Like celebrities and politicians, sports teams and players,
too, face huge scandals that saturate the media and turn their worlds
upside down.
Unlike the scandals of celebrities and politicians, however, the results of these scandals affect far more than the organizations involved—they affect the countless fans that support and love the teams going through the scandals.
From brawls to rule violations, from bribery to sexscapades, some scandals are so huge that they will be remembered by the sports world forever.
Here is a list of 20 of the most devastating sports scandals in history.
Unlike the scandals of celebrities and politicians, however, the results of these scandals affect far more than the organizations involved—they affect the countless fans that support and love the teams going through the scandals.
From brawls to rule violations, from bribery to sexscapades, some scandals are so huge that they will be remembered by the sports world forever.
Here is a list of 20 of the most devastating sports scandals in history.
In the 1940s and '50s, players from the City College of New
York, as well as several other neighboring schools, were caught in a
major game-fixing scandal.
The players were being bribed to fix the outcomes of the games so that the bookies backing them could make money by placing bets on all of the games.
Photo courtesy http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2000/02/22/bruins_canucks_ap/t1_slash.jpg
The players were being bribed to fix the outcomes of the games so that the bookies backing them could make money by placing bets on all of the games.
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In 2000, when Marty McSorley was playing for the Boston Bruins,
he slashed Vancouver Canucks player Donald Brashear in the head with
only three seconds left in the game.
While hits and fights happen all the time in hockey, this hit was intentional and so hard that it knocked Brashear down, giving him a very serious concussion and reportedly causing him to forget even getting hit in the head.
McSorley was later charged for assault with a weapon and received probation for the incident. It's not often that something that happens during a game actually becomes a crime.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
While hits and fights happen all the time in hockey, this hit was intentional and so hard that it knocked Brashear down, giving him a very serious concussion and reportedly causing him to forget even getting hit in the head.
McSorley was later charged for assault with a weapon and received probation for the incident. It's not often that something that happens during a game actually becomes a crime.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Oh, who could forget the infamous Brett Favre scandal from last fall?
This "upstanding" longtime player was caught sending dirty texts to a woman who worked with the Jets, a team he formerly played for, and he was only fined $50,000 for his failure to cooperate with the NFL's investigation.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
This "upstanding" longtime player was caught sending dirty texts to a woman who worked with the Jets, a team he formerly played for, and he was only fined $50,000 for his failure to cooperate with the NFL's investigation.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
In 2001, a star pitcher from the Bronx by the name of Danny
Almonte led his team to success in the Little League World Series,
earning it third place overall in the series.
He had an insanely fast pitch and threw the first perfect game in the Little League World Series since the 1950s.
It came out several weeks later, however, that Almonte was actually two years too old to be playing Little League baseball.
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
He had an insanely fast pitch and threw the first perfect game in the Little League World Series since the 1950s.
It came out several weeks later, however, that Almonte was actually two years too old to be playing Little League baseball.
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
In the 1990s, the head coach of the University of Minnesota
basketball team, Clem Haskins, was caught in a massive fraud scandal.
It was found out later that he instructed his staff to give money to the players and help them pass classes by writing papers for them or bribing teachers to give them better grades than they actually earned.
The university was forced to return much of the money it earned from appearances during that time and some of the titles it earned in basketball during that time as well.
Clive Rose/Getty Images
It was found out later that he instructed his staff to give money to the players and help them pass classes by writing papers for them or bribing teachers to give them better grades than they actually earned.
The university was forced to return much of the money it earned from appearances during that time and some of the titles it earned in basketball during that time as well.
Clive Rose/Getty Images
This is one of the most recent scandals to hit the world of sports.
It has been alleged that Qatar has bought the rights to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, which is against the organization's rules on how teams bid for the hosting position.
If this is the case, then the organization could see a great deal of turnover soon if it chooses to investigate and remove those involved with the scandal.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
It has been alleged that Qatar has bought the rights to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, which is against the organization's rules on how teams bid for the hosting position.
If this is the case, then the organization could see a great deal of turnover soon if it chooses to investigate and remove those involved with the scandal.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
While no one was really surprised, when this scandal broke it
affected how many people saw his performance as one of the greatest
baseball players of all time.
There's no denying Bonds was a great baseball player, but after being indicted for charges of perjury in 2007 in the baseball steroids case, his game was tarnished since it seems much of his greatness may have come from illegally using steroids to improve his body and game.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
There's no denying Bonds was a great baseball player, but after being indicted for charges of perjury in 2007 in the baseball steroids case, his game was tarnished since it seems much of his greatness may have come from illegally using steroids to improve his body and game.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Never in the history of the NBA has there been more speculation
and hype over where a basketball player will "take his talents" than
last summer's obsession with LeBron James.
James' scandalous decision to move to Miami caused an entire city to despise him and ended up still denying him a championship, which is one of the reasons why he said he moved to Miami in the first place.
Some basketball experts believe the decision has started a new era where superstars get together and make "super teams" and leave small-market teams in potential financial ruin.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
James' scandalous decision to move to Miami caused an entire city to despise him and ended up still denying him a championship, which is one of the reasons why he said he moved to Miami in the first place.
Some basketball experts believe the decision has started a new era where superstars get together and make "super teams" and leave small-market teams in potential financial ruin.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Pete Rose is both a former player and manager in the MLB.
He was officially banned from the MLB in 1989 after strong accusations against him that said he had placed bets on baseball games, including his own team's games. Rose denied the accusations until 2004, when he finally came clean and admitted to placing bets on games.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
He was officially banned from the MLB in 1989 after strong accusations against him that said he had placed bets on baseball games, including his own team's games. Rose denied the accusations until 2004, when he finally came clean and admitted to placing bets on games.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
In the long history of the Heisman, it has only had to be returned once.
That moment came in 2010, when former award-winner Reggie Bush, under a great deal of pressure, gave back his trophy after it came out that he received improper benefits while playing for USC in 2005.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
That moment came in 2010, when former award-winner Reggie Bush, under a great deal of pressure, gave back his trophy after it came out that he received improper benefits while playing for USC in 2005.
Rick Stewart/Getty Images
In 2007, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his team were found
guilty of videotaping their opposition during a game to learn the other
team's hand signals and plays.
This was strictly against NFL rules, and Belichick was fined $500,000 by the organization, while his team was fined an additional $250,000 for the infraction.
Photo courtesy http://www.wrapitadgroup.com/blog/2010/04/32-years-what-ive-seen-and-what-ive-done/
This was strictly against NFL rules, and Belichick was fined $500,000 by the organization, while his team was fined an additional $250,000 for the infraction.
Photo courtesy http://www.wrapitadgroup.com/blog/2010/04/32-years-what-ive-seen-and-what-ive-done/
During the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Tonya
Harding helped cover up an attack on her opponent, Nancy Kerrigan, that
was orchestrated by her ex-husband and bodyguard.
The two men hired another man to break Kerrigan's leg after a practice session so she would no longer be able to compete in the competition. While Harding wasn't expressly involved in hiring this man to injure her opponent, she did later admit to helping cover up the incident.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
The two men hired another man to break Kerrigan's leg after a practice session so she would no longer be able to compete in the competition. While Harding wasn't expressly involved in hiring this man to injure her opponent, she did later admit to helping cover up the incident.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
In 2007, Tim Donaghy retired from NBA officiating after
allegations arose that he had placed bets on games he was officiating
and tried to control the point spread of the games.
He was placed under investigation by the FBI and was later fined a great deal of money, then sentenced to 15 months in jail for his gambling.
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Photo courtesy http://www.michigandaily.com/content/krislov-key-piece-forming-report
He was placed under investigation by the FBI and was later fined a great deal of money, then sentenced to 15 months in jail for his gambling.
Photo courtesy http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/403/707/beardandgroza_display_image.jpg?1285000442
It's very rare for the NCAA to ever deal out the death penalty
to any athletic program, but that's just what happened in the early
1950, when it was found out that several of the players had taken bribes
to shave points and keep games close.
The entire athletic program was banned from competing for the 1952-53 season.
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
This is one scandal on the list that is still in the process of unfolding.
It was found out earlier this year that five players on the Ohio State football team were guilty of selling memorabilia to a local Columbus tattoo artist in exchange for free tattoos. It was also found out just a few short months ago that coach Jim Tressel knew about the infractions and failed to report
The entire athletic program was banned from competing for the 1952-53 season.
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
It was found out earlier this year that five players on the Ohio State football team were guilty of selling memorabilia to a local Columbus tattoo artist in exchange for free tattoos. It was also found out just a few short months ago that coach Jim Tressel knew about the infractions and failed to report
Photo courtesy http://www.michigandaily.com/content/krislov-key-piece-forming-report
Out of control boosters seem to cause problems at universities
big and small. That was just what happened at the University of Michigan
during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Longtime booster Ed Martin was caught loaning money to current players and recruits.
This was a huge scandal that ended up costing the program hundreds of games and several championships. It also put the program on probation for two years.
More importantly for some, because of this scandal there is no official record that the "Fab Five" ever existed.
Longtime booster Ed Martin was caught loaning money to current players and recruits.
This was a huge scandal that ended up costing the program hundreds of games and several championships. It also put the program on probation for two years.
More importantly for some, because of this scandal there is no official record that the "Fab Five" ever existed.
This was a dark day for the Ohio State football program.
In the 1978 Gator Bowl, then-coach Woody Hayes lost his temper when a player from Clemson intercepted the ball and ran it out of bounds near the Buckeyes sideline. The coach's temper flared, and he punched the Clemson player in the throat and ended up punching one of his own players who tried to break up the fight.
Needless to say, Hayes was fired from his coaching position for his actions.
Buckeye nation was devastated at the loss of one of the greatest coaches its football program had ever seen. Even to this day, Buckeyes fans tend to overlook this one scandalous incident and only remember fondly the good Hayes did for the program.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
In the 1978 Gator Bowl, then-coach Woody Hayes lost his temper when a player from Clemson intercepted the ball and ran it out of bounds near the Buckeyes sideline. The coach's temper flared, and he punched the Clemson player in the throat and ended up punching one of his own players who tried to break up the fight.
Needless to say, Hayes was fired from his coaching position for his actions.
Buckeye nation was devastated at the loss of one of the greatest coaches its football program had ever seen. Even to this day, Buckeyes fans tend to overlook this one scandalous incident and only remember fondly the good Hayes did for the program.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Like it was said earlier in this slideshow, the NCAA rarely ever deals out the death penalty to any institution.
But it did in 1987, when NCAA officials found SMU's football program in violation of the rules by paying its student athletes from a "slush fund." They found out that the coaches and staff were lying about it.
The team lost a great deal of scholarships for the program and was banned from playing any games that season, as well as any home games in 1988.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
But it did in 1987, when NCAA officials found SMU's football program in violation of the rules by paying its student athletes from a "slush fund." They found out that the coaches and staff were lying about it.
The team lost a great deal of scholarships for the program and was banned from playing any games that season, as well as any home games in 1988.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
This is definitely one of the biggest scandals on this list.
After the 2002-03 basketball season at Baylor, it was found that coach Dave Bliss tried to cover up a great deal of wrongdoing by his players, including illegal drug and alcohol use, and the murder of Patrick Dennehy took place on his watch as well.
Bliss was basically banned from coaching again the NCAA until 2015, unless any institution can prove why it shouldn't be punished for hiring him.
Photo courtesy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eight_men_banned.png
After the 2002-03 basketball season at Baylor, it was found that coach Dave Bliss tried to cover up a great deal of wrongdoing by his players, including illegal drug and alcohol use, and the murder of Patrick Dennehy took place on his watch as well.
Bliss was basically banned from coaching again the NCAA until 2015, unless any institution can prove why it shouldn't be punished for hiring him.
Photo courtesy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eight_men_banned.png
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