Super-Secret Undercover Sports Hotheads
Tim Duncan is a closet hothead. What I mean is, we know about notorious hotheads like Ndamukong Suh, but what about athletes we wouldn’t necessarily give that label to?
There are some athletes and coaches who have done things that might surprise you. Peyton Manning was recently fined for taunting and said it was “money well spent.” Other athletes have started fights or just complained too much to officials.
These are not the Bobby Knights of the world. They fly under the radar because their tempers don’t flare nearly as often, but it has happened. After all, sports are emotional, and even the most mild-mannered people can get fired up. You know what they say about poking a sleeping bear...
So which of these outbursts is the most surprising? Who would you put on the list as a closet hothead?
Tom Brady
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Tom Brady is one of the golden boys of sports. But his fiery side has been a little more on display during this NFL season. In fact, his consistent and blatant use of a certain four-letter word has even resulted in viewer complaints to the FCC. In December, The Boston Globe called Brady “the New England Patriots poor sport of the week.”
It’s not just this year. Brady was heard yelling, “This is f---ing brutal,” to referee Clete Blakeman after a 2013 loss to the Panthers.
Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan is often thought of as one of the nicest, most mild-mannered athletes in sports.
But look closer, and you’ll see that he is also notorious for complaining to referees. Way back in 2007, Duncan got into it with official Joey Crawford at a game in Dallas. Duncan claimed that Crawford challenged him to a fight, and Crawford said that Duncan swore at him. Duncan earned a second technical foul and an ejection for laughing on the bench. The whole scene was pretty ridiculous, and the league eventually suspended Crawford and fined Duncan $25,000 for “verbal abuse of an official.”
Following a playoff loss to Oklahoma City in 2012, per NBA.com, Duncan told reporters, “Then down the stretch it seemed like they got every whistle possible and that really changed the tide. We were playing tough defense and trying to get stops but the whistle kept blowing and they went to the line.”
Roger Federer
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When you think about professional, respectable, just overall well-liked athletes, Roger Federer often comes to mind.
However, in 2009, Federer was actually fined $1,500 for an incident with a chair umpire during the U.S. Open. Apparently he used an obscenity during an argument. CNN reported that he also said, “Don’t tell me when to be quiet, okay? When I want to talk, I'll talk.”
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Derrick Rose
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They don’t really come calmer than Derrick Rose, but even the calmest athletes can get frustrated. Did you know in 2012 he was fined $25,000 for complaining about referees?
Following a win over the Knicks, Rose said he felt there was a lack of calls in his favor. According to Pro Basketball Talk, he said, “I’ve gotta be the only superstar in the league that's going through what I'm going through right now. But I can't say too much about it.”
Shane Doan
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Shane Doan of the Arizona Coyotes was voted one of the nicest players in the NHL by his peers in 2012. And as a team captain, he is well respected as a leader around the league.
However, he’s actually been suspended for three games on two occasions—once in 2010 for a blindside hit and again in 2012 for elbowing an opponent in the head. Hockey is a tough sport, so that alone is not overly surprising.
Then again, he also caught some flak for complaining about referees in 2012. After getting ousted from postseason play by the Los Angeles Kings, Doan voiced some negative opinions about the officiating. Michael Hurley of CBS Boston called the complaints of Doan and other players “losing in disgrace.”
Odell Beckham Jr.
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Most people know Odell Beckham Jr. as the New York Giants rookie who made that unreal catch—you know, the one that some people called the greatest catch ever?
But he also just might be a hothead. It can be tough to tell with rookies, but Beckham was fined two weeks in a row to close out this NFL season. The first was a $10,000 fine for kicking an opponent, and the second was $11,025 for taking off his helmet while arguing a call.
Candace Parker
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A lot of secret hotheads are also remorseful hotheads.
Los Angeles Spark and 2013 WNBA MVP Candace Parker was involved in a pretty nasty brawl back in 2008. The fight started when Plenette Pierson of the Detroit Shock got into in with Parker. The scene blew up, and after it was all said and done, 10 players and one coach were suspended by the WNBA. Parker told Dan Arritt of the Los Angeles Times, “It was just emotions spilling over and I was just happy that we came out with the victory.”
Later in 2011, Parker was ejected from a game for complaining to officials. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles, Parker said, “Whatever was going on, I shouldn't have acted like that. I already apologized to my teammates. I want to apologize to the fans. I shouldn't have acted like that.”
Kevin Durant
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Nothing about Kevin Durant really says “menacing” to me. However, he was fined $25,000 in 2013 for making a “menacing gesture.” You may remember this as the time he pretended to slash his throat after a big dunk over the Warriors.
It definitely seemed out of character for the NBA’s Mr. Nice Guy.
Steve Kerr
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Steve Kerr certainly has that good-guy image, but don’t let it fool you. According to Diamond Leung of the San Jose Mercury News, Kerr’s wife often tells him lightheartedly, “Beware the fury of a patient man.”
He’s also no stranger to technical fouls. In November, Kerr earned his first as the Warriors’ head coach when he yelled at a referee. In December, he picked up another one, again for complaining. According to CSN Bay Area, Kerr himself said, “I just want to protect our guys if I don't feel good about what's going on on the floor. So if I have to get some technicals, I will. I've got a little bit of a temper at times and it flared up.”
Brian McCann
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New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann has been described as “a nice guy,” “a fun guy,” and “a very gentle guy” by current and former teammates.
Despite those kind words, McCann apparently has a problem with showboaters. In 2013, McCann let his temper get the best of him after Carlos Gomez hit a home run and gloated all the way around the bases. When Gomez rounded third, McCann ran out and blocked Gomez from reaching home plate. The result was a bench-clearing brawl.
Several players were later suspended, although McCann received just a fine.
Bubba Watson
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Bubba Watson seems like such a nice guy, doesn’t he? I’m not saying he’s not, but the two-time Masters champion was pretty mean to a caddie at the 2013 Travelers Championship.
Watson was in the lead at the 16th hole, but things started to slip away when his tee shot ended up in the drink. He lost it on his caddie, Ted Scott. Jay Busbee of Yahoo Sports reported that Watson said, “Water. It's in the water. That club. Yes, the water.” Also, “So you're telling me that's the right yardage?” Watson did not end up winning the tournament.
Watson also let his temper flare at the 2014 PGA Championship. According to Bob Harig of ESPN, Watson complained about the weather and just generally seemed to be in a sour mood, at one point saying, “It doesn't matter what I do, man. It doesn't matter. It's f---ing horses---.”
Peyton Manning
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Peyton Manning is like the Derek Jeter of the NFL. He is always professional, always says the right thing. So it certainly came as a shock to sports fans when he was slapped with a $8,268 fine for taunting—it was the first taunting penalty of his 17-year career.
During a 2014 game against the Texans, Houston safety D.J. Swearinger put a hit on Wes Welker that resulted in a concussion. Later, Manning completed a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, and in a very un-Manning-like move, he rubbed it in Swearinger’s face.
At the time, Manning told Chris Mortensen of ESPN, “I accept the fine. It’s money well spent.”
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