Raiders coach Tom Cable lets assistant Randy Hanson assist him as a punching bag.
If football coaches could draw roughing penalties, Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable might have just had a flag thrown his way. Based on Napa police reports and snitches, the massive former NFL offensive lineman got pissed off at his assistant Randy Hanson and punched him in the face on the fifth of August, sending him to the hospital with a jaw injury. Cable and the Raiders have denied this, and other snitches now say that indeed no punches were thrown—Cable just pulled a chair out from under Hanson, causing him to break a facial bone when his cheek hit a filing cabinet. Much better.
Of course, Cable isn't the first coach to flip out on a fellow coach or assistant. Oftentimes it happens behind closed doors, but some classic outbursts have been captured on film and photograph. Complex hits you square in the nose with some of the more memorable ones. BOOM! POW!
WOODY HAYES PUNCHES CHARLIE BAUMAN (AND KEN FRITZ)
On December 29, 1978, after University of Clemson middle linebacker Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's potential game-winning drive, the 65-year-old O.S.U. coach grabbed him as he ran out of bounds and decked him. Just to add a little extra nut to his nuttiness, he hit Fritz, his own guard who was trying to restrain him as the scuffle grew.
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BUDDY RYAN PUNCHES KEVIN GILBRIDE
On January 2, 1994, Houston Oilers defensive coordinator Ryan, who'd been feuding with offensive coordinator Gilbride for a while over differences in coaching philosophy, socked his nemesis in the jaw to express his displeasure with a play-call that led to their QB being sacked and coughing up the ball. Despite Gilbride's L, the Oilers got the win.
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BOB KNIGHT CHIN TAPS MICHAEL PRINCE
On November 13, 2006, during a game against Gardner-Webb, Texas Tech forward Michael Prince, who'd just thrown a bad pass, hung his head as coach Knighttalked to himbreathed fire on him on the sidelines. Wanting his player to look him in the eye, the often abrasive Knight, who choked out a player he disagreed with during a 1997 practice at Indiana University, quickly flipped Prince's chin up to "raise his confidence." The right hook is reserved for severe bouts of low self-esteem.
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PACO RAMIREZ SLAPS FRANKIE HEJDUK
On February 11, 2009, after the U.S.A. men's national soccer team defeated Mexico 2-0 in the opening game of the final round of World Cup qualifying, U.S. midfielder Hejduk was heading toward the locker room when Mexican assistant coach Paco Ramirez slapped him in the face. Like many victims of abuse, he started making excuses for his attacker, explaining that he must've misheard his exclamation of "Fuck yeah!" to U.S. fans as "Fuck you!" to the Mexicans. Well, at least Ramirez didn't kick him in the balls...
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JAVIER AGUIRRE KICKS RICARDO PHILLIPS
On July 9, 2009, in the closing minutes of a 1-1 Gold Cup soccer match tie between Mexico and Panama, Mexican coach Aguirre got in the game, putting his foot on the ball. Unfortunately, that ball belonged to Panamanian player Phillips's bozack. Golden balls? They're black and blue now.
