Is there anything more fascinating than the competitive drive of professional athletes? There is a reason that countless people around the globe tune in to watch professional sports both on TV and in person: the drama. Sometimes the drama becomes too much and that’s when genuine controversy is created. Today we are going to talk about the 20 BIGGEST sports controversies of 2016. Can you guess what sits at #1?
NFL’s Severe Brain Injury Dilemma
The problem: people love the NFL but they don’t like what the sport does to the professional athletes. Brain injury attorneys and brain injury centers everywhere are watching how the biggest American sport handles the renewed focus on head related trauma. As more and more NFL and ex-NFL players are revealing significant life difficulties, including CTE and Alzheimers, due to playing the sport fans will have a tougher time tuning in. It might be a bad time to be an NFL fan but a good time to be a brain injury attorney.
NFL’s Severe Brain Injury Dilemma
Indian sprinter Dharambir Singh is BANNED
Sprinting will never make the headlines for us Americans but people around the globe flinched when Indian sprinter Dharambir Singh was handed an eight year ban from the Olympics. Singh tested positive for anabolic steroids during the Indian Grand Prix Meet back in July. This was Singh’s second offense and it sent the sprinter straight to the Olympic ban list.
Indian Sprinter Dharambir Singh Is BANNED
Josh Gordon’s Very Bad Year
Josh Gordon is an All World wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns but he’ll never get to realize his potential. Gordon has been the face of the NFL’s drug enforcement policy as the star wide out has been handed an indefinite ban due to his insistence on smoking marijuana. Consider a guy like Ray Rice, who beat his wife on camera, only gets a few game suspension and you can see why this is a controversy. Gordon recently checked into rehab. Does Gordon have some sort of mental severe brain injury that prevents him from dropping pot, or is he standing up to the hypocrisy of marijuana related offenses?
Josh Gordon’s Very Bad Year
FIFA’s corruption issues continue
While the NFL dominates the West, FIFA dominates pretty much everywhere else in the world. That is why it is so concerning that the league continues to bungle itself with corruption issues. With the World Cup coming to Qatar, a place with problems of its own, many people are nervous as to the future of the sport.
FIFA’s Corruption Issues Continue
Baltimore blows the AL Wild Card
Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez had put the Orioles into a good place to steal the Wild Card from Toronto. All coach Buck Showalter had to do was pull Jimenez for Zach Britton — arguably the best closer in baseball. Showalter opted not to make the switch in a ‘win or go home’ game and the rest is history.
Baltimore blows the AL Wild Card
Gabby Douglas miffs the National Anthem
With fame comes contempt. Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas found out the hard way that even the smallest mistake can lead to controversy. Douglas forgot to put her hand on her heart during the National Anthem at the 2016 Olympic Games. The backlash was swift, vicious, and altogether blown out of proportion.
Gabby Douglass Miffs The National Anthem
OSU steals a win over Michigan
J.T. Barrett was stopped short of the first down marker on a 4th and 1 play in a November game against Michigan. How? Well, Barrett ran into his own player. Still, the refs gave Barrett the first down and the next play was a 15 yard touchdown run to give OSU the nail biting win over Michigan. Wolverine fans are still seething.
OSU Steals A Win Over Michigan
Spurs – Thunder Game 2
To say that the NBA is subject to some of the worst officiating in sports is an understatement. In the last 13.5 seconds of the second Spurs – Thunder playoff match a total of five calls were blown. Ginobili was out of bounds while guarding the inbound, Aldridge was hit on a game winning shot attempt, Steven Adams was even yanked by a fan in the stands.
Spurs – Thunder Game 2
Penn State shunned for College Football Playoffs
The death of the BCS was supposed to fix these sort of things but Penn State fans don’t care. Penn State was shunned for the College Playoff Final 4 despite dominating the Big 10 — one of the strongest conferences in college football.
Penn State Shunned For College Football Playoffs
Rich Hill’s Perfect Game is spoiled
With 89 pitches through 7 perfect innings it looked like Dodger starter Rich Hill was having a night for the history books. Only Manager Dave Roberts wasn’t going to risk Hill’s arm with the playoffs coming. Hill was yanked, the bullpen blew the game, and the Dodgers were subsequently stomped by the Cubs in the playoffs.
Rich Hill’s Perfect Game Is Spoiled
Draymond Green turns into a heel
Was there any player more hated during the NBA Finals this past season than Draymond Green? Green was continually caught playing dirty by flailing his leg out at opposing defenders. One notorious kick during the NBA final’s, against LeBron James, caused Green to get suspended — essentially giving the Cavs the chance to make a historic comeback. You’re too good for this, Dray.
Draymond Green Turns Into A Heel
Laremy Tunsil’s Draft Night bong video
Laremy Tunsil, considered a top prospect in the draft, was thrown into controversy on NFL Draft Night when a video was posted to his Twitter account. The video showed Tunsil smoking pot with a gas mask bond. Tunsil slipped all the way to 13.
Laremy Tunsil’s Draft Night Bong Video
Russia gets caught doping
119 Russian athletes were caught doping by the IOC leading up to the Rio Games. A full country ban was considered before being rejected. Russia later copped to doping, apparently unaware that this is a big deal.
Russia Gets Caught Doping
Tony Romo passes the torch (against his will)
The Dallas Cowboys had drafted the best running back in the draft (Ezekial Elliot). Romo was healthy, the o-line was looking good, and Dez Bryant was focused. Then Romo goes down with an injury in the pre-season and some rookie named Dak Prescott takes over. Prescott goes on to lead the Cowboys to their best record in ages and now Dallas is favored to make the Super Bowl. Romo? Well, he’s become a clipboard hero for his support of Dak and his reluctance to create controversy.
Tony Romo Passes The Torch (against His Will)
Cam Newton’s Super Bowl Presser
The Panthers had just been beaten by the Denver Broncos in an absolute smackdown. Newton’s post-game presser wasn’t exactly any better. Newton stayed for only 190 seconds before walking off of the stage, gathering flack from pretty much everyone.
Cam Newton’s Super Bowl Presser
Kevin Durant turns on OKC
The Oklahoma City Thunder will go down as the ultimate ‘What Could Have Been’ story. At one point OKC had Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden — 3 MVP candidates. Durant and the Thunder blew a postseason lead to the Golden State Warriors due in large part to Durant’s struggles. Cue the NBA offseason where Durant is a free agency. Durant heads to Golden State, never even informing co-star Russell Westbrook. Wow. Talk about betrayal.
Kevin Durant Turns On OKC
Andrew Luck lands a ridiculous contract
Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck has been hyped up as the next best QB for years. Colt fans believe in his arm but even they flinched at the $140 million contract over six years which guaranteed $87 million. What has Luck done to earn that money? The Colts went on to miss the postseason — again.
Andrew Luck Lands A Ridiculous Contract
Ryan Lochte fakes a robbery
Some scandals happen due to a confluence of events that couldn’t have been avoided. This is not the case for Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and his buddies during the Rio Games. In short, Lochte made up a robbery that never happened in order to save face after getting wasted and destroying a gas station bathroom.
Ryan Lochte Fakes A Robbery
Conor McGregor ‘Retires’
UFC fans everywhere had a mini heart attack when superstar Conor McGregor randomly tweeted that he was retiring. Some speculate that McGregor was making a power play against UFC Pres Dana White. Others thought that McGregor was just bored. Either way, McGregor reneged on his retirement and went on to grab another belt.
Conor McGregor ‘Retires’
Colin Kaepernick Kneels
Does it bother us that San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick can kneel and instantly be vaulted to the front of our controversy list? Absolutely. Kaep decided to bring attention to racial injustices by kneeling during the National Anthem. The ensuing storm of controversy is hard to put into words. You have vocal people shouting for Kaep to be dropped from the NFL to others who believe that police officers should no longer protect the man at NFL games. No matter what you think of the kneeling, Kaep certainly got people talking.
Colin Kaepernick Kneels
