Notable Moments of Physical Violence in Sports History (Video)

We've all seen it happen from the backyard to the TV screen. A game gets a little too heated. A rivalry goes a little too far. Boom! All a sudden you got a full scale melee. What was intended as fun has now become a fistfight, a beanball war, or something far worse. A lot of the entries on this list occurred within the field of play, but a select few made their way outside the lines. Which is worse is up to you.

One thing that we can say is that all these incidents are unanimously avoidable. You're watching a number of incidents of athletes who get caught up in the moment and commit fairly serious crimes in front of thousands (sometimes millions) of witnesses. Almost always, it gets written off as competitive people getting a little too worked up instead of, say, battery or assault.

In honor of Zinedine Zidane's 42nd birthday, here's a handful of Notable Moments of Physical Violence in Sports History (with video!) That fact that his birthday just so happens to coincide with the World Cup is a sheer (yet fortunate) coincidence.

*Note: For the record, these are only incidents that were caught on tape. If you're wondering why (blank guy from the early 1900s) isn't on here, it's because it's not on YouTube. People don't want to read descriptions of fights, they want to watch them. World Star is quietly building an empire based around that very premise.*

Date: 8/22/1965
Players involved: Juan Marichal, Johnny Roseboro

Our adorable titular pun distracts from the fact that a man got bludgeoned in the head with a damn baseball bat! The cause? Johnny Roseboro (the Los Angeles Dodgers' catcher) wanted his pitcher (Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax) to retaliate with a beanball against San Francisco Giant Juan Marichal, after Marichal knocked down two Dodgers earlier with brushback pitches. Koufax refused, so Roseboro took it upon himself and whizzed return throws uncomfortably close to Marichal's ear. Had he known that Juan Marichal was nuttier than that Coco Puff Bird he probably would've refrained.

But then again hindisght's always 20/20.

Date: 12/7/1979
Players involved: Kermit Washington, Rudy Tomjanovich

If you want context, watch the whole video. If you want to see a mean right hook, skip to 1:44. We're sure you know what happens by now but a melee took shape at halfcourt and Rudy Tomjanovich ran to the aid of his teammate before Kermit Washington dropped him with a vicious punch. He then yelled "World Star" into a camera phone.

At the time, Rudy T. was just 26 and already a four-time All Star. But life-threatening head injuries have a way of neutralizing careers and he saw his on-court play take a slow nosedive after this dramatic turn. Tomjanovich says that at the time he had thought the scoreboard had fallen on him. In addition to that, his doctor likened repairing his fractured skull to "scotch taping together a badly shattered eggshell."

Date: 1984
Players involved: Diego Maradona, Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga

Back in the days when he was playing with Barcelona, Diego Maradona and Co. were facing off against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. At the time, Andoni Goikoetxea was known as the "Butcher of Bilbao" which sounds more apt to belong to Interpol's most wanted than to be on the pitch. Well, the butcher lived up to his nickname and consistently tackled Maradona throughout the contest leading to a broken ankle that lasted several months.

In a future contest, Maradona got back with the greatest revenge possible: by winning the game jump kicking Andoni in the fucking head.

Date: 4/7/1991
Players involved: Larry Holmes, Trevor Berbick

"Hey man, shut up. Larry Holmes didn't kick and punch you, Larry Holmes is an honorable fight--*sees Larry Holmes run off a car to dropkick Trevor Berbick* oh oops, never mind."

Date: 4/14/1992
Player involved: Rob Ray

It's never a good idea to run onto the field of play during a game. But it's an even worse idea to jump onto the ice when you're not wearing skates. Learn from this guy's mistake.

Year: 4/30/1993
Players Involved: Monica Seles

Gunter Parche was so in love with Stefi Graf that he stabbed he No. 1 competitor in the back. Fortunately, German justice prevailed and Parche is safely locked away in prison to this day, incapable of repeating this gruesome outburst. Oh wait—scratch that—he never served a day in jail because he plead insanity.

We guess that explains why Monica Seles won't play tennis in Germany anymore.

Date: 8/4/1993
Players involved: Nolan Ryan, Robin Ventura

Nolan Ryan had a propensity to throw at anyone and everyone for every transgression either real or perceived. In the twilight of his career (which lasted an MLB record 27 years) a 46-year-old Ryan plunked a 26-year-old Robin Ventura. The resulting charge became the stuff of legend with Ventura being questioned about it by everybody, (even George W. Bush) and the fight played for almost two decades to pump up the Texas faithful at home games.

It goes to show that when it comes to physical confrontations, never underestimate your opponent.

Date: 5/31/1996
Players involved: Albert Belle, Fernando Vina

There was no '90s baseball player who was as simultaneously talented and pants-shittingly intimidating as Albert Belle (and this was the Steroid Era, mind you). His surly temper often got the best of him and even famously cost him the 1995 AL MVP. Most of the plays on this list are violations of the rules of their sports (at best) which makes this one unique as it's technically a fair play. Still, it's like that Warren Sapp-Chad Clifton hit, you can do it, but why?

Anyway we know it's 18 years too late, but next time just take the force out, Fernando. Instead, he appears to say something to the completely un-fazed Belle, which is about as practical as talking shit to a locomotive.

Date: 1/17/1997
Player involved: Dennis Rodman

The great thing about this YouTube video is that Rodman explains this transgression which looks pretty black-and-white in terms of the Worm being in the wrong. So what's his explanation? He could've done something worse. Come to think of it, we never thought of this incident from that perspective. He could've punched him. He could've bit him. He could've dumped a bucket of killer bees on his head.

It really makes you wonder why that camera guy was pissed at all.

Date: 6/28/1997
Players involved: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield

If we have to set this up for you, you're probably in the wrong section. But before Mike Tyson was adorable, he was fucking terrifying. Of course that period is over, time heals all wounds. And it was in an era so long ago that the WBA was actually organizing interesting match-ups people would want to watch.

Year: 5/19/1998
Players Involved: Armando Benitez, Tino Martinez, Darryl Strawberry, Scott Brosius, Graeme Lloyd

Baseball is that magical American pastime that your dad probably took you to at some point growing up so he could pass the game along to another generation. When you're not subject to what the cameras want you to see you usually watch a bunch of grown men chew tobacco and grab their dicks. And then (if you're lucky) you can watch a guy throw a projectile 95 MPH at another man because his teammate hit home run. Also, watch Daryl Strawberry try to kill a man with his bare hands.

Date: 2/21/2000
Players involved: Marty McSorley, Donald Brashear

This Marty McSorley hit on Donald Brashear has the distinction of being both the last thing McSorley (a 17-year vet) ever did in the NHL, as well as being one of the more fucked up SportsCenter clips we remember as kids. When Brashear hit the ice (and this is with two seconds left in the game, mind you) he lost consciousness, suffered a concussion, and had a seizure.

McSorley received a year-long ban from the NHL and was given 18 months probation (as in actual probation).

We'd like to think Brashear learned as a result of being the victim of this cheap shot almost fucking dying, but this video suggests that he clearly did not.

Date: 7/3/2001
Player involved: Izzy Alcantara

After two consecutive brushback pitches, Izzy Alcantara had enough. At least that's the conclusion that we came to when he channeled his inner Jackie Chan and karate kicked catcher Jeremy Salazar before taking off towards the pitcher's mound. The only difference is that Jackie Chan fought cowboys, kidnappers and talking animals, all of whom are more worthy foes than the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons infield.

Date: 11/23/2001
Players involved: James Butler, Richard Grant

After losing a fight by unanimous decision to opponent Richard Grant, James Butler sucker punched Grant during the congratulatory handshake. Did we mention it was for a charity event to benefit 9/11 survivors? Yeah, that's pretty bad. Grant lacerated his tongue and Butler served four months at Riker's Island.

Unfortunately, it was a forecast of worse to come. Two and a half years later he killed Max Kellerman's brother, Sam, with a hammer before burning his apartment down.

Date: 9/19/2002
Coach involved: Tom Gamboa (at 1:07)

As a Sox fan, this does not reflect favorably on us. Tom Gamboa, known by some as "the nicest man in baseball," gets jumped by a drunken father-son duo before 30 professional athletes come to his aid. It's not quite the Secret Service, but still looks like decent security.

Date: 7/9/2003
Player involved: Randall Simon

As people who don't like mascots, we understand where he's coming from. Seriously, take a look at this guy and tell us you don't want to kill him. Right? Exactly.

That being said you don't actually do it. Randall Simon took a joke too far and smacked a sausage upside the head. That sausage turned out to be college student Mandie Block. Wow, who knew there was a person in there? To make things right, Simon gave Block an autographed bat. Again, an autographed bat.

Which is like a person stabbing you with a knife and then autographing their apology on it.

Date: 6/19/2003
Players involved: Kyle Farnsworth, Paul Wilson

Baseball may be boring (and that's coming from a fan) but it has a rich history of unnecessary violence that would land a lesser man (see: you) in jail and/or prison. Take this instance of pitcher Paul Wilson trying to bunt against Chicago Cub Kyle Farnsworth. You're taught to throw inside on bunts and yet how did Paul Wilson react to this lesson of Baseball Fundamentals 101? Not well. This led to a brief lesson in baseball etiquette for Wilson. So, how did that end?

Also, not well.

Date: 10/11/2003
Player involved: Kellen Huston

You know how, like, fans are happy when their team wins a ballgame? Yeah? Well that didn't sit well with Nebraska kick holder Kellen Huston who knocked a Missouri fan out for...*trails off*.

While his actions brought him a one-game suspension, the grounded Mizzou fan just became another obstacle for people to step over in order to celebrate.

Date: 10/11/2003
Player/Coach involved: Pedro Martinez, Don Zimmer (1:09)

A few weeks ago Don Zimmer died, and the ultimate tragedy is that for a baseball lifer our generation will always remember him as the senior citizen who bullcharged Pedro Martinez in the midst of a Yanks-Sox brawl. It almost goes without saying that this wasn't one of his finer moments. Some people blamed Zimmer, some people blamed Pedro; we put the blame squarely where it belongs: on Manny for freaking out over a pitch that wasn't really that close.

Year: 3/8/2004
Players involved: Todd Bertuzzi, Steve Moore

In the end of a 9-2 loss, Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks failed to instigate a fight with Colorado Avalanche center Steve Moore, so he just beat him up anyway. The resulting sucker punch (as well as the pile on him afterward) knocked Moore out cold, fractured his neck, messed up some nerves, and gave him a concussion as well as amnesia. It also ended his career.

Two days later, Bertuzzi held a press conference and said "For the kids that watch this game, I'm truly sorry. I don't play the game that way. And I'm not a mean-spirited person." Not that it's hard to lie to kids or anything.

Date: 11/19/2004
Players involved: (Then) Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace

Again, you already know the story so there's no point for a setup. Just don't throw beers at people. Especially, crazy people. If you do you get what you deserve. Of course, in this case, the guy two rows in front of you gets what you deserve.

While we're not condoning these types of fan-player interactions, we are thankful that something made November basketball entertaining.

Date: 5/20/2006
Players involved: A.J. Pierzynski, Michael Barrett

It's not so much the brawl (there's a million of those) it's the punch to the face for playing the game of baseball. This is pretty much the equivalent of Adrian Peterson smacking Patrick Willis because he tackled him.

Date: 7/9/2006
Players involved: Zinedine Zidane, Marco Materazzi

This one play isn't going to change decades of thinking soccer is soft (before you whine, peep this gallery). But it did make us think (for a moment) that Zidane was the toughest player in soccer. Zidane's violent actions were caused by headbutt-ee Marco Materazzi's filthy mouth after Materazzi made a slight about fucking Zidane's sister; which makes us wonder how many red cards he'd rack up if he were somehow paired against Kevin Garnett.

Date: 9/26/2006
Players involved: Michael Simko, A car driven by Don St. Denis.

Even when you're extremely angry, you often have enough common sense to avoid unwinnable confrontations. If you don't, the food chain quickly sorts itself. It's how mankind has survived for hundreds of thousands of years. But Michael Simko gave into his inner caveman when he dropkicked Don St. Denis's windshield. He then learned a lesson that only the stupidest of cavemen figured out: Don't mess with stock cars.

Year: 7/24/2008
Player involved: Julio Castillo

The remarkable thing about baseball brawls is that nobody ever seems to get in serious trouble for them. There could be a dozen cops in the crowd and they'll just watch and cheer on the fight same as every other fan. That's what makes this entry so unique, Cubs prospect Julio Castillo fired a ball into the opposing dugout and missed (scout's call that "below average" control) striking a fan in the face and giving her a concussion. The result? Unprecedented jail time.

Date: 9/3/2009
Players involved: LeGarrette Blount, Byron Hout

After losing to Boise St. in 2008, Heisman hopeful LeGarrette Blount said that the Oregon Ducks owed them "an ass whoopin'." He then backed up his tough talk by running for -8 yards in the 2009 season opening loss to the Broncos. After the game, BSU defensive lineman Byron Haut approached Blount (who was already fighting teammates) and said "How's that for an ass whoopin'?" Blount's response got him a 10-game suspension and caused him to go unchosen in the 2010 NFL Draft.

You know how NFL teams cite "Character issues?" Apparently, punching a guy in the face qualifies.

Date: 5/8/2011
Players involved: J.J. Barea, Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum had an interesting way of exiting a disappointing postseason run with the 2010-11 Lakers, even drawing the ire of the frequently wooden Mike Tirico. When asked about the flagrant, Bynum said “They were breaking us down, so I just fouled somebody.” Though we're guessing his choice of trying to kill the smallest guy on the court was just a coincidence.

Date: 2013
Players involved: Bodin Issara, Maneepong Jongjit

If you're a soccer fan who doesn't like us dogging on your sport, especially this time of year (which is like dogging on Jesus at Christmastime, you don't have to believe but show some respect), then know that we at least hold you in (slightly) higher esteem than badminton. In fact, we shouldn't be ripping on soccer at all, this is a sacred quadrennial. We won't do it again.

That being said watching Maneepong Jongjit run from Bodin Issara, who happens to be his former partner, (as if you didn't know) is about the pussiest thing we've seen in a long time.