Image via Complex Original
We're halfway through, but the 2014 sports world has already served us enough ridiculousness to compile into an extensive list for you to laugh at. Nobody's safe. From champions to scrubs, athletes and others linked to the game have already supplied us with plenty of cringe-worthy material.
We've had athletes that couldn't simply pass the blunt, a racist owner, and those who just fell apart when games mattered most. The mockery that was the 2013-14 New York Knicks season could have had its own division here, and you can trust that the always laughable NCAA makes an appearance.
With the year's halfway mark approaching, let's recap the 25 Biggest Sports Fails of 2014 (So Far).
25. Night At the Roxbury with Brandon Jennings and Nick Young
Date: 6/2/2014
The fail: Potentially popping pills in the club.
Let's be real for a sec. If your life depended on answering the question "name the two NBA players most likely to be photographed passing pills to each other while shirtless at a club" your answers would be Brandon Jennings and Nick Young, with J.R. Smith out of contention for being too high to even make it to the venue. Think about how fucked up this situation was. Jennings offered the pill and Swaggy P turned him down immediately.
When Nick Young is the guy exercising restraint and perfect judgment, you know the situation is out of control.
24. Turn Down For What?
Date: 5/29/2014
The fail: Getting kicked out of a bar for being too drunk and loud.
How drunk do you have to be to get kicked out of a bar for being too rowdy? Jacoby Jones, Jimmy Smith and Bernard Pierce evidently found out, when they were asked to leave a Maryland bar over Memorial Weekend. Jacoby Jones probably broke out this dance at the bar, and that was that.
23. JR Smith's "Shoegate"
Date
The fail: Getting fined $50,000 dollars for untying shoelaces.
It's practically impossible to pick one comedic high point for the 2013-2014 Knicks season. J.R. Smith threw his hat into the ring early in the year, when he purposefully untied Greg Monroe's shoe at the free-throw line two days after pulling the same stunt on Shawn Marion. He was fined $50,000 for the repeated acts, but the highlight of the whole thing may have been when he talked with the press about how Dwight Howard had allegedly done the same thing to him during an earlier game.
"I'm not a snitch," Smith said, "so I'm not saying nothing." No, this wasn't an episode of The Wire, Smith was talking about shoelaces.
22. Marcus Smart vs. Fan
Date: 2/10/2014
The fail: Putting hands on a fan.
While we'll likely never know what the fan truly said to Marcus Smart, all we do know is that the NBA prospect tarnished his reputation by going after him. Rumors differ regarding whether a racial slur was uttered or not, and depending on the circumstances, some would say that Smart's reaction may not have been as bad as it could've been.
But without context, the guard's antics just looked bad. He was suspended three games by Oklahoma State for the shove and issued an apology shortly thereafter.
21. Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle Likes the Juice
Date: 2/21/2014
The fail: Getting disqualified for PED's before the Olympics even started.
German biathlete Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle may have been a five-time Olympic medalist in cross-country, but she clearly needed a leg up in Sochi. Sachenbacher-Stehle was the first athlete to test positive for a banned substance at the Olympics, and she was banned from participating in the games and sent home in disgrace.
20. The San Jose Chokes
Date: 4/30/2014
The fail: Living up to their reputation as chokers.
If you even remotely follow the NHL, you're aware of the Sharks' documented failures when the postseason rolls around. They've finished either first or second in the regular season in nine of the last 10 years, yet have never advanced past the Western Conference Finals—they've done that three times, falling in six games, four games, and five games, respectively. This season, after finishing 51-22-9 and with 111 points, the Sharks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
Lo and behold, San Jose choked away the series, as LA won four straight to rally back and win it 4-3.
19. Raymond Felton the Gangster
Date: 2/25/2014
The Fail: Getting hit with a felony gun charge.
Two hours after dropping eight points in a heartbreaking 110-108 loss to Dallas (on a ridiculously lucky buzzer-beater by Dirk Nowitzki), Raymond Felton was arrested on a felony gun charge. Felton had unlicensed gun in his New York apartment and his estranged wife turned the gun over to police. The couple had been fighting at the time and she filed for divorce. By pleading guilty, Felton avoided jail time and was traded to the Mavs along with Tyson Chandler yesterday.
18. UNC's Fake Classes
Date: 2/27/2014
The fail: Giving players As for classes that didn't exist.
If only we could get an A- on a college paper for writing 150 words on Rosa Parks, like this University of North Carolina athlete. UNC has been dealing with an academic scandal after details emerged alleging that their African American Studies Department set up false classes for athletes. To be fair, we're pretty positive they aren't the only school doing this, they did get caught.
17. Davone Bess Doesn't Care
Date: 1/17/2014
The fail: Popping off on a cop at the airport and posting weed pics on social media.
The arrest report really speaks for itself on this one. Browns wide receiver Davone Bess confronted an officer at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport and "grabbed a cup of coffee that was not his and squeezed it, spraying coffee on the officer. Bess then took a "fighting stance" and the officer hit him on the leg with a baton. Bess then removed his shirt and stayed in the stance."
The report also said that Bess was "under the influence of an unknown narcotic" and that "the receiver was looking through the officer as they talked." What does that even mean?
All this after he posted photos of weed.
16. The Winter Olympics in Sochi
Date: 2/5/2014
The fail: Being uninhabitable during the Olympics.
The Sochi games have been over with for some time now, but the futility and overall sketchiness of the city's facilities will live in infamy orever. Among the nonsense was the time U.S. bobsledder Johnny Quinn was locked in a bathroom, and needed to blast his way through the door like the Kool-Aid man to get free. A positive thing from this story, though: he wasn't locked in there with a side-by-side toilet partner. That could've gotten awkward real quick.
15. Andrew Bynum's Knees
Date: 7/1/2014
The fail: Teams still believing in Andrew Bynum
Why are NBA teams still handing Andrew Bynum money? Cleveland signed him this past season, suspended him for chucking balls from mid-court during practice, then traded him to Chicago. The Bulls immediately waived him and the Pacers signed him in a move that presumably only served to keep him away from Miami. Turns out, the Pacers didn't bother to give him a physical.
Bynum was paid $24 million to play in 26 games over the last two seasons. This dude is making bank to sit on the bench and watch games. He literally has the best seats in the house.
14. Air Bargnani Crash Lands
Date: 1/23/2014
The fail: Tearing his elbow to shreds while trying to posterize two opponents.
A living, breathing, 7-foot fail, Andrea Bargnani provided the NBA world with an embodiment of the 2013-14 New York Knicks in one single play. Without making a mockery of a guy injuring himself, it was pretty much perfect. Against the tanking 76ers, Bargnani went up for a poster jam on two Sixers, only to fall five feet short and tear his UCL, ending his season on Jan. 22.
The team awent 22-18 without him, further proving the offseason deal a complete failure. Enjoy Steve Novak and those three draft picks, Toronto.
13. The NCAA and Their Villainous Ways
Date: 6/23/2014
The fail: Not letting student-athletes get this bread.
While being a corrupt, immoral institution is enough to put the NCAA on this list, their recent fails merit special attention. The NCAA has been put on trial in the Ed O'Bannon case, and it's not going well. EA Sports is already paying $40 million to the players in the suit after the players challenged the rights of the NCAA to use their images and likeness for commercial purchases. The NCAA is claiming they can go bankrupt if they pay the players, which is bullshit.
Northwestern players nearly unionized and UConn guard Shabazz Napier described the team's conditions during the Final Four by saying, "there's hungry nights where I'm not able to eat." It looks like time is running out on the NCAA.
12. Alex Rodriguez Being Alex Rodriguez
Date: 1/11/2014
The fail: Taking PEDs, lying about it, getting suspended, suing everybody.
Nobody ever confused A-Rod for the most likable athlete in New York, but 2014 sealed the deal. After MLB commissioner Bud Selig suspended him for 211 games, the former star appealed the suspension, threatened to sue everybody, and even appeared in a few games for the Yankees in 2013. His suspension has since been reduced to 162 games, and he's slowly given up on those lawsuits he was so confident he'd come away winning.
It's hard to imagine him ever returning in pinstripes at this point, but with three years and $61 million remaining on his 10-year, $275 million deal, the Yankees might just be stuck with him.
11. Spain Books an Early Flight Home
Date: 6/13/2014
The fail: Getting blown out of the World Cup.
Spain came into the World Cup riding high. They won the 2010 tournament in South Africa and the 2012 UEFA European Championship with a 4-0 massacre of Italy. But they came crashing down to Earth early in Brazil, losing 5-1 to the Netherlands and 2-0 to Chile. Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas looked like he'd fit in well on an American high school pitch after letting in some ridiculously easy goals over the first two games.
And Spanish legend David Villa ended the tournament in tears on the bench after being subbed out during Spain's final game against Australia. Not the way they wanted to go out.
10. Josh Gordon and His Dirty Urine
Date
The fail: Smoking pot with no regard for NFL rules.
After the NFL busted him once for pot, Josh Gordon emerged as one of the league's top deep threats. He missed the Cleveland Browns' first four games due to suspension, but still wound up leading all players in receiving yards with 1,646. As an established star, 2014 was set to be the year Gordon set his dominance in stone, especially with Johnny Manziel under center.
Just days after the draft, though, news emerged that the 23-year-old was at it again. He's currently facing a full-season suspension for another positive weed test. if that wasn't enough to convince you this guy isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, his "friend" was busted for possessing marijuana in Gordon's car while the receiver was speeding. This is guy might be the first person to be addicted to weed.
9. Paul George's Thirst Issues
Date: 3/24/2014
The fail: Thirstines on social media and IRL.
Over the last year on the court, Paul George has emerged into a perennial star for the Pacers. Part of being an NBA star, though, includes acting like one on and off the floor. When it comes to the romantic aspect of stardom, George leans more towards the Tiger Woods end of the spectrum than the Derek Jeter side. Near the All-Star break, news broke that George had gotten a Miami stripper pregnant, then offered her $1 million to abort the pregnancy all while dating Doc Rivers' daughter Callie.
If that wasn't enough, a month later, he was caught sending nude photos to a dude posing as a female. Drink some Gatorade or something, bro.
8. The Pacers Collapse
Date: 2/21/2014
The fail: The Pacers trading for Evan Turner and having their season collapse before their eyes.
The Indiana Pacers had the best record in the NBA at the All-Star break and looked like a serious threat to dethrone Miami. Then Indiana decided to swap Danny Granger for Evan Turner and the Pacers self imploded.Turner wasn't the savior that fans expected him to be. Between fighting with Lance Stephenson and his constant sulking on the bench, Evan Turner brought his tanking tactics with him to Indiana. Danny Granger isn't the same player but his depature was felt. He could've probably been the voice of that lockerroom.
7. The Death of Roy Hibbert's Game
Date: The minute the All-Star break started
The fail: Forgetting how to score basketball points and get basketball rebounds.
Roy Hibbert either pulled off the greatest charade in basketball history by averaging 17 and 10 during the 2013 Playoffs, or the Monstars zapped his energy. The 7'3" center averaged 6.6 rebounds a game this year, which isn't far off his 6.7 career pace. However, he shot a career-worst 43.9 percent from the field, and posted *two* zero-point, zero-rebound games in the 2014 playoffs.
Roy was held scoreless in four postseason games altogether, and only grabbed double-digit boards in two playoff games. With two more years left on his deal at max salary, Indy better hope this guy can figure it out.
6. Eagles Release DeSean Jackson For Dumb Reason
Date: 4/28/2014
The fail: Releasing DeSean Jackson for gang affiliations.
After inking a new deal last offseason, DeSean Jackson exploded in Chip Kelly's offense for 1,332 yards and nine TDs. After the Eagles season ended in the NFC Wild Card game, DeSean Jackson was back in the max as one of the top receivers in the NFL. Then a bunch of trade rumors started flying around and it appeared that DJax's time in Philly was ending. The gang-affiliated report came out and Jackson was released soon after in what Philly deemed as a "purely football decision."
Whatever it was, the Birds will regret it. You don't release WRs after career seasons and let the division rival Washington Redskins pick them up. Bet money that Jackson destroys Philly during their two battles this season.
5. The Heat Losing to the Spurs
Date: 6/15/2014
The fail: Getting trashed by San Antonio in the Finals.
The Heat losing to the Spurs this year came as a surprise to everybody but the Spurs. When James, Wade, and Bosh joined up in Miami, they thought winning titles was going to be easy. But they forgot that teams win chips. Mario Chalmers cost himself millions of dollars by averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 assists per game in the Finals, Dwyane Wade looked like he was going to decompose into the court during Game 5, and Erik Spoelstra even turned to human victory blunt Michael Beasley out of desperation (he should've made him active from jump.)
Now that LeBron has opted out, everyone in Miami is either shook or have left the bandwagon all together. Four straight trips to the Finals is nothing to scoff at and if they stay together, they'll be making more trips but we hope this lost shows them that it's no cakewalk.
4. Jim Irsay the Pharmacist
The fail: Getting arrested with a pharmacy in his trunk.
And you thought players were the only ones with offseason drama? Colts owner Jim Irsay was arrested at 3 a.m. on a Monday (turn up!) after cops found half of a CVS pharmacy in his car. Irsay was booked for DUI and four counts of possession of a controlled substance. The NFL has yet to reprimand him. The NFL has a double-standard when it comes to execs and players? You don't say?
3. Dan Synder Likes to Be Difficult
Date: 6/18/2014
The fail: Refusing to change the name of the Redskins.
Between this dope ad and the recent ruling from the U.S. Patent office that the name is "disparaging to Native Americans," pressure is building on the Redskins to change their name. But Redskins owner and free speech activist Dan Snyder WON'T BACK DOWN. He's insisted repeatedly that he won't change the name, and even sent a cranky letter to lawmakers who called for the team to change the name.
2. Donald Sterling Finally Exposed
Date: 4/29/2014
The fail: Getting caught being Donald Sterling.
Most of the NBA world has been aware of Donald Sterling's racist ways for decades now, but it finally came to a head this past spring, when the now infamous recordings with V. Stiviano were leaked via TMZ and Deadspin.
On the tapes, Sterling was caught saying a number of sickening remarks, none of which bear repeating anymore. New commissioner Adam Silver acted swiftly in removing Sterling from the league—something David Stern never seemed interested in doing, despite the onslaught of previous racial charges against the owner.
Since May, Sterling has been suing the league, Adam Silver personally, various doctors, and even battling his estranged wife in court to keep hold of the Clippers. The sooner this guy can vanish for good, the better.
1. Ray Rice Beats Up Wife
Date: 2/16/2014
The fail: Uppercutting his wife unconscious.
What happens in Atlantic City doesn't stay in Atlantic City. After leaving the Royal Jelly Burlesque Nightclub, Rice was involved in a fight with his fiancée. It ended with him dragging her unconscious body into an elevator, and subsequently getting indicted for aggravated assault. But the drama didn't end there!
Rice capped the PR disaster by reading a prepared statement on his IPhone that included him saying "Failure is not getting knocked down, it's not getting up."