Image via Complex Original
We all remember those infamous words uttered in the school yard, "fight, fight!" You know the drill, you'd go running towards the action, hoping to hell it wasn't broken up before you got to see who was getting their shit rocked. Well, professional sports are no different, only the fights are better. Emotions run high, there's a lot at stake, and there's cameras all around to give us every angle with the benefit of replay. What happened the night in November 19, 2004 in Detroit can, at the surface, be described as a "brawl." But, upon further review, it was an event that would change the game of basketball forever.
We've all seen the clip of what's become known as, "Malice in the Palace." A "hard" foul, a he-man shove, and evidently some of the most classless fans in the NBA, all combined to produce a scene of utter chaos and pandemonium that we hope the league will never forget. The dubious "stat sheet" from that night? Nine players suspended without pay for a total of 146 games, five players charged with assault, $11 million in salaries lost, and five Pistons fans brought up on charges along with a lifetime ban from the Palace.
But, what does it really mean for the rest of us? We can buy less beer, which is becoming more unreasonably priced every year anyway? Come on, fam. All the anniversary of this event did was inspire us to compile the greatest brawls in sports history. So, from Malice at the Palace, to Punch-up in Piestany, we're proud to present The 25 Craziest Brawls in Sports History.
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25. Malice in the Palace ll
Date: 7/21/2008
Game: LA Sparks vs. Detroit Shock
Location: Palace of Auburn Hils (Auburn Hills, MI)
What is it about Detroit basketball? Well maybe it's just Detroit. Either way, Malice in the Palace ll, as it's become known, gave the Palace at Auburn Hills it's second black eye in four years. The only part about this brawl that wasn't kosher was Rick Mahorn shoving Lisa Leslie to the floor after shit pops off. Can't do that, fam, they have cameras at the games now. The fight started when Candace Parker tried to son Plenette Pierson and Plenette just wasn't having it. They both hit the deck and it's on. Good to see the ladies showin' that fighting spirit, though. Hell, the WNBA could use a little more of this intensity, minus the Rick Mahorn shoving—SMH.
24. The Rob Ray Rule Brawl
Date: 5/3/1995
Game: NJ Devils vs. Buffalo Sabres
Location: Memorial Auditorium (Buffalo, NY)
Point blank, this fight is nuts, because Rob Ray is almost naked by the time he and Claude Lemieux tangle. You might think that's badass, but it's actually sneaky as hell. Without any jersey or equipment on, there's nothing for Claude Lemieux to grab on to, thus giving Ray the advantage. This fight set a precedent though, soon after the league introduced tie-down straps to keep players jerseys on during fights. This is often regarded as, you guessed it, "Rob Ray Rule."
23. Fenders and Tempers Fly
Date: 11/11/2012
Game: Clint Bowyer vs. Jeff Gordon
Location: Phoenix International Raceway (Avondale, AZ)
Nothing like NASCAR to get the blood pumping. A NASCAR brawl, that is. You got to love how it's never driver vs. driver either, it's full-on pit crew action. A mesh of colors and sponsors coming together like the good Lord intended is how we see it. In a recent race in Phoenix, Clint Bowyer took exception to being put into the wall by Jeff Gordon late in the race. He proceeds to hop out of his now trashed ride and run in search of Gordon. Lucky for us there's a camera right on Bowyer to document his frantic search. There should probably be some signs or directions, so he can find him quicker. Gordon and Bowyer never really exchange blows but it does bring the race to a standstill. For some real fireworks check out Brad Keselowski's thoughts on the whole thing.
22. The Punch
Date: 12/9/1977
Game: Houston Rockets vs. LA Lakers
Location: The Forum (Inglewood, CA)
Arguably one of the most unfortunate events in a young player's life. "The Punch," as it's became known, was a classic case of wrong place, wrong time. Rudy Tomjanovich was simply rushing to the aid of his teammate during an on-court brawl between the Rockets and the Lakers. Kermit Washington caught Tomjanovich out of the corner of his eye and he swung around and landed a punch that broke Rudy's face. Literally. This sidelined him for five months at the height of his career and Tomjanovich was never the same player. When he finally came to on the floor, he asked if the scoreboard fell on him. Note to self: don't cross Kermit Washington.
21. La Roja
Date: 8/17/2011
Game: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
Location: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
The greatest rivalry in European club soccer, bar none. This recent installment of Barca vs. Real was the Spanish Super Cup of the summer of 2011. With only a few moments remaining, and Madrid almost assured of defeat, defender Marcelo decides to spice things up a bit with a crunching scissor tackle on Cesc Fabregas. The red card comes out, but it's hardly the end. Both squads, who are packed with players who hate each other on the club level yet play together for Spain, entangle on the touch line for a few "friendly" words. The red card is flying all over the place at this point, and Madrid coach Mourinho gets in on the action with a "cheeky" play of his own against now Barca coach, Tito Vilanova. Terrible indeed.
20. Record-Setting Rumble
Date: 2/26/1981
Game: Minnesota North Stars vs. Boston Bruins
Location: Boston Garden (Boston)
We guess saying there's bad blood between these two is like saying Cane and Abel didn't get along very well. This brawl breaks out just seven seconds into the game. Come on, fellas, let some egregious action take place before the gloves come flying off. This one doesn't get completely ridiculous until the fight spills over into the crowd. Then, all hell breaks lose as cops get involved and entire benches clear. Here are the numbers by the end: 84 penalties, 406 penalty minutes, 12 ejections, and a first period that lasted for an hour and 30 minutes. In case you're wondering, this did set the record—at the time—for most penalty minutes in a game.
19. Van Gundy!
Date: 4/13/1998
Game: Miami Heat vs. NY Knicks
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning had bad blood dating back to their days together in Charlotte, so it should come as now surprise that these two tangled in Game 4 of the first round of the 1998 playoffs. The best part is that neither of them even lands a punch, just whiffs, like A-Rod in the postseason. No wait we take that back, not the A-Rod part, the best part about the fight. The best is obviously Jeff Van Gundy grabbing onto Alonzo Mourning's leg in an effort to; we don't know, stop the fight? When did he even get down there? Regardless, hats off to the former Knicks coach who entertains us now on a weekly basis doing games for ESPN. Long live rivalries, and bad hair pieces.
18. Michael Haley vs. The World
Date: 2/11/2011
Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. NY Islanders
Location: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Uniondale, New York)
Michael Haley pretty much became an Islanders god after this February dust-up with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He defends his boys and then goes after the Pens goalie for a previous cheap shot he took on his goalie, Rick DiPietro—talk about putting the team on your back. You can hear the crowd show their appreciation with chants of, "Hayley, Hayley." Even when it's two on one Haley holds his own like a true badass. This all dated back to the teams previous meeting when the Pens ran over the Isles. Payback's a bitch. Not only did the Islanders unleash Haley on the Penguins, they did it while they were already up 8-2. That's a double ass-whopping kids.
17. "This Could Be Bad"
Date: 12/23/1979
Game: Boston Bruins vs. NY Rangers
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
This clip is nowhere near as famous as "Malice at the Palace," but it's pretty damn good. You've got a lovely little brawl taking place on the ice between the Bruins and the Rangers, and then inexplicably, players climb over the glass and start beating the shit out of the crowd. If we've said it once, we've said it a million times, don't sit front row if you're not ready to take part in all the action. We're sure the dude sitting upper deck section 400 would be happy to trade at any point. The best is the shot at the end. It's just the Bruins in the crowd, while all the Rangers watch from the ice. What the hell happened?
16. Armando Time, Again
Date: 5/19/1998
Game: Baltimore Orioles vs. NY Yankees
Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
We've seen it before, a pitcher gives up a big home run and immediately hits the next batter. Well in this case, Armando Benitez plunks Tino Martinez in the back after a Bernie Williams home run, and the Yanks don't like it. Right before the Yankees dugout charges at Benitez, he puts his arms up to say, "Come get some," and they do. Graeme Lloyd, who led the charge from the bullpen, gets a few shots on Benitez and both teams end up brawling in the Orioles dugout. The best part is then Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, looking on in sheer terror. We can just hear him now, "Cashman, what's the insurance policy on brawls?" #RIPGeorge
15. Take Me Out to the Brawl Game
Date: 8/12/1984
Game: San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves
Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta)
Often regarded as the best basebrawl of all time, events started early at Fulton County Stadium; a series of hit batsmen, brushback pitches, and the waving of a bat. The final straw came in the ninth when Donnie Moore nailed Graig Nettles in the back, benches cleared, and shenanigans ensued. The total damage was three hit batsmen, and benches clearing in the second, fifth, eighth, and ninth innings. Repercussions? Thirteen players and both managers ejected, five fan arrests, and a bevy of payer suspensions and fines. Just another day at the par, right?
14. Friendly?
Date: 10/12/2010
Game: Brazil vs. China
Location: Xuchang, Henan province
So much for a "friendly." This all started when a hard foul by Brazil went uncalled, much to the dismay of China coach, Bob Donewald. He proceeds to bang the scorer's table and yell some shit, you know, for effect. It looks like things are under control, but half-way through shit pops off again, and the Chinese team just stomps out some Brazilian players. Credit to Team China, looks like they could beat the crap out of anyone, any day of the week.
13. Enter Sandman
Date: 3/5/2004
Game: Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia)
Okay, okay. First off, salute to the PA guy who's playing Metallica the whole time this melee is going on. We don't know if this makes it more comical or more intense, but it definitely makes it better. This one started early and continued often as gloves were dropped at various points throughout the game. The final numbers were staggering: 419 penalty minutes (the most in a game in NHL history), 20 players ejected, and a total of five players remaining on the team benches.
12. Battle in the Bay
Date: 8/22/1965
Game: LA Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
Location: Candlestick Park (San Francisco)
This is how a brawl on the diamond should take place. Got bats? Why not use them as weapons? No surprise here, this is Dodgers vs. Giants. Sadly, this is a rivalry where the fights are now better in the parking lot than they are on the field. But, as this video clearly shows, this wasn't always the case. Dudes (namely Juan Marichal) are full on swinging to knock the opposing player's (namely John Roseboro) heads in, and players have to be restrained once the initial chaos is calmed down. We kind of like that there's no sound to this clip, you can insert your own gasps of horror at this Bay Area throwback.
11. "F*ck You, F*ck You"
Date: 7/24/2004
Game: NY Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Location: Fenway Park (Boston)
Beantown vs. the Bronx is one of the best rivalries in sport, to put it bluntly, these two don't like each other. In this installment we see one of the newest Yankees at the time, Alex Rodriguez, take exception to getting hit in the back by Bronson Arroryo. Cue the fireworks.
A few "choice" words are said by A-Rod to Red Sox cappy Jason Varitek, who is trying to "encourage" A-Rod to take his base. See, there's no need to curse. Needless to say Rodriguez doesn't want to go quietly into the night. Varitek responds to Alex's, "Come at me bro," by putting his catchers mitt into A-Rod's face. Benches clear and it's just another chapter in this heated rivalry.
10. Kenny Frease Gets Burned
Date: 12/10/2011
Game: Cincinnati vs. Xavier
Location: Cintas Center (Cincinnati)
You're losing on the road, getting the shit kicked out of you by an in-state rival, we get it. But, have some class Cincinnati. Yeah, we're talking to you Yancy Gates. First off, as soon as this thing pops off with about nine seconds left, Gates' first bitch move is to throw the ball at a Xavier players head. Next, after we're in full melee mode here, Gates lands a haymaker to Kenny Frease, who's not even looking in his direction. Gates cut Frease wide open, while a Bearcat teammate stomps on him on the floor, absolutely classless. Check out the blow-by-blow, here.
9. Melo's Sucker Punch
Date: 12/16/2006
Game: Denver Nuggets vs. NY Knicks
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Ironic that this fight features JR Smith and Carmelo Anthony—two guys that are now cheered nightly by the Knicks faithful. After a hard foul by Marty Collins on Earl, shit gets buck. Nate Robinson immediately lays into JR and after some hood jocking they both end up in the front row on the baseline. We thought it was over, but Melo had other ideas. Anthony cracks Jared Jeffries' shit and immediately tried to get to safety. Damn, son. That's how they do it in Baltimore? Players then need to be restrained some more and order is restored. We watch this again and again when we need a little pick-me-up.
8. Ohio State Blackeyes
Date: 1/25/1972
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Location: Williams Arena (Minneapolis)
Damn, this is some old school thuggery right here. The Golden Gophers of Minnesota simply refuse to get shown up on their home court, even if that means having to start a brawl so the game can't be finished. Is it not enough that Ohio State's Luke Witte gets duped into getting kneed in jewels? Guess not. He then gets stomped on as he's laying there searching for air. "Will there be suspensions handed out?" How about arrests being handed out? Adam Sandler said it best. This is one of the darkest moments in college hoops history, and really just sports history in general.
7. Punch-up in Piestany
Date: 1/4/1987
Game: Soviet Union vs. Canada
Location: Piestany, Czechoslovakia
You just don't see this in international hockey, and you really don't, to be fair. Unless you're watching D2: The Mighty Ducks. This battle royale also has one of the coolest names in sports history, "Punch-up in Piestany." Thank you, Czechoslovakia. This looks more like a battle scene from Lord of The Rings than a hockey fight, even the goalies are fighting, and everyone loves a good goalie fight. There wasn't even an attempt to restore order, minus the officials turning off the lights in an effort to stop the 20-minute melee, like that was going to get it done. SMH.
6. Nolan Ryan: MLB Pitcher/Professional Wrestler?
Date: 8/4/1993
Game: Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers
Location: Ballpark in Arlington (Arlington, TX)
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan has over 5,000 career strikeouts, and has thrown seven no-hitters. He is also famous for sonning the crap out of a 26-year-old Robin Ventura back in 1993. After nailing Ventura in the back he proceeds to put the current White Sox manager in a headlock after he charges the mound. Ryan then repeatedly lands blow after blow to a helpless Ventura, who was probably thinking he should've just taken his base. Come on, Ventura. Ryan had 20 years on you, take your pegging like a man.
5. Beijing Beatdown
Date: 8/18/2011
Game: Georgetown Hoyas vs. Bayi Military Rockets
Location: Beijing Olympic Stadium (Beijing)
What's the lesson learned here? If you take on a military's basketball team, you will get your ass kicked, just like the Hoyas did. Apparently, this game was chippy from the start and lucky for us this fan was rolling when the game completely lost all sense of order. A tightly defended pass and the frustration of a teenager, next thing you know chairs are being thrown at players, and the Beijing Olympic Stadium is transformed into Royal Rumble. This one ends with Georgetown walking off the court as the Chinese crowd hurls boos and debris on them. So much for nobody caring about exhibition matches.
4. The St. Patrick's Day Massacre
Date: 3/17/1991
Game: St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Chicago Stadium (Chicago)
You know things are bad when half way through the clip and the commentator sounds like he's calling a boxing match rather than a hockey game. Props to Dave Manson and Scott Stevens, these two are obviously some of the toughest sons of bitches to grace the ice, they don't even stop when they hit the floor. Dubbed, the "St. Patrick's Day Massacre," this was obviously the crowning achievement in the rivalry that is Blues vs. Blackhawks. All you need to know is 12 players were ejected from this game, and each team was fined $10,000 dollars as a result.
3. 15 Minutes of Fame
Date: 7/24/2008
Game: Peoria Chiefs vs. Dayton Dragons
Location: Fifth Third Field (Dayton)
Here's one way a minor league game makes it to SportsCenter. After a series of brushbacks, hard slides, and hit-by-pitches, coaches and players have had enough. Managers meet face to face to confront one another, and then the starting pitcher for Peoria, Julio Castillo, tries to nail someone in the opposing dugout. Unfortunately, he misses and hits a fan, who then needs to be taken to the hospital. Cue the, "that's why he plays in the minors" joke. After his errant throw, Dayton players go apeshit, and start beating the crap out of the guy. This one ended with 17 ejections, 10 minutes of fighting, and one now infamous clip.
2. "As Dicey as Dicey Gets"
Date: 10/14/2006
Game: FIU Panthers vs. Miami Hurricanes
Location: Miami Orange Bowl (Miami)
The main campuses of Florida International University and the University of Miami are only nine miles apart, and most players of both programs come from the South Florida metropolitan area. You can already see where this is going. So you get a bunch of guys who grew up together, now playing for rival schools, how could there not be a fight?
Shit hits the fan when this delinquent on FIU, Marshall McDuffie, Jr., kicks Miami holder Matt Perelli in the head when he's already on the ground. What follows is a series of curb stomps, and helmets being used as weapons. What's the motto of the NCAA again? Scholars, athletes,—degenerates? That body slam at the 1:15 mark is unnecessary. Miami won the game 35-0, but the final score on the fight card is still up for debate. This one certainly was, "as dicey as dicey gets."
1. Malice in the Palace
Date: 11/19/2004
Game: Indiana Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons
Location: Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn, MI)
The Malice in the Palace changed the NBA. It was the ugliest brawl to occur in an NBA game, and to think it all started from a Ben Wallace overreaction. Ron Artest barely fouls the dude and he reacts like he just got JJ Barea'd. Wallace then gives Artest a Conan the Barbarian shove, which practically throws Artest into the stands. Foreshadowing? Artest does the right thing, he does what we're told as a kid, walk away. Stephen Jackson doesn't help though, he's got his fists up like Sonny Liston, ready to do battle with anyone on the Pistons who's willing. One beer cup comes flying from the crowd, nails Artest, and sets him off like a bat out of hell. Fans on players, players on players, a true brawl in the deepest sense of the word.