Vernon Maxwell

Sports Outbursts & Temper Tantrums

Mad Max was known to be a feisty player on and off the court. He was said to throw objects like ice and gum at referees and even swing free weights at his own teammates. Maxwell's biggest faux pas though came in 1995 when he attacked a fan. In a game in Portland, Max jumped into the stands and punched a 35-year-old fan. He was suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000.

(AP Photo/Barry Sweet)

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Sports Outbursts... Sometimes players get wrapped up in a game and lose their cool. They snap at the officials, players ... even the fans. Take a look at some of the greatest emotional outbursts and temper tantrums in sports.

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Andre Johnson an... The Texans’ Andre Johnson and Titans’ Cortland Finnegan both let their emotions get the better of them. In the fourth quarter of a Week 12 game, the two started a full-blown fist fight. Finnegan set off the fight by jabbing at Johnson’s neck and face mask. Johnson responded by ripping off Finnegan’s helmet and giving him two punches to the head and neck. They were both ejected and fined $25,000.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Vince Young Quarterback Vince Young lost it in a game against the Washington Redskins. Young was taken out of the game due to a thumb injury. When coach Jeff Fisher refused to let Young back in the game, the QB lost his cool, the two had words in the locker room, and Vince stormed out of the stadium. Young’s temper tantrum cost him his job as Fisher announced -- injury or not -- Vince would no longer be his starting quarterback.

(AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

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Bo Pelini This year during a game against Texas A&M, coach Pelini's temper tantrum was caught on film. The Nebraska coach was having a rough day and was expressing his frustration to the officials and his team. Things went too far when he turned on his freshman quarterback. He poked his finger into Taylor Martinez’s chest and neck area and yelled right in his face.

"I probably got too animated at times," Pelini said afterwards. "I apologize for it."

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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Serena Williams Tennis player, Serena Williams let her emotions get the better of her during a match in September 2009. After her serve was called a foot fault by the lineswoman, Williams lost it. She walked over to the official and began cursing, shaking her racquet and thrusting a ball in the lineswoman's face. She reportedly said, "I swear to God, I'll f --- take this ball and shove it down your f -- - throat." Williams was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, lost the game, issued a fine, and placed on two year probation.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Ron Artest NBA badboy Ron Artest lost his cool during a game against the Detroit Pistons in November 2004 and attacked Piston fans. The fight started after Artest fouled Ben Wallace. Wallace shoved Artest and while the officials were figuring out who to call fouls on, Artest thought it a wise idea to relax on the scorer's table. That's when a Pistons fan decided to join into the fight by throwing a cup of Diet Coke at Artest. Artest flipped, jumped into the seats and attacked the fan. Artest was suspended the remainder of the season -- 73 games without pay -- handed a fine, and ordered to do community service.

(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Jose Offerman Getting hit by a pitch is no fun. But Jose Offerman took his displeasure to another level. In a game against the Bridgeport Bluefish in August 2007, Matt Beech hit Offerman with a pitch. Offerman then rushed the mound with his bat and took two swings at Beech, breaking his finger, and took another swing at catcher Joe Nathans’ head, giving him a concussion. Offerman was thrown out of the game, suspended indefinitely, and charged with two second degree assault charges.

(AP Photo/Connecticut Post, Christian Abraham)

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Dennis Rodman Dennis Rodman was known for his emotional outbursts aimed at players and officials, but in January 1997 he crossed the line. In a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rodman tripped over cameraman Eugene Amos. Rodman lost his temper and kicked Amos in the groin. Amos was carted off the court on a stretcher. Rodman paid Amos a $200,000 settlement and was suspended for 11 games without pay.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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Zinedine Zidane During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, soccer legend Zinedine Zidane went out with a bang. Things were not going well for Zidane’s temper and in the 110th minute of the game, he lost it and head butted Italian Marco Materazzi in the chest. Zidane was immediately given a red card and suspended for three games. Since it was Zidane’s last game due to retirement, he performed three days of community service instead.

(AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

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Roberto Alomar Baseball player Roberto Alomar reached a new level of depravity in a game against the Blue Jays in September 1996. Alomar got into a argument with umpire John Hirschbeck after he called a third strike on him. The argument got heated and Alomar spit in Hirschbeck’s face. Alomar was suspended for five games and publicly apologized to Hirschbeck in April 1997 before the start of a game.

(AP Photo/ Gary I. Rothstein)

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Todd Bertuzzi Todd Bertuzzi lost it in a game against the Avalanche in March 2004. Bertuzzi went after Steve Moore for a check on one of his teammates earlier in the season. He skated after him, grabbed his jersey, and punched him in the back of the head. Moore fell to ice and several other players landed on top of him. Moss suffered a broken neck and left hockey for good. Bertuzzi was hit with an assault charge, suspended indefinitely by the NHL (he returned to the league in 2005) and fined.

(AP Photo/NHL)

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Mike Tyson In June 1997, one of sports’ most infamous moments occurred in a rematch between heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. After getting frustrated by Holyfield, Tyson not onece -- but twice -- took bites out of Holyfield’s ears. Tyson was disqualified and Holyfield won the match. Tyson was fined and lost his boxing license which was later reinstated.

(AP Photo/Jack Smith)

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Jon Drummond At the 2003 World Championships, sprinter Jon Drummond threw a temper tantrum that delayed races for over an hour. He was disqualified in the quarterfinals of the 100m for a false start. Drummond immediately shouted that he did not move and refused to leave the track. He even protested by lying down in his lane and refusing to move despite officials pleas to leave. He eventually left the track, reportedly in tears.

(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

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Jim Everett Talk show host Jim Rome was of the opinion that Jim Everett shied away from hits. He made fun of Everett for this by "cleverly" calling him “Chris” Everett, a reference to the female tennis player. When Everett appeared on his show in 1994, he lost it. He overturned the table and shoved Rome to the floor, all on live television.

(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

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Jeff Tarango Tennis player Jeff Tarango became famous for his outburst in 1995 at Wimbledon. He was frustrated with umpire Bruno Rebeuh who ruled against him several times during the match. He refused to continue the match and the crowd began to heckle him. Tarango told the crowd to “shut up,” and then proceeded to yell at the umpire. Tarango then refused to play, packed up his rackets, and stormed off the court. The fight wasn't over though. Tarango’s wife entered the fray and slapped Rebeuh twice in the face. Tarango was fined heavily and banned from the next two Grand Slam tournaments.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast. (AP Photo/Gill Allen)
Angel Matos Cuban taekwondo athlete Angel Matos lost his cool during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. During a timeout, Matos received treatment for an injured foot. The treatment however took too long and the referee was forced to disqualify Matos for exceeding the time limit. Matos was not happy with the decision and gave the referee a kick to the face. Then he spit on the arena floor and was eventually escorted from the ring. The coach and Matos received lifetime bans from the sport.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham/FILE)

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Jim Playfair YouTube made Canadian hockey head coach Jim Playfair a star. He was caught on film reacting to a penalty call during a game against the Hamilton Bulldogs. He ripped off his jacket and smashed several hockey sticks. He later apologized for the outburst. In three days the viral video received a half million views. To see the video, click here.

(AP Photo/ Tony Avelar)

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Vernon Maxwell Mad Max was known to be a feisty player on and off the court. He was said to throw objects like ice and gum at referees and even swing free weights at his own teammates. Maxwell's biggest faux pas though came in 1995 when he attacked a fan. In a game in Portland, Max jumped into the stands and punched a 35-year-old fan. He was suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000.

(AP Photo/Barry Sweet)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Bret Saberhagen Bret Saberhagen didn’t get upset at the players, umpires, or fans; he got mad at the media. In 1993, Saberhagen took a squirt gun and sprayed bleach into a group of reporters. After admitting his infraction, he donated one day’s pay to a charity and apologized. Though notedly, Saberhagen also admitted to lighting a firecracker under a table near reporters, and he never apologized for that.

(AP Photo/ Jim Rogash)

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Michael Barrett If a catcher is in the way while a runner is headed home, it is not unheard of for that runner to plow into the catcher. Most catchers take the hit and simply walk away. Not Michael Barrett. In 2006, Barrett was knocked over by A.J. Pierzynski. Barrett responded by punching Pierzynski in the face. A bench-clearing brawl ensued and both players were ejected from the game. Barrett received a 10 game suspension for his emotional outburst.

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)

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John McEnroe Tennis player John McEnroe was known for losing his temper during matches. In 1981, he was fined for calling umpire Ted James, "the pits of the world” and swearing at referee Fred Hoyles. He made the phrase “you cannot be serious” famous, which he shouted at umpires during many matches. He was fined another time for slamming his racquet into a juice cart and yelling at an umpire. The list of fines and suspensions goes on and on as McEnroe was a pro at letting his temper fly.

(Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

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Kermit Washingto... Easily the most notorious cheap shot in NBA history, Kermit Washington shocked the league when he nearly killed Rudy Tomjanovich with a devastating sucker punch. The incident was so egregious that author John Feinstein penned a novel around it entitled "The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight that Changed Basketball Forever."

(John Feinstein, Back Bay Books (2002))

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The 50 Ugliest M... From assault to scandal, sports history is full of ugly moments. To check them out, click here.