Top 10 Baseball Managers Gone Wild Moments

In a sport where home runs are the highlight, it’s always exciting to see something out of the ordinary. Especially when that something is a middle-aged overweight coach taking on a player half his age and size. Here we countdown the most out of control managers that make the game just a little more entertaining.

10. Leo Durocher is remembered by Dodger’s fans for his temper. An amazing 95 career ejections, Durocher was frequently seen storming the field to disagree with umpires. His style of arguing, standing so close to the umpire people said they were toe to toe, had him ejected almost every time.

9. Billy Martin is both a winner and a big sore loser. He has won two American League championships, taking the Yankees to the World Series in 1976 and in 77 where they won. He is equally known for kicking dirt at umpires, a move which has been copied by numerous other managers. His erratic behavior and inability to balance his team caused an early dismissal.

8. Larry Bowa is a man who has not learned his lesson. His first managing position was in 1987 and he was fired after just one year. Again he tried his hand at managing the Phillies in 2001. He lasted just 3 years this time. His angry management style has been ineffective and the players show a clear lack of respect for him. His obsession with bunting and poor lineup judgment make him a terrible manager to begin with. Add an ejection every 17 games and you’ve got out of control coach #8.

7. Lloyd McClendon is the first to admit he gets thrown out of a lot of games. But, he seems to have to no problem with it and told the Pittsburg Gazette, “If I get thrown out of 100 games, then I get thrown out of 100 games”. He never quite reached that 100 game mark, but he did come in #4 on ESPN’s coaches gone wild list. The noteworthy incident? A 2001 game against the Milwaukee Brewers where Pittsburgh Pirate’s Jason Kendall was called out at first by umpire Rick Reed. McClendon stalked on to the field to argue the call and after a heated debate picked up first base and walked off the field with it saying, “(Reed) wasn’t seeing it. I figured I might as well take it with me.” Although the Pirates won the game 7-6, McClendon was fired in 2005 after 4 consecutive losing seasons.

6. Joe Mikulik’s minor league incident cost him a seven day suspension and a 1,000 dollar fine. So what did the Ashville Tourist’s manager do to deserve this? He threw a major league temper tantrum after the umpire called the opposing team’s player safe at second in the fifth inning. The Tourist’s were losing 5-2 at the time. Mikulik rushed the field to pull up the offending base and threw it to right field. Before getting ejected, Mikulik also managed to throw several bats and block the entrance to the umpire’s locker room. The incident was the talk of all of baseball for days.

5. Lou Pinella. Thinking about angry managers who have meltdowns there’s only one name that comes to mind: Lou Pinella. The Cub’s manager was ejected in June 2007 after arguing that Pagan was safe at third trying to advance from a wild pitch. He stormed the field, threw down his hat and began kicking dirt at umpire Mark Wegner. Videos of his outburst on youtube have been viewed over 100,000 times.

4. Earl Weaver’s run-ins with umpires are legendary. Not only does he have more ejections in the American League than any other manager, he consistently managed to get thrown out with humor. My personal favorite? The time he left the field threatening to check the rule book on a call. When the ref offered up his copy, Weaver replied “That’s no good I can’t read Braille”. His aggressive management style and frequently inappropriate interviews have left a mark in wild manager moments.

3. Bobby Cox is a man with many awards under his belt. He has been named manager of the year four times (1985, 1991, 2004, and 2005) and is one of only three managers to have won the award in both the American and National League. He is the only person to have won the award in consecutive years. He also holds the record for most career ejections, an astounding 132 times. On August 14, 2007, Cox beat out former New York Giants manager John McGraw when an inside pitch to Chipper Jones by the San Francisco Giants was called a strike and ended the fifth inning. However, he is also known for his more unique ejections such as spitting in an umpires face in 1990 and throwing a helmet onto the field in game 3 of the 1992 World Series.

2. John McGraw. Just behind Cox is formers NY Giants manager John McGraw who trails Cox by one with a total of 131 total ejections although 14 of these came as a player where he was notorious for blocking and tripping runners as they ran the bases. His managerial style was equally violent, described as rude, hateful, and arrogant. He was famous for verbally, and physically, beating down his opponents. Congratulations John, your immature antics have earned you the number two place on our list.

1. Phillip Wellman. And the award for acting like a five year old goes to: Phillip Wellman. The Mississippi Braves manager was so angry after the plate umpire ejected pitcher Kelvin Villa for apparently using a foreign substance, he stormed the field and began shouting in the umpire’s face. He then proceeded to cover home plate in dirt and outline the shape with his fingers. Apparently feeling that his point had not been made, Wellman stalked over to third base, yanked it out of the ground, and tossed it about 10 feet. Fans cheered wildly as Wellman got down on his stomach in a military crawl to the pitcher’s mound where he picked up the rosin bag and threw it at the home plate umpire. The mock grenade hit the umpire’s foot resulting in an even louder round of applause from the fans. Wellman then waved and left the game blowing kisses. The team said they were surprised by the Double-A manager’s behavior but said he had to do what he had to do for his team. In other news, Bobby Cox named Wellman as one of his new favorite people.

Top 10 Sports Plays

By Kevin Craft

1. The Shot:
In the closing seconds of game four between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Jordan took an inbound pass and rose up to attempt the game winning shot. Cleveland defender Craig Ehlo rose with him and got his hand on the ball before Jordan could release it. Unfazed, Jordan adjusted his shot and hung in mid air a split second longer than Ehlo. His shot got a clean release and found the bottom of the net dashing Cleveland’s hopes and growing Jordan’s legend.

2. Ruth calls his Shot:
During game three of the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth exchanged words and gestures with Cubs pitcher Charlie Root and the Chicago bench. After Root’s 4th pitch, Ruth pointed his bat towards center field before sending Root’s next pitch sailing over the center field wall at Wrigley field. Did the Babe intend on calling his shot? The truth may never be known, but only the sultan of swat could pull off such a play.

3. The Catch:
Trailing 27-21 with only 58 seconds left to play, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana rolled right and looked into the end zone. With seemingly no open receivers, Montana heaved the ball towards the back of the end zone, but before it could sail out of bounds receiver Dwight Clark came out of nowhere to grab the ball with his fingertips and score the winning touchdown. The 49ers would go on to win their first Super Bowl and the catch would become one of football’s most memorable plays.

4. Ovechkin’s goal:
Although it happened in a meaningless regular season game, Washington Capitals 20 year old rookie Alex Ovechkin’s goal against the Phoenix Coyotes is one of the most jaw dropping sports highlights ever recorded. After being knocked down by defender Paul Mara, Ovechkin extended his stick as he lay on the ice and flicked the puck behind his head and past goalie Brian Boucher. Within the week, sports journalists began labeling Ovechkin as the league’s MVP and a player who had already left his stamp on the game.

5. Gibson’s Home Run:
After inuring both of his legs during the NLCS, Los Angeles Dodger Kirk Gibson was not expected to play during the World Series. Tommy Lasorda, however, decided to use Gibson as a pinch hitter during game one with LA trailing 4-3. Gibson limped to the plate and slammed the game winning home run off of future hall-of-famer Dennis Eckersley. Pumping his fist as he rounded the bases, Gibson gave fans a glimpse of true October greatness. The Dodgers would go on to defeat the heavily favored Athletics.

6. Maradona’s goal:
In the 1986 Fifa World Cup, Diego Maradona dribbled 60 meters in 10 seconds, weaving his way in between English defenders, before sending a shot past goal keeper Peter Shilton. Argentina would win 2-1, and English striker Gary Lineker was quoted as saying, “[it was] probably the one and only time in my whole career I felt like applauding the opposition scoring a goal.”

7. The Catch baseball:
In game one of the 1954 World Series, Vic Wertz of the Cleveland Indians sent a ball sailing into the spacious center field of the polo grounds. Giants’ center fielder Willie Mays ran the ball down and made an over the shoulder catch that brought New York fans to their feet. When later asked about the amazing play, Mays responded, “I had it the whole time.”

8. Carter’s Dunk:
By the 2000 Olympics, Vince Carter had already posterized half of the NBA but no one knew that Carter had saved his most spectacular play for the French National team. After stealing the ball around mid-court, Carter drove to the basket and launched himself over the top of 7’2” center Frederic Weiss before dunking the basketball and landing on his feet.

9. Allen’s Run:
In the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII, Los Angeles Raiders’ running back Marcus Allen took a hand off going left and ran into a wall of Redskins’ defenders. Allen spun around and cut back towards the line of scrimmage, using his sheer speed to elude tacklers and carry him 74 yards to the end zone. It became the signature play of Allen’s MVP performance during the Raiders 38-9 beat down of the Redskins.

10. Magic’s baby hook:
The 1987 NBA finals was the last time arch rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would play each other for a championship. Down by one point with only seven seconds remaining, Magic Johnsnon took an inbound past and dribbled toward the free throw line where he would launch what he called a “baby hook” over two Celtic defenders. The ball went through the net, and Johnson once again had the last laugh against Bird.

Top 10 Dynasties

By Kevin Craft

Dynasties are the measuring sticks against which team greatness is measured. Here’s a list of sports top ten dynasties.

1. Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-66, 1968-69):
Coach Red Auerbach and center Bill Russell led the Celtics to 11 championships in 13 years including an unprecedented 8 straight titles. No other team in sports history has ever come close to replicating their success, and they remain the gold standard of team excellence.

2. San Francisco 49ers (1982, 1985, 1989-90):
The 49ers rose from football obscurity under the stewardship of Bill Walsh and the clutch play of Joe Montana to become the NFL’s best team during the 1980’s, and provide fans with memorable moments such as “The Catch” and “The Drive.”

3. New York Yankees (1996, 1998-00):
After an 18 year championship drought, the Bronx bombers reclaimed past glory by winning 4 World Series championships in 5 years. The names Jeter, Clemens, O’Neill, and Posada may not sound as imposing as Mays, Dimaggio, and Ruth, but this Yankee team may be the greatest of all time.

4. Chicago Bulls (1991-93, 1996-98):
In his final six seasons as a Bull, Michael Jordan led Chicago to six championships, and if not for his brief retirement his team might have challenged the Celtics records of 8 straight championships. This may be the best team of the past twenty years.

5. Montreal Canadiens (1976-79):
Hall of fame coach Scotty Bowman steered one of Canada’s proudest franchises to three straight Stanley cup finals in the 1970’s. While the team lacked a superstar like Howe, Lemieux, or Gretzkey, these Canadiens formed a complete team on the ice.

6. Roger Federer:
The term dynasty usually describes team play, but Roger Federer’s dominance of professional tennis deserves special recognition. Since 2004, he has captured 10 out of the last 14 grand slam championships including 5 straight Wimbledons and 3 straight U.S. opens. If he continues at this pace, we will need a new term to describe his special brand of excellence.

7. New England Patriots (2002, 2003-04):
The Patriots accomplished the impossible: they established a dynasty during the free agent era of football. Belicek, Brady, and Vinaterri form the New England’s holy trinity that has defied odds and written New England into the record book.

8. Oakland Athletics (1972-1974):
Reggie Jackson led the Athletics to three straight World Series’ crowns and brought unprecedented glory to Oakland’s small market of loyal fans. Had Mr. October not defected to the Yankees, the Athletics may have continued their dominant run.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (1975-76, 1979-1980):
The Steelers became the first NFL team to win four super bowls with the help of Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, and a defense so dominating that it had to be called ‘The Steel Curtain.” One of football’s most memorable teams.

10. Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002):
Despite the constant feuding between embattled superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers always managed to pull things together in the playoffs. In 2001 they only dropped one playoff game en route to the title, and their combination of inside power and outside finesse is one for the ages.

Top 10 Sports Records

By Kevin Craft

By breaking Hank Aaron’s all time home run record, Barry Bonds acquired one of sports’ most hallowed records. Here is a list of the 10 most significant records in sports and the athletes who hold them.

1. Home runs during a single season:
61 was the most mythical number in sports until Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris’ 37 year old record by slamming 70 long balls in 1998. Four years later Barry Bonds hit 73, and while that number has not achieved the status 61 held for almost four decades, it remains the most significant and thrilling record in all of sports.

2. Major Championships (golf):
The longevity of golfers’ careers makes watching them acquire major championships so suspenseful. It took Jack Nicklaus 25 years to win 18 major championships, a record that still stands. Tiger Woods, however, has already amassed 13 championships in his 11 year career and may surpass Nicklaus in the next decade.

3. Touchdown passes during a single season:
Quarterback remains football’s most distinguished position, and how often a quarterback finds the end zone contributes to his stature among sports journalists and fans. Dan Marino through 48 touchdown passes during the 1984 season, a record that seemed untouchable until Peyton Manning through 49 in 2004. Manning, the NFL’s most recognizable player, owes much of his popularity to his proclivity for putting points on the board.

4. Grand Slam Titles:
Tennis is the quintessential individual sport, pitting two players against each other for matches that can last up to five hours. Although he never won the French Open thereby completing a career grand slam, Pete Sampras demonstrated incredible skill and utter domination of opponents while collecting fourteen grand slam titles. His 2002 US Open title at age 31 punctuated one of sports’ brilliant careers.

5. Career home runs:
Baseball is not only America’s most enduring sport; it is our national pastime and the owner of a proud history full of iconic names and significant records. Since Babe Ruth hit 714 career home runs, the long ball has captivated sports enthusiasts and common fans alike. Holding the record for career home runs demonstrates sustained excellence, and the legendary names on the all time home-run list – Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, Mays – indicate great company.

6. Most career rushing yards (NFL):
NFL running backs absorb a high level of physical punishment every season making it difficult to maintain a high level of performance over the span of a career. By surpassing the great Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith set the bar high even higher with 18,355 career rushing yards, a mark that will not be surpassed soon.

7. Highest Career Scoring Average (NBA):
Wilt Chamberlain may have scored 100 points in a single game, but Michael Jordan averaged 33.4 points per game during his fifteen year career making him professional basketball’s most prolific scorer. Jordan attained this number while sustaining .497 career field goal percentage, thus proving His Airness’ stats more than match his highlight reel.

8. Professional Heavyweight Wins:
Boxing no longer holds elite status among professional sports, but the “sweet science” once gripped America’s attention. Rocky Marciano’s 48 heavyweight wins is boxing’s most impressive record, considering Marciano fought in such a rough and tumble era. The fact that he won with an 88% knockout rate only adds prestige to this number and cements Marciano’s status as an all-time great fighter.

9. Most points in a single season (NHL):
At the time of his retirement Wayne Gretzky held 40 regular season records, none more impressive than the 215 points he scored during the 1985-86 season. Mario Lemieux is the second player on that list, but his mark of 199 points trails three other years when Gretzky notched over 200. There’s a reason they call him the great one.

10. Career Sacks:
A defensive player who can take down the quarterback is a coach’s best friend. Bruce Smith recorded 200 sacks during his eight year career making him one of the game’s greatest defensive linemen of all time.

Top 10 Classiest Athletes

By Kevin Craft

With all the negative publicity attached to professional sports, it can be easy to forget about all the athletes who have handled themselves with class. Here’s a list of the 10 classy athletes worth remembering.

1. Lou Gehrig:
Baseball’s original iron man showed up everyday and went to work until ALS forced his retirement and cut short his life. He departed the game with speech filled with apprecian and left an indelible mark on all who watched him.

2. Jackie Robinson:
Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier and dealt with the racial prejudice that accompanied that feat without ever losing his cool. His performance was never affected either. Robinson’s skills made him a great player; his character made him a great man.

3. Bill Russell:
Russell can be described as the consummate champion for team sports. Leading the Celtics to 11 championships in fourteen years, Russell was the best player on the best team of all time but never tried to pad his stats or revel in the limelight. Instead, Russell dominated during games and made winning his only priority.

4. Cal Ripken Jr.:
Lou Gehrig is not an easy act to follow but Ripken chased Gehrig’s record with quiet dignity and played the game the same way his predecessor did — which is to say he played hard every night.

5. Jack Nicklaus:
Nicklaus viewed golf as a gentleman’s game. In 1969, he conceded Tony Jacklin’s final put thus allowing England to tie the U.S. for the Ryder Cup. It remains one of sport’s most gracious acts, and despite his generous outlook towards opponents, Nicklaus still holds the record for most major victories with 18.

6. Barry Sanders:
On the gridiron, there has never been a flashier football player then Barry Sanders. His electrifying running style left defenders helpless, but off the field Sanders never flashed a bit of attitude. He just played his game to the delight of all fans.

7. Pete Sampras/Andre Agassi:
Sampras comported himself with the quiet class throughout his career. Agassi behaved like a spoiled brat for much of the nineties, before morphing into the game’s elder statesmen whom everyone rooted for. These two players are forever linked through their skills and their rivalry, and both exuded class during their careers.

8. Dan Marino:
Marino’s inability to win a super bowl prevents him from being talked about as one of the all time great quarterbacks. However unfair this may be, Marino played the game with class and continues to display composure despite a lack of recognition for his incredible career.

9. Marvin Harrison:
Wide receivers are often spoiled, whiners who care more about their numbers than their team’s success. Harrison eschews this label by performing at the highest level possible and never complaining about his touches. Why should he? He’s the only active player with a chance at breaking any of Jerry Rice’s records.

10. Patrick Ewing:
Ewing may have played for a prick in Pat Reilly, but he never allowed his coach’s demeanor to affect his own. Despite never winning a championship, he always played the game hard and never took cheap shots at his opponents.