Roger Clemens

Sport's Dirtiest Players

Roger Clemens was an extraordinary pitcher for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. During his career, he gained a reputation as a fearless headhunter, never afraid to throw a brush-back or two. In 1995, he led the league in the most hit batters. The dirty play most remembered was against Mets catcher Mike Piazza. In July 2000, Clemens threw a pitch right into Piazza’s helmet. Three months later, Piazza hit a pitch and his bat broke. One of the pieces went down the first base line and Clemens picked it up and threw it back at Piazza while he was running. Clemens proclaimed innocence (he said he thought the piece of splintered bat was the ball -- which still makes no sense), but it still caused a bench-clearing feud on the field. In recent years, there have been several allegations that Clemens took steroids to help boost his career. (AP Photo/Beth Keiser)

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Sport's Dirtiest... Every coach wants their players to play tough, but some athletes cross the line. Spitting in someone's face, hitting a batter with a pitch on purpose, or yanking a player by the ponytail are all examples of dirty play. Check out some of the dirtiest sports players and the plays they tried to get away with.
Marty McSorley Marty McSorley, an NHL player for the Penguins, Oilers, Kings, Rangers, Sharks, and Bruins, had a bad reputation. His physicality used on the ice even gained him the title "Wayne Gretzky’s Bodyguard." In 2000, McSorley’s dirty play got him in some deep trouble. He hit Donald Brashear in the head with his stick, knocking him hard on the ice and giving him a concussion. He was suspended from the NHL for a year and convicted of assault by a Canadian court.(AP Photo/Jared Leeds)
Andre Waters Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters was one of the hardest-hitting defenders in the league. His ferociousness on the field was an asset to the Eagles and feared by his opponents. Waters had a tendency to aim for a player’s knees on purpose to hurt them. In 1988 he did just that to Jim Everett which led to a new NFL rule, sometimes referred to as the ‘Andre Waters Rule,’ that said a player couldn’t hit a QB below the waist while in the pocket. He also caused an outrage by driving his helmet into the knees of Minnesota QB Rich Gannon. NFL Broadcaster Dan Dierdorf believed Waters gave dirty hits a lot and nicknamed the defender, ‘Dirty Waters.’ (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Dennis Rodman A fierce power forward, Dennis Rodman was a great asset on defense for the Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, and Mavericks. In 1997, "Sports Illustrated" named Rodman the dirtiest player in the NBA. He got his bad reputation by head butting players like Stacy King and John Stockton, refusing to leave the floor after being ejected, kicking a cameraman in the groin, and head butting a referee. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Don Drysdale Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale was known for his fastball and the way he used it to intimidate batters. He was said to have a two-for-one-rule, which meant for every player on his team hit by a pitch, he would two players on the other team back. During his career he hit 154 batters. Former player and sportscaster Mike Shannon once said, “Don Drysdale would consider an intentional walk a waste of three pitches. If he wants to put you on base, he can hit you with one pitch." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Liz Lambert No one can forget the hair pulling incident in 2009 by soccer player Elizabeth Lambert. This competitive defensive player for the University of New Mexico became a YouTube star during a match against BYU that year. While the referee was looking the other way, she yanked the player’s ponytail and threw her to the ground. She was suspended from the school but reinstated her senior season. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Steve Wisniewski Raiders lineman Steve Wisniewski(76), nicknamed the ‘Wiz,’ is considered one of the dirtiest offensive players to ever play in the NFL. He was known for cut-blocking, crack-back blocking, and eye gouging players on the opposing team. Mike Morris put it this way, “He chops from behind. He'll shoot knees ... I'll take sides with any old lineman, but this m----------- had me cursing and swearing on TV. I couldn't believe the shots he took." (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Bill Laimbeer Bill Laimbeer’s aggressive play at center for the Detroit Pistons gained him a bad reputation. He committed hard fouls when fouls were needed and tricked officials into calling fouls on opponents by flopping to the ground. In 1991, he even endorsed a Super Nintendo game that came out called, "Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball," which was a game focused on basketball and encouraging physical play. Laimbeer explained the way he played when he said, “I'm playing to win, and I'll use all my tools both physically and mentally to win the game. Other players don't like that and I can't help that. I have to do what I do best. I call it gamesmanship." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Roger Clemens Roger Clemens was an extraordinary pitcher for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. During his career, he gained a reputation as a fearless headhunter, never afraid to throw a brush-back or two. In 1995, he led the league in the most hit batters. The dirty play most remembered was against Mets catcher Mike Piazza. In July 2000, Clemens threw a pitch right into Piazza’s helmet. Three months later, Piazza hit a pitch and his bat broke. One of the pieces went down the first base line and Clemens picked it up and threw it back at Piazza while he was running. Clemens proclaimed innocence (he said he thought the piece of splintered bat was the ball -- which still makes no sense), but it still caused a bench-clearing feud on the field. In recent years, there have been several allegations that Clemens took steroids to help boost his career. (AP Photo/Beth Keiser)
Antonio Margarit... World Boxing Association Welterweight Champion Antonio Margarito has been known to fight dirty. In 2009, a plaster-like substance was found in his hand wrappings before a fight. The California Department of Justice laboratory confirmed that the substance was similar in nature to plaster of Paris. Margarito and his trainer were suspended. Similar stains were found on the hand wrappings Margarito used to win his title and suspicions have been raised that he cheated in that fight as well. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison, File)
Conrad Dobler Conrad Dobler, an offensive lineman who played for the Cardinals, Saints, and Bills, was known for his dirty play. He was said to have bit, kicked, punched, and even spit on players. In 1977 he appeared on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" as the dirtiest player in pro football. Legendary sportswriter Paul Zimmerman put it best when he wrote, “Conrad Dobler was mean dirty. He tried to hurt people in a bad way... He made teams that he played on better. He played hurt, didn't complain, but he was a filthy filthy player."(AP Photo)
Reggie Evans This power forward has made his mark as a dirty player while playing for the SuperSonics, Nuggets, 76ers, and the Raptors. According to a poll done by "Sports Illustrated" last spring, Reggie Evans is the dirtiest player in the NBA. He gained this image after a photograph that caught him violating Chris Kaman below the belt. His response to being voted the dirtiest player? Evans said, “I would say it’s a compliment. Hey, at least they’re talking about me.” (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Nigel de Jong Yeah, this picture alone proves that Nigel de Jong is a dirty player. It was taken during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, where De Jong karate-kicked Xabi Alonso in the chest. The defensive midfielder for Manchester City and the Netherlands national team has received a bad reputation for more than one hit. De Jong also broke Hatem Ben Arfa’s left tibia and fibula and Stuart Holden’s leg by tackling them. His feisty performances have earned him the nickname, "The Terrier." (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Steve Downie Steve Downie is known for his dangerous play on the ice. He sucker-punched Jason Blake, infamously hit Petr Sykora after a play ended, hit Sidney Crosby, and checked Dean McAmmond into the boards when Downie’s feet were off the ice, causing McAmmond to lose consciousness. After Downie served several suspensions, the Flyers sent him to the AHL. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Nyjer Morgan Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan is known for losing his temper. In August he threw a baseball at a fan during a game against the Phillies. One week later, he ran into catcher Brett Hayes, separating his shoulder. The next night he charged pitcher Chris Volstad after a pitch was thrown behind his back. Morgan was fined and suspended for eight games. Morgan’s defense: “I'm a hard player. It's just going out there and playing the game ... I'm just sticking up for myself and defending my teammates.” (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Ron Artest It is no surprise that Ron Artest made the list of dirty players. Throughout his career with the Bulls, Pacers, Kings, Rockets and now the Lakers, Artest has shown that he is not afraid to commit a flagrant foul. He was voted the second dirtiest player in the NBA after Reggie Evans. He has been suspended several times for flagrant fouls and even lost his temper against a Pistons fan in 2004. Artest is famously known for starting the brawl with Pistons fans and was suspended for the remainder of the season and charged a hefty fine. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Bill Romanowski An illegal hit in football is never fun, but who spits in an opponent's face? That's just downright dirty. Linebacker Bill Romanowski crossed that line in 1997 when he and J.J. Stokes got into it. Romanowski had more dirty plays during his career with the 49ers, Eagles, Broncos and Raiders. He was ejected from a game for kicking fullback Larry Centers in the head, fined for helmet-to-helmet contact that left quarterback Kerry Collins with a broken jaw, fined for three illegal hits and a punch to the Chiefs’ Tony Gonzalez, and fined for throwing a football below the belt of Bryan Cox. It didn’t end with his opponents; Romanowski also attacked and injured his own teammate Marcus Williams during a scrimmage. He ripped off his helmet and punched him in the eye. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Vicente Padilla Vincente Padilla proved how damaging he was as a pitcher for the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Phillies and Rangers. In the 2006 season he was known for his wild pitches over several games. During a game against the Chicago White Sox, he hit cater A.J. Pierzynski twice. Later in that season he caused a bench-clearing brawl after throwing at several Angels batters and hitting Vladimir Guerrero. In 2007, he hit Athletics OF Nick Swisher and caused another brawl. He also hit former teammate Mark Teixera twice. All these hits make Padilla sound like a dirty player to me. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Sean Avery Sean Avery, hockey player for the Rangers, had a knack for getting on a player’s last nerve. He was known for distracting players and taking cheap shots at them. He once hit goalie Tim Thomas in the back of his helmet with his stick, whacked Milan Jurcina with his stick and his fist, and high-sticked Brian Pothier during a game. Commentator Don Cherry once said, “I've known this kid(Avery) since he was about 16 years old; Once a jerk, always a jerk. You can't blame the referee, because 'he couldn't believe what he was seeing.'" (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Mike Tyson You knew we wouldn't omit Mike Tyson. Iron Mike was disqualified after he bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear in a rematch for the heavyweight champion of the world. His boxing license was rescinded and he fined $3 million dollars. A year later his license was returned and Tyson got back to his old ways. In 1999, Tyson allegedly tried to break Francois Botha’s arm during a tie-up and tested positive for marijuana after a fight with Andrew Golota. (AP Photo/Jeff Scheid)
Tonya Harding Even though figure skater Tonya Harding still claims her innocence, most of the general public believes she committed one of the dirtiest plays in sports history by arranging a hit on competitor Nancy Kerrigan. In 1994, Harding’s ex-husband and bodyguard, Jeff Gilloolu and Shawn Eckardt, hired Shane Stant to break Kerrigan’s leg. Stant hit Kerrigan’s leg with a baton, but only bruised it. Harding won the event Kerrigan missed and was later convicted of hindering the prosecution of the attackers. The USFSA stripped her of her title and banned her from competing for life. She was also known for pulling various stunts to restart or delay her program such as complaining about her dress coming unhooked, saying her blade had come loose, and claiming her boot lace was broken. (AP Photo/Lynsey Addario)
Ty Cobb Baseball player Ty Cobb played for the Tigers and then the Athletics in the early 1900’s. He never really got along with his own teammates, fans, and especially the opposing team. Cobb used his spikes as weapons on the field to hurt opponents. Once he got hit by a pitcher and the next at bat, bunted a ball towards him and purposefully knocked him over and stabbed him in the chest with his spikes. "I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault," said Cobb. (AP Photo)
Albert Hayneswor... Albert Haynesworth has never been an NFL favorite. But he hit a new low in 2006 against the Cowboys. Haynesworth removed Andre Gurode’s helmet and proceeded to stomp on his head. Haynesworth was ejected from the field and suspended for five games without pay. Gurode received 30 stitches and experienced headaches and blurred vision. After the game, Haynesworth apologized and returned in 2007. In his first week back, Haynesworth was called for unnecessary roughness against Maurice Jones-Drew, proving to the world he was still a dangerous player. When asked if he would be gentler during play, Haynesworth said, “I'm not going to be any gentler or whatever. Maybe I'll just help them up." (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Kobe Bryant Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant has been called a dirty player by more than one person. With flagrant fouls to players like Mike Miller and Shane Battier, fans can see that Bryant is not afraid to throw an elbow, arm, or even a fist into the opponent. Kobe was caught crossing the line though in a video during a game against the Sixers. The video showed Bryant giving Andre Iguodala a punch to the groin. Talk about a dirty play. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Jack Tatum Jack Tatum, a defensive back for the Raiders and Oilers, became famously known for delivering hard hits. He was even nicknamed, "The Assassin." His most famous hit was in a 1978 preseason game against Darryl Stingley. The hit paralyzed Stingley from the chest down, and Tatum refused to apologize. He was also fined for hitting Lynn Swan and sending him to the hospital. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Bobby Clarke Flyers player Bobby Clarke gained a reputation for his slashing style on the ice. He was known as one of the dirtiest players in the NHL and remembered quite well for his infamous slash to the ankle of Valeri Kharlamov. He laid a slash across Kharlamov’s already sore ankle, breaking it. Years later Clark said, "If I hadn't learned to lay on a two-hander once in a while, I'd never have left Flin Flon (small town he grew up in)." (AP Photo)
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