Image via Complex Original
Earlier today, New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey caused quite the controversy when he celebrated his six-month anniversary of having Tommy John surgery by taking to Twitter and posting a photo of him sticking up his middle finger in a hospital bed. Most people out there weren't too offended by it. But there were some people who were up in arms after seeing Harvey flipping the bird. So within about an hour of him posting the picture, Harvey removed it from his Twitter account at the request of the Mets. And then, a short time after that, he decided to delete his Twitter account altogether. And it was all because of a middle finger.
Here's the thing, though, guys. Harvey is NOT the first pro athlete to use his middle finger. In fact, he's like the 56,329,801st athlete to do it. Over the years, we've seen athletes give the finger to everyone from their fellow athletes and opposing crowds to overanxious paparazzi and their own fans. And to prove it, we put together a gallery of a bunch of guys (and and even one female!) doing it. In honor of @MattHarvey33's gaffe, here are 33 Pro Athletes Giving the Middle Finger.
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Wilfried Zaha
Before Zaha was trying to help Cardiff City maintain their Premier League status, he was flipping off Leeds fans during his days at Crystal Palace.
Larry Csonka
Because why wouldn't you give the entire world the middle finger when given the honor of gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated?
Andre Ethier
Don't interrupt the Dodgers slugger's batting practice. Or else...
Blake Griffin
Back when Blake was throwing down in Sooner Country, he decided to tell a few chicks what he really thought about their party.
Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere is often known to let his emotions get the best of him, and during a match against Manchester City back in December those emotions were on full display.
Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney was booed by his own fans after kicking off out of bounds one Sunday, and he gave them a silent response that spoke volumes.
Nick Diaz
Talk about kicking a man while he's down.
Jose Canseco
Jose Canseco. Need we say more?
Jay Cutler
Nice dog, bro.
Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell was known for being something of a "play by his own rules guy" throughout his career, so this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone.
Michael Vick
Well, this is one way to make the hometown fans fall in love with you. Errr...
Jack McDowell
Gets bombed at home against the White Sox and booed off the mound by his own fans, subsequently tells those fans what they can do with their feelings.
Billie Jean King
Hey, that's not very ladylike...
Kobe Bryant
Because Kobe ain't got time for postgame interviews. Just let him get to the locker room, okay, ESPN?
Byung-Hyun Kim
Want to know how rough Boston fans are? Kim was booed during pregame intros for blowing a lead in Game 1 of the 2003 ALDS, and he responded how any angry reliever would.
Virat Kohli
Apparently, the India cricketer was being taunted by the pro-Australian crowd at Sydney Cricket Ground during a Test match, and clearly he had enough.
Andrew Ference
The Canadiens and Bruins have always had something of a rivalry on the ice, so it should come as no shock that Ference flipped off Habs fans after scoring a goal.
Sean Williams
In a Rookie/Sophomore Challenge game, Sean? Apparently, LaMarcus Aldridge said something that Williams didn't approve of.
Kerry Wood
Maybe this is why we shouldn't have so many cutaways in a televised baseball game. Wood was chilling in the bullpen, and, well, that's really all there is to this one.
Sjinkie Knegt
If you're going to get disqualified from a race, this is the way to do it.
A.J. Hawk
Apparently, A.J. Hawk was flipping off his own teammates as part of some inside joke that nobody would understand. It cost him $10,000.
Ben Cousins
He didn't think the cameras were rolling when he did this. OOPS.
Didier Drogba
In case you didn't know, soccer fans can be relentless in their taunting of an opposing team's players. During a Carling Cup fourth-round clash at Stamford Bridge, Burnley fans clearly got under Drogba's skin, and he let them know it.
Jake Plummer
Someone must have said something really bad to get Plummer fired up during the first quarter of a scoreless home game. Geez.
Jay Bruce
Two for the price of one!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Props to the photo editor who decided to run this in a newspaper.
Brock Lesnar
We dare someone to tell Brock that he's not allowed to do that.
Milton Bradley
One finger, zero fux.
Luis Suarez
So you don't even want to try to be subtle about it?
Raul Meireles
If he does this when he's happy, can you imagine what he does when he's mad?
Chris Gardocki
How would you feel if you were a punter for the Browns?
Tito Ortiz
Why don't you tell us how you really feel, man?
Shinya Aoki
As if breaking the poor guy's arm wasn't bad enough.