Top 6 Sports Controversies from 2013

By Megan Lehman on January 26, 2014

Controversies are not just for government employees and questionable celebrities.  Athletes, entire teams, mascots and their questionable actions have inspired some of the biggest controversies in the history of athletics.  Over the years sports and their controversies have kept us thoroughly entertained and 2013 was no different.  

Let’s rewind and dive back into 2013 and re-live the worst sports moments of 2013 with the help of Rolling Stone Magazine, ABC News, and the Bleacher Report.

Olympian of South Africa

Image courtesy of Telegraph

Double amputee sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, was a controversy from the moment he became an Olympian.  With fans and competitors wondering if his prosthetic legs would give him an unfair advantage, no one saw what would surely become the controversy that Pistorius would become infamous for.

In February, Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, in the bathroom of his home in Pretoria.  When the crime scene was examined, police found Pistorius shot through the bathroom door four times, hitting Steenkamp three times.

The Olympian claims he believed the person to be an unwanted intruder, but authorities claim the shots were fired intentionally.  While he has returned to training, Pistorius has been indicted on two charges of murder, multiple firearm offense, and will stand trial this March.

Soccer Field of Death

Image courtesy of New York Daily News

What started as an impromptu, friendly game of soccer, turned into a murder frenzy.  It was July in Northeastern Brazil, one of the many countries whose game of choice is the much beloved game of soccer.  A local teen performing the duties of referee served a yellow card to an older player and then, seemingly out of nowhere, stabbed the athlete in the scuffle that followed the call.  The player died while on the way to the hospital, but it did not end there.  The referee blamed for the players death was beaten, stabbed, run over multiple times with a motorcycle, and had his head and legs cut clean off by four assailants, only two of which were arrested.

Brain Damage Pay Day

Image courtesy of US News

While we have known for years that the head injuries sustained by professional football players during their careers were serious, I do not think the NFL knew how serious the pay day would be.

With lawsuits being filed by 4,500 former players of the sport, the NFL gave out $765 million.  That adds up to $170,000 per plaintiff.  Families of those who died before 2006, including the families of players who fell victim to degenerative brain diseases or suicide, were not eligible to collect the money they otherwise would have received.

Serena Williams Bites Her Tongue

Image courtesy of Hip Hollywood

Serena Williams is known for her amazing tennis playing ability, but who knew she was also known for her inability to keep her mouth shut?  This past June, Williams found herself in a spot of trouble when she made comments about the Steubenville rape case.  In an interview with Rolling Stone, Williams said:

“Do you think it was fair, what [the boys] got? They did something stupid, but I don’t know. I’m not blaming the girl, but if you’re a 16-year-old and you’re drunk like that, your parents should teach you: Don’t take drinks from other people … It could have been much worse. She’s lucky. Obviously, I don’t know, maybe she wasn’t a virgin, but she shouldn’t have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that’s different.”

Nice one, Serena.

Mascots Make Some Noise

Image courtesy of Latino Rebels

Mascots have been making a lot of noise, the most memorable of these being when the University of Illinois had to change their mascot from Chief Illini, so as not to offend anyone.

The Washington Redskins’ found themselves in almost exactly the same situation this year, when team owner Daniel Snyder called upon the help of a rather interesting tribal “chief” to defend the team, heritage, and name and merely stated, “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple: NEVER – you can use caps.”

Rodman Befriends Dictator

Image courtesy of US Magazine

Former NBA star, Dennis Rodman, shocked and surprised fans by visiting North Korea as part of a trip set up by Vice Media.  What did this once great athlete do when in North Korea?  Well he met with dictator and super fan of the Chicago Bulls, Kim Jung-un.

This trip shocked fans almost as much as Jay Z and Beyoncé’s vacation to Cuba. Rodman was quoted as saying the supreme leader would be, “a friend for life.” And in reference to the supreme leader’s attitude toward North Korea, Rodman said, “he has to do his job, but he’s a very good guy.”  I guess this means pigs have started to fly!

Athletes have been keeping us entertained on and off the field since the beginning of sports; this list was just from 2013.  Here’s to all the mistakes, disgrace, and troubling situations our beloved athletes will find themselves sucked into in 2014!

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