Violence in sports
High school, college, and even professional sports teams often include initiation ceremonies (known as hazing in the USA) as a rite of passage. A 1999 study by Alfred University and the NCAA found that approximately four out of five college US athletes (250,000 per year) experienced hazing.[2] Half were required to take part in alcohol-related initiations, while two-thirds were subjected to humiliation rituals.
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Notable events
The Most Notable event in modern sport-related violence was the Heysel Stadium disaster, when 39 people died when a wall collapsed under pressure of Juventus supporters fleeing from 'football hooligans' supporting Liverpool F.C.
In the 6th century, rivalry between supporters of the Blue and Green chariot-racing teams in Constantinople, led to 30,000 deaths in the week of the Nika riots in 532.
Other notable events include
- In 1951, Heisman trophy candidate Johnny Bright, from Drake University, was slugged by Wilbanks Smith, from Oklahoma A&M, during an A&M home football game. Bright suffered a broken jaw in what many viewed as a racially motivated attack.
- In 1972, Ohio State University was leading the University of Minnesota 50-44 with 36 seconds left to play in the basketball game. Ohio State's Luke Witte was fouled hard going to the basket. Minnesota’s Corky Taylor punched the dazed Witte in the head and kneed him in the groin. Gopher reserve Ron Behagen then stomped Witte on the neck and head. Witte was taken off the court on a stretcher and booed by Minnesota fans. [3]
- In 1975, cyclist Eddy Merckx was viciously punched by a spectator as he climbed the Puy-de-Dome in the Tour de France. Merckx, who had won the Tour de France five times previously and at the time was in the leader's yellow jersey, finished the stage barely able to breathe, and went on to finish the tour in second place overall.
- Blood in the water water polo semi-final match between Hungary and Soviet Union at the 1956 Summer Olympics was stopped to diffuse a possible riot by the fans when a Russian player punched Hungary's Ervin Zador.
- Kermit Washington's punch of Rudy Tomjanovich during an NBA game.
- Tonya Harding's attack on Nancy Kerrigan.
- Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield's ear during their rematch.
- Adrian Dodson biting Alain Bonnamie's mouth during a Commonwealth title fight.
- On January 25, 1995, Manchester United striker Eric Cantona assaulted a fan during a game against Crystal Palace after said fan hurled racial slurs towards him. Cantona was banned for the remainder of the FA Premier League season.
- On January 19, 2001, basketball player Elnes Harold Bolling of the Racing de Gualeguaychú (Argentina) team became incensed after a foul on him was called by referee Fabián Blumenblat. Bolling, who had just served a suspension for fighting, punched Blumenblat, knocking him unconscious. Blumenblat suffered a shattered jaw and orbital bone and underwent immediate surgery to save the sight in his left eye. The Virgin Islands-born Bolling, who had become a naturalized Argentine at some unknown time, was banned for life from the league and faced a prison sentence of a month to a year. His present whereabouts are unknown.
- On October 14, 2006, the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida International University Golden Panthers brawled after a PAT. The brawl engulfed the entire field of play. FIU's Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him. While Perrelli was still on the ground, FIU's Marshall McDuffie, Jr. kicked Perrelli in his helmet. Miami's Derrick Morse jumped on top of McDuffie, and the benches emptied. The climax of the fight saw one player use his helmet as a weapon, and an injured FIU player swinging crutches menacingly. Miami's Carlos Armour was a prominent figure in the fight when he lifted an FIU player completely off the ground and slammed him to the grass. The fight lasted five minutes, and it took the officials longer to sort out the penalties. In all, 13 players were ejected from the game (8 from FIU and 5 from Miami), and 31 players would later draw suspensions for their involvement in the fracas (18 from FIU, 13 from Miami). For more details, see Miami-FIU brawl.
- On 16 December 2006 the NBA's leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony was involved in a large brawl in which ten players from the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets (including Anthony) were ejected.
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References
- ^ Orwell, George (1950). "The Sporting Spirit", Shooting an Elephant. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & Co., 153.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/798383.stm
- ^ <http://www.10000takes.com/hall_of_shame/>
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See also
- Collective effervescence
- Football War
- Football hooliganism
- Hooliganism
- Sports rivalry
- Violence
- Violence in ice hockey
- List of Rugby league incidents
- List of Australian rules football incidents
- List of hooligan firms
- List of violent spectator incidents in sports
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