15 Athletes and Coaches Freaking out at Cameramen

When things are going poorly, you can't really blame someone for not wanting a camera shoved in their face. I mean, would you want to have your picture taken when you're massively hungover and spending a full Sunday clinging to a toilet bowl? Didn't think so. 

But then again, going out the night before and getting belligerently drunk was probably completely separate from your day job—so I guess it's not really the same thing. Either way, though, all I'm saying is that the suffering is bad enough without some dude following you around and documenting it. 

Not that I'm necessarily defending an athlete or coach freaking out at a defenseless cameraman. They're highly paid professionals who should have a better hold of their emotions and be able to control themselves in these stressful situations. But they're human, and sometimes crap like that happens. 

Let's take a look at 15 athletes and coaches freaking out at cameramen. 

15. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

In February 2012, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin attended the Kentucky/Ole Miss basketball game and apparently was hoping to keep a low profile.

When the ESPN cameraman spotted him and lingered for awhile, Tomlin snapped back "You got enough? I'm trying to watch the game." Yikes.

14. Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens

In January 2012, the Ravens were just one chip shot field goal away from tying the game and taking the Patriots to overtime in the AFC Championship game.

Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff lined up and kicked a field goal that he'd probably have made 99 times out of 100—unfortunately, this was the one that went wide left. Fans were unhappy, his team was unhappy and Cundiff was unhappy—and in no mood to have a camera shoved in his face.

Can't blame him there.

13. Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

After an abysmal loss to Canada in the 2010 Olympics, Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin spotted a fan videotaping him at the airport, and he was displeased—to say the least.

Instead of ignoring the fan and going on his way, Ovi shoved the fan to the ground. Nice.

12. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid FC

In June 2010, Portugal was knocked out of the World Cup, and their captain Cristiano Ronaldo did not take the defeat well. Obviously unhappy with the result, Ronaldo decided to take it out on the poor cameraman—by spitting at him. Ew. 

11. Andre the Giant

In 1989, legendary large person Andre the Giant was arrested after assaulting a television cameraman during a WWF taping in Cedar Rapids.

Normally athletes aren't arrested for these types of shenanigans, but I guess it looks a lot worse when the offender is 60 feet tall. 

10. Joe Paterno, Penn State University

The late Joe Paterno's career didn't end the way the PSU faithful would have liked, but they have a half century's worth of memories to outweigh the final act.

Memories like this—an 82-year-old Paterno sending a cameraman running during pre-game warmups in September, 2009. There probably aren't many octogenarians who can send a young man running for cover—but JoPa was an original. 

9. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

In May 2012, the Celtics lost a heartbreaker to the Hawks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. In the final seconds of the game, the Celtics had the ball in the hands of their star point guard Rajon Rondo and a chance to win the game. 

Unfortunately, things didn't play out as Rondo would have hoped—instead of taking a shot, he bounced the ball off his foot and it rolled away as time expired. After the game he was understandably upset and in absolutely no mood to be filmed. 

8. Randy Johnson, Retired MLB

In January 2005, legendarily cranky pitcher Randy Johnson was in New York City for a physical before his trade from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees could be completed.

Johnson got a little taste of the New York media, and I think it'd be fair to say that he wasn't exactly ready for his close up.  

Click here to see the video.

7. Tyrone Wheatley, Retired NFL

In November 2003, Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley was photographed outside a San Francisco courthouse hours before his scheduled grand jury testimony regarding the BALCO supplements lab.

He repeatedly cursed at and threatened the photographers and television cameraman. Wheatley struck one of the photographers on the arm before getting into the building. 

6. John Daly, PGA

In December 2008, John Daly had a very bad day at the Australian Open. He shot six over in the first round and missed the cut for a third consecutive week. Daly surprised absolutely no one when he went all John Daly on a spectator and smashed his camera into a tree.

The camera owner took the incident in stride and even got in a crack about Daly's rotund figure—insisting, "I don't think I'll be chasing him for the money. He's a big bloke!'' Ha. 

5. Tim Belcher, Retired MLB

After giving up a game-winning home run to the Yankees in the 1995 ALCS, Mariners pitcher Tim Belcher had one of the most memorable freakouts in sports history and the whole thing was caught on tape—thanks to the sacrifices of one very brave cameraman.

4. Injured Player Attacks Cameraman

I couldn't find the specific details of this incident that took place in August 2011, but it looks to be an injured player being carted off on a stretcher. Well, that is until he decides to jump off the stretcher and attack a cameraman who seems to have angered him.

3. Carl Pelini, (then) Nebraska

After an ugly loss to Texas A&M in November 2010, Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini completely lost his marbles and lashed out at a cameraman as the teams were leaving the filed.

The cameraman heard Pelini screeching at someone else before turning his aggression on him. 

2. Dennis Rodman, Retired NBA

In early 1997, legendarily combative Bulls forward Dennis Rodman really out-Rodmaned himself by needlessly booting a cameraman during a game against the Timberwolves.

Not only was Rodman suspended for 11 games and fined $25,000 by the league, he was also eventually sued by the cameraman. The case was settled out of court for $200,000.

1. Kenny Rogers, Retired MLB

In June 2005, Rangers ace Kenny Rogers was involved with a violent confrontation with photographers in Arlington that put one of them in the hospital.

Rogers first warned the photographers to get the cameras out of his face and threatened to break every one of them before it escalated into a physical altercation. He was suspended 20 games for the ugly incident.