10 Unforgettable Sports Meltdowns
Mike Rice and sports stars who have lost their cool.
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Mike Rice - Bad behavior has gotten the best of even the sports world's brightest stars. — Britt Middleton Rutgers University has cut ties with men's basketball coach Mike Rice just one day after a video surfaced of him berating his players with slurs, throwing balls at their heads and other disreputable behavior. Known for his fiery coaching style, Rice was suspended by Rutgers last December for his conduct at team practices. (Photo: AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
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Angel Matos - Ouch! During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Cuban taekwondo star Angel Matos deliberately kicked a referee in the face after he was disqualified from a bronze medal match. The World Taekwondo Federation subsequently banned Matos from its competitions for life. Photo: REUTERS/Issei Kato)
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Shaquille O'Neal - Shaquille O'Neal dropped an F-bomb on live television while unleashing on referees following a game back in 2004. The Los Angeles Lakers star was suspended for one game following the incident. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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Kobe Bryant - In 2001, Shaq's former teammate was the subject of scrutiny after the Lakers guard abused an NBA ref with a homosexual slur. Kobe Bryant later apologized for his choice of words and appeared in a PSA promoting tolerance. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
5 / 10
John McEnroe - Clearly dissatisfied with the official's call, U.S. tennis star John McEnroe famously shouted "You cannot be serious!" from the court during the 1981 Wimbledon tournament. (Photo: Tony Duffy/ Getty Images)
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Serena Williams - A fierce competitor on the court, Serena Williams let the intensity get the best of her when she unleashed a finger-pointing, profanity-laced tirade on an official at the 2009 U.S. Open. The outburst cost Williams a record $82,500 in fines. (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
7 / 10
Bobby Knight - The legendary Indiana University basketball coach was nicknamed "The General" by fans and it is no surprise that Bobby Knight racked up a number of memorable moments over his career, including throwing a chair on the court during a game against Purdue in 1985. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
8 / 10
Zinedine Zidane - During the 2006 World Cup championship game, French soccer player Zinedine Zidane head-butted Italy's Marco Materazzi in the chest and was ejected from the game, the final match of his professional career. Later interviews revealed that Materazzi insulted Zidane's mother and sister, prompting Zidane's rage. (Photo: STR New / Reuters)
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Mike Tyson - The rematch bout between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in 1997 took an unexpected turn after Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield's ear. Boxing officials suspended Tyson's license and fined him $3 million. (Photo: Al Bello /Allsport)