As an athlete, every waking move, utterance and action one takes is put under a microscope. Some handle this task smoothly, and others handle it questionably.

Sports fans are infatuated with their heroes and are eager to know every detail pertaining to their lives on and off the field.

Professional athletes have courted controversy before, and sometimes escape relatively unscathed. Please keep in mind that this instance is rare though.

For most, the downfalls and perils of individuals cause a great divide between fans, especially when topics of race, religion, sex, criminal behavior and ego are the source of the issues.

It is hard to shake these images once they are branded and for some, it completely alters their existence as a whole.

Let's observe the 15 most divisive athletes of our time.

This post also appears on Bleacher Report, an Atlantic partner site.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.