The Deflategate scandal rocked the NFL in 2015, centering around accusations that the New England Patriots had intentionally deflated footballs used in the 2015 AFC Championship game. The controversy began when the Indianapolis Colts raised concerns about the pressure levels of the game balls, leading to an investigation by the league.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who was aware of the ball-tampering, was suspended by the NFL for four games. The Patriots were also fined $1 million and lost two draft picks.
Lance Armstrong, once the darling of the cycling world, turned out to be a master of deception. After years of vehemently denying doping accusations, he was finally busted in 2012. The USADA stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles and handed him a lifetime ban from professional cycling.
His sponsors, including Nike and Trek, couldn't dump him fast enough. Armstrong went from hero to zero, proving that cheaters never prosper—at least not for long.
Oscar Pistorius, the so-called "Blade Runner," sprinted his way from glory to infamy. He was once an inspirational figure, but his dark side emerged when he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.
Pistorius' laughable excuse that he mistook her for an intruder didn't hold up, and he received a lengthy prison sentence. His career and image were shattered, and the world was left wondering how they ever saw him as a hero.
Mike Tyson is the boxer who made a prison stint for assault just a minor blip on his career radar. Convicted in 1992, he served his time but jumped back into the ring, raising all sorts of ethical questions.
Tyson's case is a prime example of the tangled web of sports, justice, and public perception, where serious crimes are just footnotes in a celebrated career.
Colin Kaepernick became one of the most polarizing figures in sports when he kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. His actions sparked a national debate on patriotism, free speech, and social justice. While many praised Kaepernick for his courage and activism, others viewed his protest as disrespectful to the flag and the military.
The backlash was severe, leading to his effective blacklisted from the NFL, as no team signed him after he became a free agent. Kaepernick's stance has had a lasting impact, inspiring other athletes to engage in social activism and continuing to influence discussions on race and equality.
In 1967, Muhammed Ali faced a major scandal that threatened to derail his boxing career at the peak of his powers. The legendary fighter was charged with draft evasion after refusing to be inducted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
Ali cited his religious beliefs as a conscientious objector to the war, famously declaring, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." His refusal to serve led to a conviction, a $10,000 fine, and a five-year prison sentence. This scandal resulted in Ali being stripped of his heavyweight title and banned from boxing for over three years in the prime of his career.
Tonya Harding, the figure skater who could've been a star, instead became infamous for her role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. In 1994, Harding's ex-husband and bodyguard took out Kerrigan's leg, but Harding's feeble denials didn't hold water.
She eventually pled guilty to hindering the prosecution and was banned for life from competitive figure skating. Harding's name is now synonymous with scandal, proving that dirty tricks can't keep you on the ice.
In 2007, NFL superstar Michael Vick was embroiled in a devastating scandal that ultimately destroyed his professional football career. Vick was indicted on federal charges related to his involvement in a brutal dog fighting ring operated on his property in Virginia.
The revelations of Vick's cruel and illegal activities sparked widespread public outrage and condemnation. Vick was quickly suspended from the NFL, lost lucrative endorsement deals, and ultimately served 21 months in federal prison.
Kevin Durant faced widespread criticism when he joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016, a team that had just set the record for the most wins in a single NBA season. Many fans and analysts accused Durant of taking the easy route to a championship rather than competing against the best.
This move sparked debates about loyalty, competition, and the spirit of the game. Durant defended his decision, emphasizing his right to choose his own career path, but the controversy followed him, impacting his public perception and legacy in the NBA. He claims that he's left out of GOAT conversations “because [he] went to the Warriors,” Durant said to The Republic. “Why shouldn’t I be in that? That’s the question you should ask. Why not? What haven’t I done?”
In 2016 when Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem prior to a match, in solidarity with the protests started by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. This act drew intense criticism from many, including public figures and fans who felt her actions were disrespectful to the flag and the military.
Rapinoe continued to be an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and racial justice. Ultimately, Rapinoe's commitment to using her platform for social and political causes has been both admired and condemned, underscoring the risks athletes can face when speaking out on sensitive issues.
Kovalchuk, who was playing for the New Jersey Devils at the time, unexpectedly announced his retirement from the NHL at the age of 30. However, it soon became clear that Kovalchuk's retirement was not a sincere decision but rather an attempt to circumvent the league's salary cap rules.
The NHL investigated and discovered that Kovalchuk had negotiated a 17-year, $102 million contract with the Devils that was designed to lower his annual salary cap hit. This type of long-term contract was viewed by the league as a way to artificially deflate a player's average annual value and gain an unfair advantage. As a result, the NHL voided Kovalchuk's contract and suspended him from the league for four years.
Serena Williams faced intense scrutiny and controversy during the 2018 US Open final when she was penalized for calling the umpire a "thief." Williams' outburst came after she received a code violation for alleged coaching, which she vehemently denied. The incident escalated, resulting in penalties that contributed to her loss.
Williams' comments and subsequent penalties highlighted issues of gender equality in sports, with many arguing that male athletes have exhibited similar behavior without facing comparable consequences. The incident sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of female athletes and the double standards they often encounter.
Former NFL player Greg Hardy faced severe backlash after allegations of domestic violence surfaced. Hardy’s statements and apparent lack of remorse following the allegations intensified public outrage. The NFL’s handling of his case, including his initial suspension and reinstatement, was widely criticized.
It led to debates about the league’s policies on domestic violence and player conduct. Hardy’s career never fully recovered from the scandal, and the controversy remains a stark reminder of the serious consequences of personal misconduct for professional athletes.
Suarez gained notoriety for biting opponents on three separate occasions - in 2010, 2013, and 2014. These incidents resulted in lengthy bans from FIFA, tarnishing his image and sparking widespread condemnation.
Additionally, i 2011, Suarez was accused of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a match. He was found guilty and suspended for 8 matches, further damaging his reputation.
Hope Solo is not one to keep her comments to herself. This world-class goalkeeper has been known to publicly criticize anyone she sees fit—including coaches and both former and current members of the Women's National Soccer Team.
And that's not even counting the allegations of assaulting family members—including a nephew who was underage at the time.
Rodney Harrison has injured several folks and even changed history (in a good way) for the St. Louis Rams as he went low on QB Trent Green to end his season and get into the Kurt Warner era.
Still, voted by players and coaches as the league’s dirtiest player multiple times. He also was suspended in 2002 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on the legendary Jerry Rice.
The MMA fighter has a long history of bad behavior—he's under investigation for assault in Ireland, he's made publicly racist comments, and he's buddies with Vladimir Putin—and he most recently went to jail for a few hours after breaking a fan's phone. He then sold the t-shirt he was wearing at the time on his website.
He's not exactly the kind of person you want to skip arm in arm down the street with.
The 300-game winner and suspected performance-enhancing drug user is not in the Hall of Fame. In 2000, he famously threw a broken bat back at Mike Piazza during a World Series game.
On top of that, he has been accused of many affairs, including one with country star Mindy McCready that allegedly started when she was as young as 15.
In 2019, Brown refused to play unless he could wear his preferred helmet model, which the NFL had banned for safety reasons. This led to a lengthy standoff and his release from the Oakland Raiders. And it only got worse from there—a lot worse.
Brown faced allegations of assault from his former trainer, Britney Taylor, in 2019. This resulted in his release from the New England Patriots and an NFL investigation. Additionally, in 2020, Brown was involved in a domestic dispute with the mother of his children, leading to his arrest on charges of burglary, battery, and criminal mischief.
Most notably, Richie Incognito bullied his Miami Dolphins teammate several years ago so badly that he was planning to take his own life and wanted to quit the team.
PS: Don’t even ask about when he was arrested for threatening to shoot up the funeral home after his father’s death!
Latrell, a talented scorer and long-time NBA player, he did gain some notoriety for choking his coach PJ Carlesimo after a disagreement. A player. Choking. His Coach. Really?
I am sure a ton of players have wanted to choke their coach at one time or another, but Sprewell seems to be the only one who carried it through.
Even though their names are spelled differently, this Rae makes Ray Rice look like a church deacon. The former Carolina Panthers star hired someone to unalive his pregnant girlfriend.
Though the girlfriend died, the child survived and now lives with permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy as a result of the incident. Now, years later, Rae is wanting a relationship with him. Are you kidding me?
A list of jerks would not be complete without Ray Rice. The now-famous footage of him punching his fiancé’s lights out in an elevator is as famous as it is disturbing.
Thankfully, this NFL star was suspended indefinitely and never played in the league again. Thank you, Mr. Goodell!
The third Baltimore Ravens-affiliated player makes our list (following Shannon Sharpe and Ray Rice). Though one of the best to ever play the game, Lewis was arrested for unaliving someone at a Super Bowl party in Atlanta in 2000 and reached a plea deal. He later paid a settlement to pre-empt a civil trial.
The Former “U” star never really got out of the shadow of suspicion on that one. It's known that the white suit he was wearing was never found and that there was the blood of one of the two victims that was found in his limousine. Interesting!
Does anyone actually like the former slugger from Pittsburgh and San Francisco? Not only does he have an unfriendly reputation with his teammates, he allegedly descended into using illegal performance-enhancing substances when he apparently became jealous of others who were hitting more homers than he was.
Despite being the all-time home run king, Barry is not in the hall of fame due to his known use of performance-enhancing substances.
Hernandez was convicted for one murder and was then indicted for a double murder committed during his time as a Florida Gator. Needless to say, Hernandez is undeniably terrible. While incarcerated for one murder, he was found dead in his jail cell.
Yet another jerk with New England Patriot ties, Hernandez is the highest of the Pats on the list.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be at the top of the boxing world, but outside of the ring, he’s got quite the questionable reputation. Mayweather has a history of legal troubles related to domestic violence, and sports star or not, that’s not something anyone should be cool with.
If those weren't enough, there's more. There's also video footage of Mayweather setting money on fire as a way to display just how wealthy he is.
It seems kinda crazy to think of a professional race car driver with road rage, but here we are talking about Tony Stewart. His bad attitude led to tragedy when he struck and unalived Kevin Ward Jr. during a race.
When Ward got out of his car to confront Stewart about ramming him, the angry racer attempt to scare Ward by swerving close. Unfortunately, he cut it too close, and Ward lost his life.
Baseball players might hate the other team, but it's rare you see a clash between teammates. Unfortunately for Jonathan Papelbon, he found himself in the middle of just that.
The Washington Nationals suspended him in 2015 after an incident that culminated with him choking teammate Bryce Harper. Apparently, almost taking someone's life someone really hurts camaraderie.
Vontaze Burfict might do okay as a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders, but his personal life could use a little work.
Notorious for playing dangerously rough, Burfict is no upstanding athlete, either--he's been known to threaten other players on the field. It's no surprise he's constantly on the NFL's radar for disciplinary issues.
Warren Sapp is a former NFL player, whose entire time there was marked by a reputation for rough play and unsportsmanlike conduct.
One of his worst outbursts was in 2007, when he was ejected from a game after getting irate with a referee.
Alex Rodriguez had it all until he found himself caught up in a steroids scandal. After it came to light that he had received human growth hormone from an anti-aging clinic, the MLB suspended him for 162 games—effectively the entire 2014 season.
The scandal severely damaged Rodriguez's reputation and legacy, overshadowing his on-field accomplishments and affecting his Hall of Fame prospects.
Brett Favre has seen his fair share of controversies. Although he was an accomplished player, we’re not sure dealing with him was even worth it. On the field, his alleged inappropriate behavior towards female reporters and teammates tarnished his image.
Off the field, Favre has faced legal issues, including accusations of misusing welfare funds intended for Mississippi's needy families, which led to significant public backlash. Although he avoided any charges, we can never look at him the same.
