The weirdest sports stories of 2006
Todd Behrendt / FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago
As 2006 fades into memory, it's only natural to look back at the year at the moments — both on and off the field — that stand out in the mind's eye.
Of course, in the case of these 10 incidents, it's not because of any superlative athletic achievement or dramatic finish.
It's because they were way too weird to forget.
1. What a butt head
Zinedine Zidane was about 10 minutes away from retiring as one of the greatest luminaries the sport of soccer has ever known. Just 10 minutes away from having led France to its second World Cup title in its last three tries. Maybe even just 10 minutes away from a fourth FIFA World Player of the Year award.
All we can say is what a difference 600 seconds can make.
Zinedine Zidane's legacy will now include this infamous head butt. (Courtesy of ABC / Associated Press)
Zidane's legacy will take on a slightly different tone after he spent the final minutes of his playing career sitting and watching his teammates lose the World Cup final on penalty kicks, having been ejected from the game for head-butting Italy's Marco Materazzi in the chest.
But even the timing and magnitude of Zidane's meltdown might not have been enough to earn him the top spot in our admittedly warped countdown had it not been for the chaos that followed.
Lip readers were brought in to attempt to decipher the insult that inspired the head butt heard round the world ("dirty terrorist" was the early front-runner, but Materazzi finally admitted he was talking smack about Zidane's sister).
Within days, the Internet was aflood with video games in which Zidane could run amok, head-butting everything in sight and doctored videos in which Materazzi burst into flames upon being struck.
It even inspired the French group Plage to record "Coup de boule" (translation: head butt). And to our knowledge, none of the other oddities on this list contributed — even indirectly — to a hit song that sold 60,000 copies in its first nine days of distribution.
2. T.O. suicide watch
2006 in Review...
The year started with a gem in the Rose Bowl and ended (more or less) with an ugly brawl in the Garden. In between there was tragedy and triumph, wins and weirdness. Here's your chance to tell us what you think was the top sports story of 2006.
It is a testament to the truly bizarre nature of what unfolded on Sept. 27 that the following Terrell Owens stories rate barely more than a passing mention (although at least mention them, we must).
# T.O. claimed a previously undiagnosed sleeping disorder — and not monumental disrespect for his position coach — was to blame for his falling asleep during a team meeting.
# T.O. donned Tour de France cycling gear during the preseason, when his activity in training camp was limited to pedaling away on a stationary bike while the rest of his team was actually working out.
# T.O. pulled a Charles Barkley and claimed to be misquoted in his own autobiography.
# T.O. penned a children's book entitled Little T Learns to Share. Other expected titles in the series: Little T Learns What Not to Say and Little T Learns to Say I'm Sorry.
But then, it's not often that a police report is leaked in which it appears that one of the most controversial figures in all of sports has attempted suicide.
The story began innocently enough on the night of the 26th (well, relatively speaking), with the news that Owens had headed to the hospital because of an allergic reaction to pain medication he was taking for his broken hand.
But by 8 a.m. the following day, the contents of the aforementioned police report had hit the airwaves. A friend, later identified as Owens' publicist Kim Etheredge, had called 911, claiming the better part of a bottle of painkillers was missing. The same report also reportedly claimed Owens answered paramedics' question about whether the Cowboys wideout was attempting to harm himself in the affirmative.
Before the ensuing PR disaster could be sorted out — Owens continues to deny he attempted suicide; the official finding categorizes the event as an "accidental overdose" — we were treated to the following:
# Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells having a press conference to say ... absolutely nothing.
# The NFL Network's Deion Sanders "reporting" from Owens' house about the wide receiver's condition.
# This gem of a line from Etheredge: "Terrell has 25 millions reasons why he should be alive."
And in the process we experienced a T.O. story that will be difficult — although not impossible (it is T.O., after all) — to top.
3. Battle for Miami, literally
When it comes to passionate crosstown college football rivalries, Miami-Florida International is way down on the list, largely due to the disparate levels of success those two programs have enjoyed.
But you sure couldn't tell when the two teams met on Oct. 14 and a benches-clearing brawl ensued. All told, 29 players were suspended and Florida International kicked two others off the team.
Florida International's head coach Don Strock resigned in the wake of the fight and the embarrassing incident likely played at least a small role in Miami's decision to fire its head coach, Larry Coker, at the end of the season.
And in a tragic postscript, homicide investigators believe there may be a connection between the brawl and the drive-by killing of Miami football player Bryan Pata.
But that's a bit of a down note to end on, so we'll leave you instead with Lamar Thomas' role in this little drama. The former Hurricane was serving as color commentator for Comcast Sports SouthEast's broadcast of the game when he offered up the following analysis as the fighting raged:
"Now that's what I'm talking about. You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the OB playing that stuff. You're across the ocean over there. You're across the city. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt beat. I was about to go down the elevator to get in that thing."
Thomas managed to keep from entering the fray, but that amazing show of self-restraint was not enough to help him keep his job with Comcast.
4. Going all Gilooly on us
In an episode that seemed eerily familiar to the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding scandal — and really, what were the odds that anything was ever going to seem eerily familiar to that sordid slice of Olympics history? — University of Northern Colorado backup punter Mitchell Cozad allegedly stabbed the player ahead of him on the depth chart, Rafael Mendoza.
Mendoza was returning home from study hall when he was attacked outside his apartment. A witness scared the assailant away, but not before the damage was done — namely, a five-inch gash in the thigh of Mendoza's kicking leg.
A car seen fleeing the scene was eventually traced to Cozad, who was then arrested. According to police, playing time was the motivation behind the attack and Cozad has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault.
Amazingly, Mendoza returned after missing just one game and finished out the season for the 1-10 Bears.
But only time will tell if the incident has the legs (no pun intended) of the Harding affair, which has lived on in mediums as diverse as amateur pornography, celebrity boxing and off-Broadway musicals.
5. The dirt on Kenny Rogers
Cardinals fans have a little fun with Kenny Rogers during the World Series. (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)
While grandmothers around the world undoubtedly rejoiced at the sudden and unprecedented attention to hand washing, the rest of us found it a little strange that for roughly 72 hours, the focus at the World Series was on Kenny Rogers' filthy hand.
Of course, there were those who found it equally odd that a 41-year-old castoff who'd attracted almost no interest on the free-agent market outside of Detroit and who was 0-3 with a 8.85 ERA in his previous nine postseason games had suddenly turned into Orel Hershiser circa 1988.
Could it be that the unidentified substance — Rogers claimed it was dirt, but the far more likely culprit, at least among baseball aficionados, was pine tar —- witnessed on Rogers' pitching hand during Game 2 of the World Series was at least partially responsible for the Tigers pitcher's 23 consecutive scoreless innings during the 2003 postseason?
Nah, couldn't be.
6. Pretty as a picture
As if Tiger Woods didn't have enough to worry about with the United States heading to Ireland for the Ryder Cup on a two-match losing streak and coming off its worst defeat in the 79-year history of the event, then Dubliner Magazine had to get in on the fun.
On the eve of the competition at the K Club, the Irish publication printed a picture of a topless woman it wrongly claimed to be Woods' wife, Swedish model Elin Nordegren.
"Most American golfers are married to women who cannot keep their clothes on in public," the article opined. "Is it too much to ask that they leave them at home for the Ryder Cup?"
Unfortunately for the Americans, the insult to the Tigress's honor did not inspire them to Ryder Cup glory. It did, however, inspire Woods to file a libel lawsuit against Dubliner Magazine.
7. No shirt, no pants ... no service
You might think eight different Bengals (or roughly 15 percent of the 53-man roster) experiencing a brush with the law in 2006 would earn Marvin Lewis' squad top billing in the crime blotter section of our weird little recap of the year that was.
But most of those arrests were for DWIs. For sheer weirdness, that can't compare to a DWN — or driving while naked.
Enter Lions assistant coach Joe Cullen.
Cullen actually had two brushes with the law in one week (one for indecency and one for driving while intoxicated), but the one that garnered the most attention — and understandably so — was the one in which a Wendy's drive-thru worker told police, "The suspect did nothing obscene, other than being naked at the drive-thru."
Cullen was recently arraigned on charges of indecency and driving while intoxicated, but was expected to reach a plea deal if he completes an alcohol treatment program and stays out of trouble.
We assume that means remaining fully clothed when those last-night munchies hit.
8. Not at all like Mike
Sing it with us, folks: Like Mike, if I could be like Mike.
However, a Portland man was singing a slightly different tune in 2006.
Courtesy KGW.com ()
Allen Heckard filed an $832 million lawsuit against Michael Jordan and Nike's Phil Knight (for defamation, permanent injury, emotional pain and suffering), claiming that he'd been incorrectly identified as His Airness almost every day for the last 15 years and that the case of really mistaken identity "makes it very uncomfortable" for him.
Personally, I think it might make Michael Jordan "very uncomfortable" if he was being mistaken for Allen Heckard. It's a bit harder to understand how Heckard suffered anything approximating "emotional pain and suffering" when his pickup-game teammates think arguably the most recognizable athlete on the planet shrunk six inches and is looking for some action at the local YMCA.
Especially when we don't really see much of a resemblance.
9. Five minutes for racketeering
We've heard of major penalties, but this is ridiculous.
A minor-league hockey team owner and the team's former coach were among 29 people facing federal charges in an investigation into the influence of organized crime on New York and Connecticut's trash industry.
And when one of the other 27 indictees is reputed Genovese crime family boss Matthew "Matty the Horse" Ianniello, you know you've got trouble.
The Danbury Trashers allegedly violated the United Hockey League's salary cap by giving several players and their wives no-show jobs with trash-hauling businesses owned by team owner James Galante.
Galante would be arrested on charges of racketeering, extortion and witness tampering, former head coach Todd Stirling would face six counts of wire fraud (related to faxing the fraudulent weekly salary-cap reports to the UHL's offices) and the team's 2006-07 season ended up getting — for lack of a more appropriate word — whacked.
10. Signed confession
On Pete Rose's official website, autographed baseballs are available for the low, low price of $104. But a box of roughly 30 balls with the Hit King's signature on it is expected to draw a little bit more than that.
Of course, that could be because Rose included an apology on the baseballs in question, writing "I'm sorry I bet on baseball" before adding his name.
The baseballs will be auctioned off by a New Jersey auction house in April, when they are expected to sell for in the neighborhood of $1,000 each.
Honorable mention
# Minor league promotions: Tom Cruise Night (which featured a Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch bobblehead) and Britney Spears Baby Safety Night.
# Tennessee Titans mascot T-Rac injures Adrian McPherson when he hits the Saints' third quarterback with his golf cart during an exhibition game. McPherson would later sue the Titans for $20 million.
# Apparently tired of perpetuating violence against women outside of the ring, Mike Tyson suggests he might be interested in doing it inside the ring for a change.
# A South Carolina man faces murder charges after allegedly killing his friend over a $20 bet on the South Carolina-Clemson game.
# Two Carnegie Mellon students are arrested for breaking into Heinz Field, allegedly to film the final part of a music video at the Steelers' home.
# A Charlotte-area high school soccer team found itself in hot water after broadcasting part of a speech by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebells prior to a playoff game.
# Saints quarterback Drew Brees threatened legal action against his mother if she did not cease and desist using his likeness in TV commercials touting her candidacy for a spot on Texas' 3rd Court of Appeals.
# The Chicago White Sox announced that home games for the 2007 season will start at 7:11, as part of a sponsorship deal with (you guessed it) 7-Eleven.
# You could buy it on eBay (or a reasonable facsimile of eBay) in 2006: The bikini worn by a streaker at a New Zealand rugby test; the dress Melissa Lima wore when her husband (then-Dodgers pitcher Jose) sang the national anthem at a Dodgers game; a piece of the cake presented to Tiger Woods to mark the occasion of his 50th career PGA Tour victory.
# Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's new neighbors in Harlem were a bit perturbed over the NBA's all-time leading scorer's decision to deposit large amounts of refuse (including a pair of size-17 sneakers) in his neighbor's front yard.
# An 18-year-old New York Mets fans used a fake NBC Universal ID badge to gain credentials to an Aug. 10 game between the Mets and the San Diego Padres.
# Police stopped a Sengalese man attempting to enter Cyprus using what proved to be a forged French passport. Apparently the man roused suspicions by wearing an England football shirt, something a true Frenchman would never do.
# NASCAR star Kurt Busch was forced to change his wedding plans after it was determined the temporary pier he wanted to build on the Chesapeake Bay for the festivities would have infringed on the habitat of the tiger beetle, a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act.
# Proving science is still no match for Mother Nature, a pair of cloned mules faired poorly in their head-to-head matchup against naturally bred mules.
# Supreme Patriarch Non Ngeth granted permission for Cambodian monks to watch World Cup games on television, provided they did not gamble on the games or cheer.
# Cal basketball fans, having obtained USC guard Gabe Pruitt's IM screen name, sent messages to the All Pac-10 player, pretending to be an attractive woman named Victoria. The fans then let Pruitt in on the gag during the Trojans-Bears game, chanting "Victoria" and the player's phone number.
Todd Behrendt is deputy managing editor for FOXSports.com. He also writes frequently on the stranger side of sports on his blog, The Weird World of Sports.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:55 am Posts: 9080 Location: Londres
Graham Poll handing out 3 yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic before he was shown the red. Well, considering he only receieved the third yellow (and the red) after the final whistle was blown, was he ever really sent off?
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:11 am Posts: 6822 Location: College Station, TX, USA Gender: Male
Hinny wrote:
Graham Poll handing out 3 yellow cards to Croatia's Josip Simunic before he was shown the red. Well, considering he only receieved the third yellow (and the red) after the final whistle was blown, was he ever really sent off?
Yes because he's still required to GTFO no matter when the red is shown.
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