Pete Sampras and the Biggest Sports Memorabilia Mishaps of All Time
Tennis legend Pete Sampras lost the vast majority of his trophies and memorabilia from what was one of the most successful careers in tennis history.
Sampras said that theives broke into a public storage facility near his Los Angeles home, and took the majority of the trophies and memorabilia from his 64 tour victories, as well as an Olympic medal, and six rings that were given to him for finishing number one in the world rankings from 1993 through 1998.
"For me to have it for my kids is priceless," he said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I just hope it hasn't already been destroyed. That's why I wanted to get the word out now. I know this is a long shot, but I'd regret it if I didn't at least try."
Sampras' trophy woes got us to thinking about other memorabilia mishaps over the years. These 15 stories are the strangest, funniest and most depressing trophy stories of all time. Sometimes, the trophies were found; others, the trophies didn't survive. Either way, let's get started, shall we?
Honorable Mention: Now at Wal-Mart, College Football Title Trophies!
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After winning the 2010 BCS National Championship, the Alabama Crimson Tide announced a surprising decision. The Waterford Crystal trophy, valued at $30,000, would be displayed in a place sacred to many Bama fans' hearts: Wal-Mart.
Yes, the hand-cut, Waterford Crystal football, would be displayed at a several different stores of the mega-mart's chain in the state of Alabama.
And you wonder why the Crimson Tide couldn't win another title this season.
15. The 2008 Memorial Cup
2 of 16The Memorial Cup is awarded to the winner of the CHL, a junior hockey league in Canada's champion. Or at least, it was, until Spokane Chiefs captain Chris Bruton did this to it.
14. Butterfingers
3 of 16Yeah, it's funny now. But given the reaction of the crowd, it wasn't funny when it happened. And no, that wasn't the real national championship trophy Billy Donovan just dropped.
What makes this clip extra hilarious is coming up later in the list.
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13. Excuse Me, Sir? You're Going To Have To Check That
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In January 2010, the Stanley Cup was en route to making an appearance at a charity event in Vancouver, when, for whatever reason, the Cup wasn't put on the right flight.
I wasn’t expecting a problem since it’s such a simple flight with no connections,” Mike Bolt, the Keeper of the Cup who has been traveling with it for 10 years, told Reuters. “Anyway, they call me over and tell me the package is not there.”
Rather than going to Vancouver, it wound up in Toronto, of all the ironic possible destinations. That's the closest the Leafs have come to touching the Cup since 1967.
12. It Helped The Resume Was For Resident Cat Burglar
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The Phillies just can't seem to keep track of their 2008 World Series rings. During Game 2 of the 2009 NLDS, 22-year old Matthew Mervine was escorted out of the stadium for rowdy conduct.
On his way, for whatever reason, he filled out a job application. He also nabbed three World Series rings meant for a former player. While they weren't as valuable as the ones given to current Phillies, they were still worth $1,100 apiece.
The problem was, not only was Mervine caught on tape, this mental marvel left his home address on the resume he'd just submitted.
Needless to say, he didn't get the job.
11. Pete Sampras
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Sampras' mistake was trusting a public storage facility to house things he cared about. Fortunately, 13 of the 14 Grand Slam trophies he won are still in his possession, and the only one missing was 1994's Australian Open.
That cowboy hat looked ridiculous, anyway.
Storage facilities claim to have awesome security, but the truth is, you're probably better off digging a hole in your backyard and burying your prized possessions.
10. Reggie Bush Steals The Heisman
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Don't worry, after bilking the Heisman trust out of their bronze statue in 2006 by pretending to be a legitimate student athlete, Bush gave it back earlier this year.
9. Robert Parish
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In June, 1987, Boston Celtics center Robert Parish reported that his home in Weston Massachusets was burglarized.
The thieves took Parish's wedding ring, seven NBA All Star rings and his three Championship rings, along with a stereo, video equipment, other jewelry and a handgun.
I would assume they took the gun in case they ever met Parish in the future.
8. Did You Miss a Transfer Somewhere?
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In 2003, the Cup was heading to Slovakia for the first time ever, courtesy of New Jersey Devils forward Jiri Bicek.
Except some knucklehead in Toronto (what is it with these guys?!) forgot to put it on the plane.
Then, the next year, one of the Keepers of the Cup, Walter Neubrand, was scheduled to fly the Cup to Fort Saint John, British Columbia for Tampa Bay Lightning scouting director Jake Goertzen. But officials at Vancouver's airport removed the Stanley Cup from the plane because it was too heavy.
Maybe the NHL should just charter a bus and boat to take the Cup from place to place.
7. Butterfingers For Real
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Remember the story about Billy Donovan dropping the fake national basketball championship trophy?
Well, in 2008, the Gators' 2006-2007 BCS title trophy was actually broken, by potential recruit Orson Charles, who was snapping pictures of Tim Tebow's Heisman, and knocked the crystal football off it's pedestal, breaking it.
Fortunately, the football was quickly replaced, as was Charles.
6. Well, Now We Know
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In 1991, and 1993, two different teams apparently had the same boneheaded, and potentially alcohol fueled idea: let's see if the Stanley Cup can float!
So, into Mario Lemieux's and Patrick Roy's pools the Cup went.
And what did we learn?
"The Stanley Cup," noted then-Canadiens' captain Guy Carbonneau, "does not float."
Don't tell Dominik Hasek you got to do it, Guy. The Dominator tried the same stunt when he got his hands on the cup, and had it promptly confiscated.
5. People Have Been Messing Up The Cup Since 1925
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Jeez, what is it with people? In 1925, Muzz (awesome name, by the way) and Lynn Patrick, sons of Victoria Cougars head coach/manager Lester Patrick, came across the Cup in the basement of their house.
So, they did what any kids stumbling across such an epic trophy would do: they grabbed a nail, and carved their names on the side.
The best part? The Patrick boys won the Cup in 1940, and got their names on it the right way. And then, along with several other New York Rangers, they peed in it. Classy.
4. I Don't Think That's Gonna Buff Out
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In 1962, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. As part of their celebration, they had a huge bonfire. Someone had a bit too much to drink and knocked it in.
It was badly damaged, and had to be repaired at the team's expense.
And Maple Leafs fans wonder why they haven't won the trophy since 1967.
3. That's DEFINITELY Not Going to Buff Out
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This is the Mann Cup, awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada (Canadiens have the coolest trophies ever).
In 2004, the original Mann Cup was won by the Peterboro Lakers. They, like the 1962 Maple Leafs, had a bonfire. They, like the '62 Leafs, dropped the Cup into said bonfire (clumsy, drunk Canadiens). Unlike the '62 Leafs, the Lakers destroyed the trophy in the process.
Fortunately it wasn't the original trophy, which was housed in the league offices, but still.
2. Pat Burns
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Pat Burns went down in history as one of the NHL's greatest coaches. His shocking death in 2010 caused the entire hockey community to grieve. But it was what happened during his memorial service that puts this so high on the list.
Someone broke into Burns' widow's car, and stole 30 autographed shirts and sweaters from there, as well as personal effects like a watch, iPad, and family photos.
The suitcases which held much of the memorabilia was returned, but the criminals haven't been caught yet. Here's hoping they will be.
1. O.J Simpson
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This is one of the weirdest cases in the history of sports memorabilia. In 2007, former NFL great O.J. Simpson entered a Las Vegas hotel room with a group of several other men. He and his posse held the inhabitants of the room at gunpoint, and took back memorabilia that Simpson claimed had been stolen from him.
He was arrested, charged and convicted of kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, assault, robbery, and using a deadly weapon. He's currently serving a 33-year prison term.
For trying to take back memorabilia Simpson claimed had been taken from him, the Juice gets the top spot on our list. It was basically a foregone conclusion that his nutty story would hit the top of the list, and odds are good that it won't be topped for quite some time.
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