one of the most underappreciated athletes out there.

You can be a superstar or a super sub and be adored or ignored. An athlete’s star power or popularity often has little to do with his skills or even his character. Such is the fickle nature of American sports fans. Which stars have come up short when it comes to getting their proper respect? NBCSports.com takes a look at some of the most under-appreciated athletes, then and now.

Click here to see our readers' picks.

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Lm Otero / AP file

Should parents let kids play?

The NFL's head injury issues are causing some parents of youth and high school football players to rethink whether football is safe enough for their children.

Focus on safety in youth, high school football

A few years ago, Omaha businessman Larry Hagan was watching a news report on concussions in high school sports and decided to do something.

Dos Santos stops Mir, keeps UFC heavyweight title

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Junior Dos Santos flattened Frank Mir with a huge right hand and finished him on the ground at 3:04 of the second round Saturday night, emphatically defending his heavyweight title at UFC 146 on Saturday night.

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