Professional sports feature intense competition and pressure to win, many times leading to players losing their cool, and handing out cheap shots. We have found some of the worst cheapshots in Pro Sports History, and brought them to you all in one location. We now present you with the best of the Worst Cheap Shots.
Boxing
Mike Tyson bites off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Andrew Golota (aka “The Foul Pole”) was disqualified for hitting below the belt in 2 different matches against Riddick Bowe, which Golota was fairly winning otherwise. Around 2:45 (on the video counter) the referee steps in.
Basketball
Kermit Washington’s TKO punch to Rudy Tomjanovich (1977) knocking him unconscious in a pool of blood in the middle of the arena subsequently ending his career.
Hard foul from Robert Horry in the Spurs/Suns game on Steve Nash. A running elbow into Nash’s face in the 2007 playoffs.
Argentina’s Elvis Boeing punches ref in the face in a professional league in Uruguay.
Baseball
Pedro Martinez throwing Don Zimmer (72) to the ground in Yankees-Red Sox Game 3.
Roberto Alomar spitting on umpire John Hirschbeck (1996).
Pawtucket’s Izzy Alcantara kicks catcher Jeremy Salazar.
Football
Bill Romanowski on breaking Dave Meggett’s finger:
“When I was at the bottom of the pile after another play in the same game, and I reached to rip the football out of the hand of Giants running back Dave Meggett, all I could get a good grip on was his finger. So I just grabbed it and crrraaaccckkk. Broke It Like a chicken bone. I could hear him scream in agony.” From his book “Romo: My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons”
Sav Rocca Eagles Punter Cheap Shot
Albert Haynesworth stomping incident that injured Andre Gurode. The slow-mo replay is toward the end of this video.
Hockey
Dale Hunter cheapshots Pierre Turgeon in game 6 and is handed a 21 game suspension (at the time the longest suspension in league history).
Marty McSorley was suspended for the remaining 23 games of the Bruins season after he smashed Donald Brashear on the head with his stick. He was found guilty of assault with a weapon and served 18 months probation, no jail time. February 21, 2000
Chris Simon whacks Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick. He is suspended for at least 25 games; ultimately costing him $80,000. March 9, 2007
Todd Bertuzzi sucker punches Steve Moore. Bertuzzi was charged with assault causing bodily harm and given 1 year probation. March 8, 2004
Dino Ciccarelli smashes then rookie, Luke Richardson multiple times in the head with is stick. Ciccarelli was sentenced to one day in jail and fined $1,000. Fast forward this video to 1:07.
Willi Plett’s double handed stick chop to the back of Greg Stefan’s head (1982).
Soccer
Zidane headbutts Materazzi in extra time of the 2006 World Cup final. France loses 5-3 in the following shootout.
Other
Jeff Gillooly (Tonya Harding’s now ex-husband) hiring Shane Stant to attack Nancy Kerrigan.
If you have any other cheap shots you would like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section!