The 5 Most Infamous Self-Inflicted Athlete Injuries
“Hey Plax, it’s the Special Olympics calling. You can still play for us!”
By now, you’ve probably heard all about New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress’s wild Thanksgiving weekend. But is it the worst off-field, self-inflicted (and non-lethal, word to our already iffy sports injury karma) injury in sports history? Read on to see our top 5…
5. JEFF KENT
Baseball’s favorite grumpy old man missed 2002 spring training season after he broke his wrist washing his truck. He accomplished this by either a) falling off said truck, or b) taking a break from washing said truck by popping wheelies on his motorcycle. Either way, according to some, it may have affected his ability to comprehend black people.
4. SAMMY SOSA
In 2004, Swingin’ Sammy missed a game for the Cubs when he came down with a case of back spasms…after a sneezing fit. Luckily for Sam, there was plenty of HGH-grade NyQuil on hand and he was good to go the next day.
3. RICH HARDEN
Early in 2004’s spring training, the then-Oakland A’s pitcher threw out his non-throwing shoulder while reaching to turn off his alarm clock. Call him injury-prone, just don’t call him late for breakfast!
2. BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Big Ben gets no. 2 only because, well, he almost died. On June 12, 2006, Roethlisberger was riding high as the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback of all time. Riding high that is, until he flew over the handlebars of his motorcycle and headbutted a Chrysler New Yorker in the windshield. Amazingly, the helmet-less Roethlisberger was released from the hospital two days later and didn’t miss a regular season game because of his injuries.
1. GLENALLEN HILL
Currently a Colorado Rockies coach, Hill began wearing a helmet full-time when, during his playing career, he crashed through a glass table while dreaming about spiders, and ended up on the 15-day disabled list.
Calvin December 1, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Funny post, however Ben didn’t get hurt in 1996.
Zach December 1, 2008 at 10:53 pm
You put 1996 for Big Ben but it was 2006..minor error but funny to think about…a 15 year old kid winning the superbowl?
Mark December 1, 2008 at 11:01 pm
What about Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues (NHL)? He was on a golf cart and got his foot stuck in the pedal and is out for the season.
Matt December 1, 2008 at 11:04 pm
With some research this could have been funny.
Matt Anderson (Tigers) - Injured himself in an octopus throwing contest.
Joel Zumaya (Tigers) - Injured himself playing Guitar Hero.
mike December 1, 2008 at 11:12 pm
How about Gus Frerote…. Anybody remember that time he head butted that wall?
Chris December 1, 2008 at 11:21 pm
What no Bo Diaz?
DÃaz was killed when a satellite dish that he was adjusting on the roof of his home in Caracas, Venezuela fell on him.
James December 1, 2008 at 11:33 pm
You misspelled “athlete.”
Alex December 1, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Gus Frerotte - headbutting a wall - concussion
Bill Gramatica - jumping up and down after kicking a game winning field goal - breaks his ankle
paul mt December 2, 2008 at 12:01 am
Are you forgetting Browns Tight End Kellen Wislow??? He hadn’t done a thing in the NFL before he hurt himself on a sport bike in an empty parking lot!
Craig December 2, 2008 at 12:10 am
Your reasoning behind Glenallen Hill wearing a helmet is FALSE. He starting wearing it when Mike Coolbaugh, a triple A first base coach for the Rockies organization, was hit in the head by a line drive and died last year. Please get the facts right.
jim stevens December 2, 2008 at 12:17 am
What about Martin Gramatica, enough said.
zac December 2, 2008 at 12:19 am
i believe mike bordick had the best one though…got sun burnt in the tanning bed and went on the 15 day DL
fred December 2, 2008 at 12:40 am
Yeah, pretty timely forgetting about Plaxico Burress, who just got busted for shooting himself in the leg.
Moron. (Plaxico, not you.)
Fontzepontze December 2, 2008 at 12:43 am
Don’t forget should-be Hall of Famer, Lou Whitaker of the Detroit Tigers. He hurt himself doing the splits on a dance floor around Detroit.
mung35 December 2, 2008 at 1:02 am
Brandon Marshall… freaking McDonalds bag?
jimmy December 2, 2008 at 1:22 am
how you could you leave out milton bradley? He tore his acl while arguing with an umpire haha classic the post game press conference was pretty good as well.
brian December 2, 2008 at 1:23 am
Ricky Henderson got frost bite on his butt after falling asleep with an ice pack on.
bertie wooster December 2, 2008 at 1:46 am
Do Big Daddy Lipscomb and Len Bias count?
Sam December 2, 2008 at 1:48 am
None of these were self-inflicted and you spelled athlete wrong.
RevStHuck December 2, 2008 at 2:09 am
John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves burned himself while ironing a shirt…that he was wearing.
Justin December 2, 2008 at 3:04 am
How can you not have Chris Hanson current punter for the Patriots, and punter for the Jaguars when this happened…
“During the 2003 season Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio placed a wooden stump and axe in the Jaguars locker room as a symbol of his theme advising players to “keep choppin’ wood”. After his teammates had been taking swings at the wood with the axe, Hanson followed and ended up seriously wounding his non-kicking foot. He missed the remainder of the 2003 season.”
Nick December 2, 2008 at 3:10 am
oh come on.. nothing about zumaya hurting his wrist/hand playing guitar hero!???
jewsus December 2, 2008 at 4:11 am
This list should have been longer. Kellen Winslow should have been paired with Roethlisberger seeing as they did the same thing. Also what kind of fucking idiot doesn’t put the Gus Frerotte headbutt at number one.
busterbros December 2, 2008 at 6:11 am
Clint Barmes has always been a favorite of mine.
“Colorado Rockies rookie shortstop Clint Barmes says he was lugging a package of deer meat he got from teammate Todd Helton … when he fell and broke his collarbone.”
travis December 2, 2008 at 9:46 am
brian griese got hurt during his carrer for the Denver Broncos because he got drunk and fell over in a teammates driveway. I belive he missed a game for it too. that one is classic
Baroo December 2, 2008 at 9:57 am
Don’t forget about Ferotte!!
Head-Butt Turns Into Real Pain in the Neck
By Leonard Shapiro and Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, November 24, 1997; Page D1
The Washington Redskins finally made a change at quarterback last night at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, with Jeff Hostetler replacing Gus Frerotte at the start of the third quarter, the result of one of the more bizarre plays in the team’s history.
Frerotte did not start the second half of the Redskins’ overtime tie against the New York Giants after head-butting a padded wall in the end zone in celebration after scoring on a one-yard run late in the first half.
He ended up with a sprained neck and a trip to the hospital.
phecco December 2, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Don’t forget Monty Stratton who pitched for the White Sox in the late 1930’s and was an all star in 1937. He fell while hunting after the 38 season and accidentally shot himself in the right leg. His leg was so severely injured that they had to amputate it. He continued pitching with one leg in the minor leagues into the 1950’s.
Jim M. December 3, 2008 at 12:06 am
What about Tony Dorsett dropping a mirror on his toe?
nob body December 3, 2008 at 6:46 am
What about Bobby Hurley? I guess that wasn’t funny though…..
MISTER May 3, 2009 at 4:22 pm
How about the time Jake Plummer broke his foot tripping over his cat trying to answer the door?