Athletes Behaving Badly

SI Staff | Oct 2, 2006

Athletes Behaving Badly

Albert Haynesworth

AP

After his team had fallen behind 20-6 in a game it would eventually lose 45-14, the Titans defensive tackle stomped on the face of Dallas center Andre Gurode, drawing an unprecedented five-game suspension.

Mike Tyson

V.J. Lovero/SI

In a June 1997 rematch with Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield's right ear.

Tonya Harding

AP

The former Olympian admitted to helping cover up the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan during the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Dennis Rodman

AP

After falling out-of-bounds in a 1997 game, he kicked Eugene Amos in the groin as the cameraman tried to turn his camera on Rodman.

Latrell Sprewell

AP

The former Warrior took exception to Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo's practice criticism and choked his drillmaster while threatening to kill him. The rampage landed Sprewell a 62-game suspension and cost him $6.4 million in salary. Sprewell never suited up for the Warriors again but went on to enjoy seven relatively fruitful (and choke-free) years with the Knicks and the Timberwolves.

Todd Bertuzzi

AP

In 2004, a few weeks after Colorado's Steve Moore injured Bertuzzi's linemate Markus Näslund on a hard -- but legal -- hit, the bruising power forward took it upon himself to retaliate and blindsided Moore with a massive haymaker before driving him into the ice. Moore suffered extensive injuries, including three broken vertebrate. Bertuzzi was suspended for 17 months and wasn't allowed to play in Europe or two world championships during the NHL lockout.

Ron Artest

AP

He stormed into the stands of the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004 to fight a Pistons fan who had thrown a cup at him during a break in fourth-quarter action. Commissioner David Stern suspended Artest, who has always been temperamental, for the rest of the season (73 regular-season games and 13 playoff games -- the longest suspension in NBA history), and the former Defensive Player of the Year lost just under $5 million in salary.

Roberto Alomar

AP

The 10-time Gold Glover is hailed as one of the most complete second basemen ever, but he may be best remembered for a 1997 incident in which he got into a heated argument over a called third strike with umpire John Hirschbeck and spat in Hirschbeck's face. Alomar was suspended for five games and fined $50,000.

Marty McSorley

AP

In 2000, McSorley knocked Donald Brashear unconscious by swinging his stick at Brashear's head from behind. McSorley was suspended for the remainder of the season (23 games -- the longest suspension in NHL history) and found guilty of assault with a weapon (for which he served 18 months).

The Luke Witte Incident

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

During a basketball game in Minnesota in 1972, Ohio State's Luke Witte (pictured) was kneed in the groin by Corky Taylor while going up for a layup. Taylor then hit Witte in the head, and Minnesota's Ron Behagen kicked Witte while he was still on the floor. Taylor and Behagen were suspended for the remainder of the season.