Top 10 Professional Sports Scandals

10. Operation Slap Shot

In February of 2006, the NHL was hit major when New Jersey cops uncovered a multi-million gambling ring involving former NHL player and then former Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet and Janet Jones (the wife of Wayne Gretzky). Rick was one of the three men accused of organizing a betting organization that centered around the  NCAA football and the Superbowl, but it was weird how he didn't bring hockey into his little betting scheme. In May of 2007, Tocchet reached a plea bargain and was placed on 2 years of probation. No other NHL person was ever contacted and investigated despite the growing rumors.

9. NFL Players Gone Wild

It's funny how when people talk about football scandals, there are just to many to choose from. We have Michael Vick from the Atlanta Falcons and his dog fighting case, Pacman Jones and all of his off the field incidents, most of the Cincinnati Bengals have been arrested more than 13 times between the years of 2005 and 2007, Tank Johnson with his weapon charges as well as DUI allegations and Cedric Benson's alcohol related problems. I have never in my life heard of so many scandals from the NFL. 

8. Mike Tyson Rape Conviction

Mike Tyson......these are just to many scandals about Mike Tyson to name. He has been in the center of many controversies in his career. This crazed man once said that he wanted to eat the children of Lennox Luis, and he even had the nerve to bit off the ear of Evander Holyfield. But in 1992 Tyson was convicted of raping a Rhode Island native named Desiree Washington. Desiree accused Tyson of raping her in 1991 at a hotel in Indianapolis. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison but only served 3 before making his debut back inside of the ring, hopefully no more ears will be bitten off and no children will be eaten.

7. Pete Rose Betting On Baseball

In 1989, Pete Rose was questioned about whether or not he was placing bets on baseball due to the rumors that were going around. The same year, Rose denied the charges but the new commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti hired a lawyer by the name of John Dowd to investigate the charges against Rose. John uncovered info that claimed rose had placed a bet on more than 50 Cincinnati Reds games in 1987 alone. Rose continued to deny the allegations against him August 1989 when he agreed to ban from baseball. After that, he has admitted to betting on baseball, most specifically the Reds. He has applied for reinstatement to MLB, but he stills remains banned till this very day. Rose is also ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

6. Kobe Bryant Sexual Assault Case

In the summer of 2003, Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakes star) was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 19 year old woman from Colorado. Kobe was staying in a hotel in Eagle, Colorado awaiting his knee surgery. The charges were dropped when the Colorado woman refused to testify in the court room, a civil lawsuit was settled out of the courtroom. After the heat died down, Kobe admitted to having sexually relations with the woman but said that it was a consensual affair. Bryant lost out on a huge endorsement deal with McDonalds thanks to this scandal.

5. Tim Donaghy Betting

In the summer of 2007, the FBI found that Donaghy had placed tens of thousands of dollars worth of bets on games that he officiated. Then, Donaghy even admitted that he made calls that affected the outcome of the game, so that he could manipulate the point spread and win his wagers. Donaghy also went as far as to say that he wasn't the only NBA referee that was doing the same thing. He even said that the league themselves sometimes ordered the officials to extend the playoff series to help increase TV ratings and even ticket sales.

4. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods got accused of having an affair on his wife with a club hostess named Rachel Uchitel who also has a reputation for pursuing celebrities. Several magazines reported that the two of them hooked up on several occasions while his wife, Elin Nordgegren was home watching the kids. As many sources the magazines claims to have, Rachel denies having the affair with Woods. Uchitel told the BlackBook magazine that the Enquirer twisted her words around and used quotes from her friend Ashley Samson. Samson also reported that Woods, and Uchitel were engaged in heavy sexting, but Rachel denied any of those claims. The morning of the incident, Woods was running from his wife after a huge argument over the tabloids. Trying to flee away from his wife, Woods drove into a fire hydrant and drove into a few trees less than 50 feet down the road from a neighbors house. I don't beleive Tiger cheated on his wife, but then again if he did, why should we care? Just because he has money and is famous shouldn't make him a target for tabloid abuse.

3. MLB and Steroids

From the BALCO to the Mitchell report and most everything in between, baseball and steroids scandals have been linked together for some time now. Several players like, Jose Canseco, Ken Caminiti as well as Yankees DH Jason Giambi admitted to using steroids during their careers. A few more others including Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Miguel Tejada were named in the Mitchel report filed by former U.S. senator George Mitchell following a lengthy investigation. Even 500 home run hitter Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for steroids. Unsubstantiated allegations continue to surround the all time home run king Barry Bonds. Jeeze, I never knew this many MLB players have tested positive for steroids.     

2. Serena Williams' Outburst

After being called for a foot fault while trailing 5-6 in the second set against Kim Clijisters, Serena approached a line judge and threatened to stuff the tennis ball she held in her left hand down the woman's throat and shook her racket at her and making sure to mix in a little bit of profanity. The outburst will cost Serena $10,000 and has spawned an investigation that could lead to to more punishment. According to the grand slam rule book, the fine for the outburst is the maximum permissible on-site fine. Williams was also fined $500 for smashing her tennis racket on the court at the end of the first set. A little profanity and slamming a racket can't hurt anyone, at least she didn't run up and smack her instead. Oh well, Serena is still the best female tennis player in my book. 

1. O.J. Simpson Trials

O.J. Simpson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, a longtime NFL running back and a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame. In 1973, he became the first running back for rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. Once his career as a football player was over, Simpson became a football analyst, actor and a commercial spokesman. In 1994 he was arrested for the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. This trial was one of the most popular legal proceedings ever. O.J. was acquitted of the murder charges but was later found guilty and liable for Ronald's death. Recently, him and a fellow co-defendant was found guilty of multiple felony charges including kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.