The 20 Most Hard-to-Watch Injuries in Sports

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If you're the type who sobs while cutting onions, cries during the final 20 minutes of Bridesmaids or cares whether Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are friends, you may want to type awkwardfamilyphotos.com into your browser for some light-hearted chuckles. Pure, cheer-filled enjoyment.

But for that brave individual who, it's been said, has heard ghosts tell stories about him around the fire, prefers medicine balls in a game of squash and is often questioned by police just because they find him interesting (Dos Equis style), prepare yourself for pure visual pain.

If there's anything we can take from the injured world of sports, it's that the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" only scratched the surface of what's physically possible. Only passionate competition can truly test one's bodily capabilities.

With that said, let's see the most hard-to-watch injuries in sports.

Time to embrace your "O face".

20. Preparing for an Encore

Oh my god, his bone is gone.

As if this horrifying bend wasn't already detailed perfectly by the shocked broadcaster, let's recap.

Snap, crackle, pop.

19. Bryce Florie with the Stop

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bryce Florie will always be remembered for surviving a vicious line drive off the bat of the New York Yankees' Ryan Thompson back in 2000.

Multiple broken bones and eye damage would set the stage for one of the most notorious pictures in Major League Baseball history. Florie's heroism featured a seven-game comeback in 2001.

We'll allow Sports Science to detail the impact.

18. Lienen, Lienen Low

In a 1981 game against Werder Bremen, German footballer Ewald Lienen played a role few ever envisioned.

Like a chicken with his head cut off, a baffled Lienen ran around looking for help, support, an explanation, perhaps. Bone, tissue, missing flesh. Enough said.

17. Breaking the Biking Mold

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The split-second before contact is made, the slight freeze before bones are crushed is truly when pain is felt.

Anticipation ruins this brother's day.

16. Geoff Jenkins' Career Shot

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That was just...you might as well have just shot me with a nine millimeter. That was the worst pain I've ever felt and I can't really fathom something being worse.

Testing the limits with his slide back to third base in 2002, former Milwaukee Brewer Geoff Jenkins would experience the worst of his numerous career injuries. Only a wince can truly suffice.

15. Mike Tyson's Eery Obsession

The 1997 rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson was expected to be a legendary display of pure brutality. And it sure was.

Iron Mike showed the world that munchies were more than just the main characters in that ridiculous 1987 comedy-horror film, Munchies. Just a bite of Holyfield's ear was all it took to cement Tyson as perhaps the most insane heavyweight ever to approach a ring.

14. Paulo Diogo's Feelings on Marriage

After setting up teammate Jean Beausejour for a goal, former Swiss footballer Paulo Diogo decided to celebrate in unique fence-climbing fashion.

Unfortunately when he jumped off the metal fence, his wedding ring was caught behind and tore off with most of his finger. And you can bet he earned a yellow card for excessive celebrating.

13. Idong Ibok Gets Rearranged

Only the soothing color commentating could possibly cloud the tragic situation at center court during this game between Michigan State and Marquette University.

It seemed as if former Spartan big man Idong Ibok was mostly disturbed by the look of it. Adrenaline obviously clouded the actual pain.

12. A Twist of Fate

Walk it off champ, that bend is nothing some subtle stretching and a bit of Tebowing can't fix.

On second thought...

11. Grabbing the Bull by the Horns

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For those mastering the art of bullfighting, it might be time for a career change.

Man and bull were never meant to get along.

10. Dropping the Competition

Like the aura of a horror movie, we know a monstrosity is set to occur, we're just goosebump-filled with anticipation.

"Oh dude," a leg should never look like this.

9. Allen Ray Keeps an Eye out

During the 2006 Big East Tournament, Villanova University guard Allen Ray (no relation to Ray Allen) endured one of the strangest injuries the hardwood world has ever seen. One of those what's-the-chance moments. 

Sure getting poked in the eye during the semifinal game against Pittsburgh was right along the lines of basketball physicality. But an eye pop-out? In the end, just a simple headache would result.

8. Scratching the Surface

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In this House of Wax remake, Jason Walberg attempts to reconstruct Jonathan Tavernari's face like the molding of clay in Ghost.

Pepperdine University vs. Brigham Young University, clearly as dicey as dicey gets.

7. A Linebacker's Legacy

Legendary quarterback Joe Theismann never played another down of football. 

With memorable and soothing narration from The Blind Side star Sandra Bullock, this breakdown of Lawrence Taylor's historic destruction shows us truly how unstoppable the Hall-of-Fame linebacker truly was.

Ironically, Theismann's famous restaurant serves Stuffed Barramundi and Ribs. Do with that what you will.

6. No Knocks on Johnny Knox

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Jackass buffoon Johnny Knoxville would be proud, we're certain of that.

But Chicago Bears' receiver Johnny Knox wasn't quite embracing the moment when he felt his shoulder blades touch his knees; cracking a facet joint in his spinal column to be precise.

5. Djibril Cisse's Historic Tumble

It only took Djibril Cisse a few months to get back to training, but the French striker will never forget the horrific twist he received after enduring a crafty tackle from China's Zheng Zhi during a warm-up match in 2006.

His facial reaction may far surpass the visual crunch.

4. Willis McGahee's Road to Recovery

A magical career at the University of Miami came to a screeching halt when All-American tailback Willis McGahee received the hit of his life from Ohio State University safety Will Allen during the '03 Fiesta Bowl after receiving a screen pass from Ken Dorsey.

The slow-motion animation of his bended knee derailed all optimism. But McGahee would be back, and ready for the professional gridiron.

3. Corey Hill Defies the Odds

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When Corey Hill fought Dale Hartt in UFC’s “Fight for the Troops,” their bout became more of a masterpiece at the Museum of Modern Art than a physical duel.

Limbs were bending ways they were never meant to. The ricochet effect.

"The pain was unbelievable," Hill said. Now that we've cleared that up.

2. Rumble in Spain

Don't mess with the bull or you'll get the horns, and that's exactly what happened to beloved Spanish matador Julio Aparicio.

A slight stumble opened the door for bulldozing madness. Enjoy the freeze-frame here.

1. Clint Malarchuk's Throat Threat

March 22, 1989, was a day that forever haunts former Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Clint Malarchuk. It was the blade of St. Louis Blues' forward Steve Tuddle that tore through Malarchuk's jugular vein and confidence.

Ninety minutes, 300 stitches, and the man, the legend was back in the crease only four days later. Malarchuk was a true hockey player.

 

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