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“Look, I’m a coach, I’m not Harry Potter, he is magical, but in reality there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real.” – Jose Mourinho .
Unlike the “reel” world , sports has unearthed real hero’s and real villain’s. Step aside heroes, hello villains and one-crime wonders like Hansie Cronje, Tonya Harding, Pete Rose and others who play consistent hide and seek from sheer controversy.
Vote for who you think is the baddest of them all!
1) Marcelo Rios
El Chino is the only male player in the Open era to have held the World No. 1 ranking despite never winning a Grand Slam singles tournament. However, his success on-court is annulled by numerous off-court incidents which have gone a long way in jeopardizing his career.
He ran over his physical trainer, Manuel Astorga (who he later fired) with his jeep in a confusing incident. Then, he was arrested in Rome in 2001 after he punched a taxi driver in the nose and then had a fight with the policemen arresting him. In a bizzare incident in 2003, while training for a Davis Cup tie with Ecuador, he allegedly urinated on some men in La Serena bar’s bathroom and was later expelled from his hotel after being accused of swimming nude.
His ‘good’ manners were reportedly on show as he told Monica Seles to move her “fat ass” while on a lunch queue. He was disqualified from the 2000 Mercedes-Benz Cup for saying “f*&^ you” to the chair umpire. To top it all, he fired his coach Larry Stefanki shortly after he became World No. 1, claiming that he wanted to go in a different direction. The only trophy he ended up winning consistently was the Prix Citron ‘award’ for being the most disagreeable player on tour…Ouch! Crash Landing!
2) Ron Artest
Ron Artest is one of the NBA’s most underachieving defenders, with only the one Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004, given his unquestionable talent.
Seemingly inspired by AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, his un-channeled aggression outside the court has severely hurt him and left his fans wondering what might have been.
Admitting to drinking during his stint with the Chicago Bulls early in his career was followed by getting suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a television camera at Madison Square Garden, and four games for a confrontation with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley in the same year. That was followed by a suspension for two games in the 2004–05 season by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for allegedly asking for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R & B album for the group Allure on his production label.
The final nail in the coffin was his involvement in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004. He jumped over a table and entered the stands where he began hitting a fan he believed to have thrown a drink at him during the game. He returned to the basketball court where he was confronted by Pistons fans, whom he fought with as well. He was subsequently slapped with a 73-game ban by the NBA. Ron Con Art’i’st seems to have resurrected from the dead, enjoying a title winning season with the Lakers in 2010.
3) Mark Vermeulen
Mark Vermeulen was the subject of disciplinary problems right from his early playing days and faced the axe during the tour to England in 2003 for persistent misconduct. Then in 2004, he suffered a skull fracture after a nasty one from Irfan Pathan caught him cold during the ODI series in Australia. He returned in 2006 after a successful surgery, donning the colors of Werneth in the Lancashire Leagues.
After being rebuked by a section of the crowd, he did the unthinkable by throwing a cricket ball back at them (narrowly missing a child). He followed this by threatening a spectator with a spike marking the boundary and then fought his own teammates. He was implicated and suspended from English cricket for 1 year. However, the worst was yet to come.
Upon return to Zimbabwe, he set fire to the buildings of the national cricket academy, destroying the pavilion, administrative building and changing rooms. A branded arsonist, he faced 25 years in prison with hard labor. Eighteen months after the crime, he was cleared in the trial on grounds of his psychiatric problems. He made his comeback in 2009 in the One Day International series against Bangladesh. Arson’s young gun!
4) Shane Warne
Shane Warne’s glittering career never ceases to spin a tale. It was February 2003 when he tested positive for a banned diuretic which forced him out of the upcoming World Cup. He was charged with match fixing allegations and slapped with a fine after his involvement with “John the Bookmaker”.
His smoking habits both on and off the field sparked off remarkable controversy in sporting circles. In 2000, he was stripped of the Australian vice-captaincy after pursuing a British nurse with erotic text messages. Old habits are hard to break and he was in the limelight again, standing in his underwear with a pair of 25-year-old models. His efforts to reconcile with his wife were put to rest after accidentally sending a text message meant for another woman to her phone..One for the tabloids!
5) Joey Barton
The first goal in the Newcastle – Aston Villa match a couple of weeks ago showcased the tremendous skill and talent of this combative midfielder.
Unfortunately for him, the “self destruct “button is pressed once too often for anybody’s liking.
He stubbed out a cigar onto the eyes of reserve team player Jamie Tandy during a Manchester City Christmas party in 2004. The following summer saw him assault a 15-year-old Everton fan during a pre-season tour of Thailand. His next victim, well his own teammate Ousmane Dabo, who suffered injuries to his head in a brawl, including a suspected detached retina. He finally saw the insides of the cell after another assault on a night out in Liverpool in 2008, the judge subjecting him to six months in prison since the offence was committed whilst he was on bail for two prior offences. He’s had his fair share of battles with alcohol. Other noteworthy incidents include the “Pants down” and the “Nazi salute” episodes.
6) George Best
A reflection of his footballing skills are well defined by the saying: “Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best!”.
Unfortunately, a contrasting image in his off – the field affairs. A low point came in 1981 when he stole money from an unknown lady’s purse to fund a few drinks .
That was followed by a reckless incident in 1984 when he received a three-month prison sentence for drunk driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. In 2002, he had a successful liver transplant but that didn’t stop him from wetting his beak, as he was convicted for drunk driving yet again a couple of years later. Ultimately, he lost his life his battle with alcohol and life. Whilst he was alive, he believed in living life king size. Some of his legendary quotes included, “I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted” , “ They say I slept with seven Miss Worlds but I didn’t. It was only four. I didn’t turn up for the other three”!
7) O J Simpson
O J Simpson is a retired American football player, football broadcaster, spokesman, actor and well.. suspected criminal!
His most “in”famous trial was that of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in June 1994.
Up to 100,000,000 people watched as a “low-speed chase” of OJ’s white Ford Bronco was telecast live across America after he failed to report to the police. After numerous court case deliberations which followed, he was cleared of all charges amidst sheer controversy. In September 2007, Simpson and his affiliates entered a room at the Palace Station hotel-casino and took sports memorabilia at gunpoint and he was charged with multiple felony counts. Simpson was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole in about 9 years.
8) Mike Tyson
A record of 50 wins in 58 fights (with an enviable 44 KO’s) speaks a lot for the self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet“.
True to his word, he played villain in one of the most controversial moments in sports history by taking out a piece of opponent Holyfield’s ear in their famed battle of The Sound and The Fury.
He was convicted for the rape of 18-year-old Desiree Washington, Miss Black Rhode Island and jailed for 3 years. A further stint in his home away from home continued after assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and driving under the influence in 2006. His legal trouble forced him to file for bankruptcy. He now makes guest appearances in TV series and movies, looking to live the good life.
P. S.: Sex is not a crime (at least I hope it isn’t!) and hence the likes of Tiger Woods and John Terry escape the list!
