Image via Complex Original
Last week, Shannon Brown's tweet denying the claim that he hooked up with teammate Pau Gasol's girlfriend caused a media firestorm and garnered more attention for the soap opera known as the Lake Show. The rumor got us thinking: How frequently do in-team affairs go down? As we found out, they're a lot more common than you think. From the NHL to the NBA to international soccer, ballers from a variety of sports have (allegedly) scored with their teammate's girl. Here's the History of Athletes (Allegedly) Sleeping with Their Teammate's WAGs...*Cues Timex Social Club track*
Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich
TEAM: New York Yankees
WHEN: March 1973
COMPLEX SAYS: As best friends, fellow pitchers, and teammates, Peterson (right) and Kekich (left) seemed to share everything—including their wives. Literally. The two swapped wives in 1972, with Peterson's wife, Marylin, moving in with Kekich, and Peterson moving in with Susanne Kekich. The couples went public with their swap during spring training in 1973. The exchange worked out best for Peterson, who married and had four children with Susanne Kekich. Mike Kekich and Marilyn Peterson broke up soon after moving in together. That's baseball, trades work well for some, while others just get screwed. Or in this case, everyone gets screwed.
John Harkes and Eric Wynalda
TEAM: U.S. national soccer team
WHEN: 1998
COMPLEX SAYS: Prior to last year's World Cup, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson revealed that he released John Harkes (pictured left) from the '98 U.S. team because Harkes was sleeping with Amy Wynalda, the wife of his teammate Eric Wynalda (pictured right). The 1998 U.S. team finished in last place of the 32 teams competing in that year's World Cup (surprising, huh?). In regards to Sampson's revelation, Harkes said, "I am not going to rehash the things that have happened in the past...1998 was devastating to me and my family." After peeping the pic above all we can say is: Unless it's MJ, never trust a dude who sticks his tongue out.
Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure
TEAM: Russia national hockey team
WHEN: 1999
COMPLEX SAYS: The part-time tennis player, full-time hottie known as Anna Kournikova was dating Sergei Fedorov in 1999 when she met Pavel Bure. Fedorov and Bure were teammates and won silver medals together at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. According to Fedorov, he married Kournikova in 2001 but they divorced in 2003. Funny because Bure and Kournikova were rumored to be engaged in February 2000. Hmmm...ladies is pimps, too! (Jigga voice)
Mike Comrie and Tommy Salo
TEAM: Edmonton Oilers
WHEN: 2003
COMPLEX SAYS: In fall of 2003, it was rumored that Mike Comrie (pictured) hooked up with with the wife of veteran goaltender, Tommy Salo. Comrie refused to comment about the rumor at the time but later denied the claim saying, "I should have said something right away. I didn't think it would have the legs it did. Everyone thinks it happened but it's the most ridiculous rumor. It's not true." Salo was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the end of the 2003-04 season (coincidence?). Since then, Comrie has wifed up one of the hottest puck bunnies, Hilary Duff. #upgrade
Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant
TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers
WHEN: December 2004
COMPLEX SAYS: By the time the Mailman joined the Lake Show in 2003, the 40-year-old was certainly over the hill as far as his hardwood skills were concerned. However, his game off the court was still in tact, or at least he thought so. Malone and Kobe Bryant grew close during the season, and the two often went on family outings together. That friendship soured when Malone allegedly made a pass at Kobe's wife, Vanessa Bryant. According to Malone's agent, Vanessa asked the Mailman "Hey, cowboy, what are you hunting?" to which the cowboy hat and boot-wearing Malone responded, "I'm hunting for little Mexican girls." Uhh...well, it's not like dude hasn't done worse things in his life. Stay classy, Malone.
John Terry and Wayne Bridge
TEAM: England national soccer team and Chelsea
WHEN: January 2010
COMPLEX SAYS: In early 2010 the UK media went into a frenzy over reports that England's captain, John Terry (right), was having an extramarital affair with French model, Vanessa Perroncel. An affair with a model isn't too far from the typical savage life of footballers, only thing is, Perroncel is the former girlfriend Terry's teammate, Wayne Bridge (left). Not to mention, Bridge and Perroncel had a child together in 2006. England's manager Fabio Capello later removed Terry from his position as team captain and Bridge quit England's national football team. Perroncel later denied the affair and other reports that she was sleeping with another three of Bridge's teammates on Chelsea. Soundtrack, please!
Paul Terry and Dale Roberts
TEAM: Rushden & Diamonds
WHEN: May 2010
COMPLEX SAYS: Affairs between teammates and spouses can have effects that run a lot deeper than bruised egos, divorces, and damaged camaraderie. Such was the case when Dale Roberts (above, left) committed suicide after finding out his fiancee, Lindsey Cowan, had slept with his teammate, Paul Terry (above, right). Paul is the brother of the same English footballer, John Terry, that we just told you about. Months later in December, Roberts was found dead in his home after he hanged himself. Afterward, Cowan released a statement in which she called Roberts "the love of her life." SMH.
Tony Parker and Brent Barry
TEAM: San Antonio Spurs
WHEN: 11/17/2010
COMPLEX SAYS: When Eva Longoria filed for divorce from Tony Parker in November of last year, she cited irreconcilable differences. Everyone knows that "irreconcilable differences" for celebs is just another way of saying a whole lot of shit went down. A whole lot of shit like...(allegedly) sleeping with your former teammate's wife! In the days following the divorce filing, reports came out that Brent Barry's wife, Erin Barry, was the other woman Parker was seeing, and that Longoria discovered hundreds of texts from Erin on Parker's phone. Erin later denied the affair and the Barrys also ended up divorcing (citing...wait for it...irreconcilable differences). Why is it that Parker was the one doing all the scoring? Homie is the point guard, a.k.a. the facilitator, right?
Leandro Barbosa and Steve Nash
TEAM: Phoenix Suns
WHEN: February 2011
COMPLEX SAYS: Steve Nash's divorce from his wife, Alejandra Amarilla, came an at interesting time for the couple, as Amarilla had just given birth when Nash went public with the split. Rumors immediately began circulating that the reason for the separation was that Amarilla had given birth to mixed-race baby fathered by one of Nash's black teammates. The first alleged father was Leandro Barbosa, and then Jason Richardson only a few weeks later. Photo evidence would suggest otherwise, but if it were true, it's not like we haven't seen it before.
Shannon Brown and Pau Gasol
TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers
WHEN: 5/16/2011
COMPLEX SAYS: After the Lake Show's epic playoff fail this year, many put blame on Pau Gasol's inefficiency. Rumors quickly began circulating that problems between Gasol and his girlfriend, Silvia Lopez Castro, were the reason for the Spaniard's seeming lack of focus. Gasol denied the claims but those allegations took off when Shannon Brown posted the tweet above. Whether the rumors are true or not, it's not hard to imagine Gasol's girl being tired of his inept post-up abilities and longing for someone who isn't afraid to go hard in the paint. Ayo! After all, being a seven-footer isn't everything. Pause. Bench players do know how to finish strong. OK, we'll stop.