History Main / DumbJock

* Discussed in ''Anime/YokaiWatch'' when Whisper mentions he believes in the phrase "The bigger the muscle, the smaller the brain".

This belief is a derivation of BrainsVersusBrawn and can be rationalized in part by the idea that high school and college athletes are too busy training to do homework and talented athletes are given special treatment by the school system so that they don't need to study. There is some TruthInTelevision to that. Or perhaps because the physically-intimidating bully is more likely to turn to sports than [[GeekPhysiques the stereotypical nerd]]. Or it could simply be the concept of CompetitiveBalance being applied to real life. This trope is almost completely restricted to team sports and boxing or wrestling. Individual sports practitioners are likely to fall on its inversion: AcademicAthlete.

This belief likely stems from the idea that high school and college athletes are too busy training to do homework and talented athletes are given special treatment by the school system so that they don't need to study. Or perhaps because the physically-intimidating bully is more likely to turn to sports than [[GeekPhysiques the stereotypical nerd]]. Or it could simply be the concept of CompetitiveBalance being applied to real life. This trope is almost completely restricted to team sports and boxing or wrestling. Individual sports practitioners are likely to fall on its inversion: AcademicAthlete.

Can overlap with JerkJock and DumbMuscle, if he's part of the 'cool kids' crowd. Also the spear counterpart to the BrainlessBeauty and TheDitz when applied to [[PomPomGirl a cheerleader]] (who's usually his girlfriend). AlwaysMale because a girl is more likely to be somewhere between the GirlNextDoor or a LesbianJock who, while tough, is mentally competent.

!!Examples

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* ''Film/TheBlindSide'' is an example of the teachers helping Michael Oher pass his classes so he can play football. The real Oher wasn't happy with the way the film, and the book it was based on for that matter, portrayed his high school career (both on ''and'' off the field). He responded by writing a memoir to set the record straight.

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[[folder: Western Animation]]

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* Moose from ''Franchise/ArchieComics'' fits this trope to a T. And he ''knows'' it.

* ''Film/TheBlindSide'' is an example of the teachers helping Michael Oher pass his classes so he can play football. The real Oher wasn't happy with the way the film, and the book it was based on for that matter, portrayed his high school career. He responded by writing a memoir to set the record straight.

* ''Film/TheBlindSide'' is an example of the teachers helping Michael Oher pass his classes so he can play football.

Can overlap with JerkJock and DumbMuscle, if he's part of the 'cool kids' crowd. Also the spear counterpart to the BrainlessBeauty and TheDitz when applied to [[PomPomGirl a cheerleader]] (who's usually his girlfriend). The UnathleticNerd is the complete opposite. AlwaysMale because a girl is more likely to be somewhere between the GirlNextDoor or a LesbianJock who, while tough, is mentally competent.

Can overlap with JerkJock and DumbMuscle, if he's part of the 'cool kids' crowd. Also the spear counterpart to the BrainlessBeauty and TheDitz when applied to [[PomPomGirl a cheerleader]] (who's usually his girlfriend). AlwaysMale because a girl is more likely to be somewhere between the GirlNextDoor or a LesbianJock who, while tough, is mentally competent.

* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' : "Steve Holt!"

* Peppermint Patty from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' often found herself here. Her report card was often full of D-'s, is prone to incredibly boneheaded misunderstandings, and was clearly the most athletic and athletically inclined of the cast; one TV special had her plan most of the football team's offense as 'hand me the ball as I run up the middle'..and it worked.

* Johnny from ''Videogame/MrMassagy'' certainly isn't the brightest bulb in the box.

This belief likely stems from the idea that high school and college athletes are too busy training to do homework and that talented athletes are given special treatment by the school system so they don't need to study. Or perhaps because the physically-intimidating bully is more likely to turn to sports than [[GeekPhysiques the stereotypical nerd]]. Or it could simply be the concept of CompetitiveBalance being applied to real life. This trope is almost completely restricted to team sports and boxing or wrestling. Individual sports practitioners are likely to fall on its inversion: AcademicAthlete.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

** Otawara is the embodiment of this trope. The guy's so dumb he forgets to wear pants on a daily basis, but got a sports scholarship at Ojou by being one of the fastest and strongest nose guards in high school football.

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* In the ''Jonni Thunder AKA Thunderbolt'' mini-series, Slim Chance's bodyguard is an former pro linebacker named 'Roadblock' Ramsey. When Jonni sarcastically asks him if he still holds the record for the most passes intercepted with his head, he starts to reply "Well, it's not official, but...". Slim has to stop him and explain she was just joking.

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'', Sulley is talented at Scaring, but starts out incompetent at actual performance.
* While decidedly a [[LovableJock nice guy]], Mitch of ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' is not the brightest bulb in the box. Throughout the film he remains utterly oblivious of the affections of Norman's sister. [[spoiler: Of course, this might also be because [[StraightGay has a boyfriend]].]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

* Wes in ''Film/TheDuff'', whose football scholarship will be lost if he doesn't pass chemistry. He doesn't seem to have a very good grasp on any intellectual activity or even the English language, but is very competent in a field of [[PopularIsDumb popularity]].

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Harry of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' believes Hendricks, Gentleman Johnny Marcone's primary enforcer, to be one of these. He fits all the stereotypes: large, no neck, close cropped hair cut, speaks mainly in grunts and intimidating glares, and used to play football in high school. However, it's later revealed that he's actually quite intelligent, just The Stoic, and is at one point seen working on his Master's thesis.

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* ''Series/OurMissBrooks'' has Stretch Snodgrass. Snodgrass is a basketball, baseball, and football star. He's good natured, but dimwitted to the point of being TooDumbToLive.

* In the Canadian tv movie ''Net Worth,'' Gordie Howe is the best player in the [[UsefulNotes/NationalHockeyLeague NHL]] and not too bright. This is played both for laughs (ComicallyMissingThePoint several times) and [[PlayedForDrama for drama]] (being manipulated into betraying a players union). Apparently the real Gordie Howe was not very happy with the film for that reason.

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* Frank Stone from the ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'' game ''Creepy Town''. In his first appearance he confuses forceps for a scalpel. He admits that he was just hired to lift heavy stuff. He also hesitates when Stacey asks if anyone is a ghost, and the others accept the possibility that he doesn't know if he is.

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* In ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'', the graffiti the Marines leave on the walls to intimidate Gordon are full of misspellings.

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', Aoi Asahina not only is the Ultimate Swimmer, but also performs in five other sports. Unfortunately, she's also one of the less intelligent students, such as being the only one to honestly believe the culprit's attempt to frame Yasuhiro in Chapter 3. Leon also doesn't come off as very intelligent, either, especially considering [[spoiler:all the holes in his plan to cover up his murder]].

* The eponymous ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' is "a terrific athlete", but is dumb enough for Strong Bad to devote an entire WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail ("4 branches") to some of the stupidest things Homestar has done. These include [[NoodleIncident accidentally getting stuck inside a water cooler]] and [[AchievementsInIgnorance reciting the mathematical formula for Coloumb's Law when asked "What's two plus two?"]]

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* Subverted by early years antagonist Vin Vulpen in ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'', he's (usually) a muscle-bound athlete but is also a genius programmer and biochemist. Of course his muscles were initially caused by steroids.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

** Defied in an episode where a star high school football player is given a pass on all his classes just so he can play; it's taken as a given that he couldn't pass the classes on his own merits. He doesn't realize that this is happening though, and once he finds out, he's upset and offended that nobody aside from Peggy had any faith in his learning abilities-- including ''his own mother'', who [[JerkAss played him off as developmentally disabled to trick Peggy and Hank]]. He then tries to succeed on his own with their help, and proves himself to be a perfectly capable student.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'''s Kevin Thompson is easily a finalist for the dumbest living organism in Lawndale. While not a bully, he's a little narcissistic, dumb as a box of rocks, wears his uniform ''everywhere'', and is in general bad at everything that isn't football. At least he's sweet to his head Cheerleader girlfriend, Brittany, [[LovableJock genuinely friendly to his teammates, and amicable towards everyone else, even the unpopulars]].

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Lawson from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}''

** Defied in an episode where a star high school football player is given a pass on all his classes just so he can play; it's taken as a given that he couldn't pass the classes on his own merits. He doesn't realize that this is happening though, and once he finds out, he's upset and offended that nobody aside from Peggy had any faith in his learning abilities-- including ''his own mother'', who [[JerkAss played him off as developmentally disabled to trick Peggy and Hank]]. He then tries to succeed on his own with their help, and proves himeself to be a perfectly capable student.

** Defied in an episode where a star high school football player is given a pass on all his classes just so he can play; it's taken as a given that he couldn't pass the classes on his own merits. He doesn't realize that this is happening though, and once he finds out, he's upset and offended that nobody aside from Peggy had any faith in his learning abilities-- including ''his own mother'', who [[JerkAss played him off as developmentally disabled to trick Peggy and Hank]]. He then tries to succeed on his own with their help, and proves to be perfectly capable student.

** Defied in an episode where a star high school football player is given a pass on all his classes just so he can play; it's taken as a given that he couldn't pass the classes on his own merits. He doesn't realize that this is happening though, and once he finds out, he's upset and offended that nobody aside from Peggy had any faith in his learning abilities-- including ''his own mother'', who [[JerkAss played him off as developmentally disabled to trick Peggy and Hank]]. He then tries to succeed on his own with their help.

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]