Snap, Crackle, Pop: The Top 25 Worst Sports Injuries of the Last 25 Years

Sometimes the camera just can't pan or tilt away fast enough to prevent viewers from seeing horrific injuries. And who says we want them to?

In the last 50 years, there have been enough memorable injuries to make fans want to stay indoors, buy a treadmill, or rock the Nintendo Wii to avoid breaking, tearing or scraping themselves in random places.

Here are some of the worst injuries ever caught on video or camera of the last half-century.

Caution: These images and videos are graphic, viewer discretion is advised.

If you like this article, check out: Top 10 Most Obnoxious Celebrity Sports Fans

Power-Cleaned Elbow

The unknown weight lifter in this photo evidently finished the lift, holding the bar over his head with his arms locked in. The weight caused his elbow to explode, turning his arm the wrong direction. 

I hope you aren't on your lunch break right now...

Power Clean Bonus!

Well we saw a broken left arm, so for good measure, here's the broken right arm.

"Janos Baranyai of Hungary screams in pain after dropping the weights during the Men's 77kg weightlifting competition event at the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China."

-According to zimbio.com

Joe Theismann's Leg Breaks Under Lawrence Taylor

Taylor reacts to breaking Theismann's leg

Ok, now that you're warmed up with a couple still shots of broken arms, on to a classic.

Lawrence Taylor was well-known during his legendary career as a heavy hitting defensive machine. However, even he can't hold back his emotion after seeing what he did to Redskins QB Joe Theismann.

Boston Red Sox Pitcher Bryce Florie Gets Hit in Face with Line Drive

Florie takes line drive in snoz

It's like getting sucker punched with brass knuckles while never even seeing it happen. When a pitcher gets hit in the face with a line drive, the amount of time they have to react is measured in milliseconds. 

Florie's nose is completely demolished and looks like it got flattened with a steam roller.

Allen Ray Loses Eye, Seriously, May Want to Skip This Slide

Can't....look....away

As the title of this slide suggests, even I couldn't watch this video a second time. You can actually see his eye pop out of his head. For the sake of accuracy, this slide is included. However, if you are even the least bit squeemish, you may want to pass. GROSS

Goalie's Neck Slashed By Skate

Random collision leaves neck bleeding

The odds of this happening are astronomical. Maybe that's why this hockey injury may never be topped. While goalie Clint Malarchuk attempts to stop a would-be tap in by a skater on a fast-break, the skater gets checked from behind, sending him airborne with legs flailing. 

What happened next is like something out of a horror film. The television station crew tries to go to a commercial break, but the cameras kept rolling.

Alabama WR Tyrone Prothro suffers broken left leg

Protho drops ball, breaks ankle

You can see the shock slowly building in Prothro as he looks at his leg and realizes how badly it's broken. One can only imagine how horrific it must be to realize your ankle is pointing the wrong direction.

Here's a great still shot of Prothro's ankle: 

http://knucklesunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/prothro.jpg

Maryland Outfielders Collide

Cleat-to-head

Inevitably, each year outfielders will collide chasing short fly balls. It happens in little league, high school, college and even the pros. It happened in this collegiate matchup between the University of Miami and Maryland.

Terrapins center fielder Matt Marquis was OK after getting cleated in the head and shoulders by the left fielder, but it is hard to watch.

Bull Fighter Gets Gored in The Least Favorite Spot

Good news, there's already a hole there

Atomic wedgie can't even be used to describe this situation. Good news though! There's already a hole there...so no scarring! Eh heh...

These Kids Are Tough!

Psh, ain't no thang!

I guess when you grow up getting hit over the back with bamboo rather than spanked with a soft, bare hand, getting hit in the face with a pitch is like being bit by a mosquito. 

What are Japanese parents putting in the water that makes their kids so tough? I mean this kid gets hit point-blank with a fastball in the mouth, and stands there like, "What is everyone staring at?" AMAZING!

Mary Pierce Tears ACL

Body decides to leave while leg stays behind

This video isn't as gruesome as some of the others, but you can clearly see her leg just plant firm into the ground while her body continues to move sideways. 

They say tearing a muscle gives the person a burning sensation, and poor Mary must have felt like her whole body was on fire.

Short, but Sweetly Gross

Broken ankle during tennis match

Somebody tell this guy Stick-Em doesn't belong on the bottom of your tennis shoe. This video is 12 seconds of replay showing the tennis player's ankle snapping.

Sid Vicious Breaks Leg in Suddenly Real Wrestling Match

Sid Vicious Breaks Leg

It's a shame, really. The world of professional wrestling has gotten so fake and cheap, they've switched to plastic legs that snap easily. Just kidding, this one's especially gross though. Look at the look on Sid Vicious' face as he tries to decided whether this is part of the show, and if so, how to improvise.

Make A Wish...

Willis McGahee breaks leg backwards

Former Miami Hurricanes and current Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee suffered a broken leg in a collision with an Ohio State Buckeyes defender. His leg looks like a wishbone being snapped in two different directions. 

If his other leg broke the same way, you could fold him like a lawn chair. Convenient, but still gross. 

McGahee Bonus!

Oh no, not again!

This guy is a helmet and shoulder pad magnet. This slide should count for three or four, because Willis had multiple injuries on this play.

Doty Gets Domed

in the back of the head...

Anybody who says the WNBA isn't worth watching, hasn't seen how tough these chicks are. Caroline Doty hits the floor hard after getting hit in the back of the head with an elbow. This video is a little lengthy, but you gotta feel for the girl.

Breaking Legs in Any Sport Sucks, Even with Foreign Accents Involved

Bowler gets strike and slides safely at the same time

You would think an injury in Cricket would be a player getting hit with the bowl by that rock they call the game ball.

Instead, bowler Greg Todd breaks his leg while slipping going for a ball in front of him and snaps his ankle and shin simultaneously. Cool name, though.

Something's Not Right Here....

It must be frustrating trying to get somewhere while only being able to walk in tiny circles...

Why Kick Just One Ball?

No explanation needed here. Is it just me or does he look like he's smiling while he's doing this? Two birds with one stone? More like two balls instead of one with just one foot.

Jump, Then Limp For Joy

Following a huge made field goal, Arizona Cardinals placekicker Bill Grammatica jumped for joy in celebration, but came down awkwardly and tore his ACL. He missed the remainder of the season.

Kendry Morales, a Rollercoaster of Emotion

Limp-off Grand Slam

During the 2010 season, Kendry Morales broke his leg while hitting a walk-off grand slam. Listen to the fans and announcers change the volume and tone of voice when realizing Morales broke his leg while jumping on home plate.

Fantastic Golf Commercial

Why can't all commericals be this funny?

This injury may be fake, but it's one of the best nut-shot commercials I've ever seen.

OK, Astronomical May Have Been a Strong Word

In French no less!

Apparently it's happened before. Here is another hockey player getting cut in the neck by a random swinging skate. Astronomical may have been a strong word, but then again, maybe the stars are aligning.

Tony Saunders Breaks His Arm, Twice in a Year

Devil Rays' pitcher Tony Saunders broke his arm while throwing a pitch in 1999. After losing a little weight, growing a goatee and rehabbing his arm, Saunders gave it another shot. However, during a rehab start in 2000, the arm snapped again, forcing him to announce his retirement.

Videos of the accidents were hard to come by, but here is a short clip of the arm breaking a second time, and his retirement speech:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/sports/2000/08/26/saunders_4059_6076.500.mov.html

Tim Tebow Sees Blue, Then Stars

Pin ball status

In 2009, Tim Tebow got knocked out following a blind side hit and getting hit in the back of the head by the knee of Marcus Gilbert. A testimony to Tebow's toughness, he'd later sit up and acknowledge the crowd.

One More Bonus

Here is a highlight video of sports injuries. Enjoy!

Here is the link again in case you missed it: Top 10 Most Obnoxious Celebrity Sports Fans