When Animals Attack: 12 Sports Figures Who Have Felt Nature's Wrath
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Doug Melvin, general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, was hospitalized Wednesday when he was stung by an Arizona bark scorpion. It's not the first time a sports figure and an animal have crossed paths -- and when it's happened the results have been unpredictable, ranging from minor injury to death. Here are 11 other instances of (sports)man vs. nature.
Dave Hollins vs. a brown recluse spider
The Phillies reserve infielder landed on the 15-day disabled list not once but twice during the 2002 season due to the venomous bite of a brown recluse spider.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
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David Cone vs. a Jack Russell terrier
The Yankees pitcher missed a start in June 1998 after he was bitten on the ring finger of his pitching hand by his mother-in-law's terrier.
David Seelig/Allsport
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Svein Grondalen vs. a moose
While jogging in the forest before a World Cup qualifier, the brawny Norwegian defender ran into a moose and injured himself so badly he was forced to miss the match.
Bob Thomas/Getty Images
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Randy Keisler vs. a pygmy rattlesnake
As if shoulder surgery, a demotion to the minors and a spat with reporters weren't enough, the Yankee pitcher was later bitten by a pygmy rattler in his backyard.
Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
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The Colorado Rockies vs. thousands of bees
Thousands of bees swarmed around a camera bay at Coors Field during a 2012 game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks, prompting a delay -- and, shortly after, the arrival of a beekeeper with a large vacuum cleaner.
AP
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Darren Barnard vs. his puppy
The Welsh footballer was housebreaking his new puppy when he slipped on a puddle of its urine and ripped a knee ligament that sidelined him for five months during the 1999 season.
Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images
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Nolan Ryan vs. a coyote
The Hall of Fame hurler's career was briefly interrupted in 1985 when a coyote bit him on his non-pitching hand while he was tending cattle on his Texas ranch.
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
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Mistar vs. a herd of pigs
The Indonesian footballer was tragically killed at 25 years old when a stampede of pigs charged across his team's practice field in 1995.
tumblr.com
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Bryan Robinson vs. his dog
In 2002, the Bears defensive end tripped over his dog, tumbled down a staircase backwards and suffered two broken wrists.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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Julio Arca vs. a jellyfish
In 2004, the Argentine midfielder was hospitalized after being stung by a jellyfish when he decided to take a dip in the North Sea during preseason training with Sunderland.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images
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Glenallen Hill vs. imaginary spiders
The arachnophobic Blue Jays outfielder suffered bruises, rug burns and assorted lacerations after slamming into a wall and falling into a glass table while having a violent nightmare about two spiders.
Rick Stewart/Allsport
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