Top 15 Athletes With the Shortest Fuses in Sports

While many athletes have a humble respect for their sport, there are those who have a more difficult time controlling their emotions.

They may say it's passion or an undying love for the game that propels them to fiery levels with only the cracking of a peanut in the stands, but for fans it's eye-opening entertainment.

Perhaps he didn't get hugged as a child or the pressure and anxiety involved create a unique mixture of chemicals that light a fire in his head.

We don't know—this isn't medical school.

What's certain is that these outbursts occupy a significant slot of SportsCenter.

Here are the players with the shortest fuses in sports.

Enjoy.

15. Keith Ballard

With the reputation for "clipping" opponents, brutal defenseman Keith Ballard has naturally been involved in plenty of fights.

While this seems like just another example of an athlete unable to control his emotions, Ballard's destruction of his goalie's comfort zone makes this unique.

Goalie Tomas Vokoun faced his own teammate's wrath on this fateful night, as he was hospitalized shortly after being carted off the ice with a cut to the ear.

A completely reasonable way for Ballard to react.

14. Sean Avery

Known as the biggest pest in the NHL, Avery is perhaps the most sensitive.

When he feels a touch or senses someone close to him on the ice, his first reaction is to begin throwing punches—a completely natural reaction...or he's just crazy.

In the end, stay far away or he will spray Gatorade, grab sticks, slap opponents or tear limbs apart.

13. Albert Haynesworth

He may be too morbidly obese and lethargic to get angry these days but the former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle had his moments.

With perhaps the shortest fuse of a defensive lineman in his prime, Haynesworth went out of his way to disrupt a player's comfort zone.

Stepping on a defenseless player's head is one way to do that.

Now that he has cashed in with the Redskins, the useless gargantuan will soon be sipping piña coladas in the Bahamas for the rest of his days.

12. Jeff Gordon

He may not be an athlete but this NASCAR driver doesn't like when others get in his way.

Jeff Gordon has had fiery interactions with many drivers, including Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, and he sees Jeff Burton as just another target.

He says he used to respect Burton and saw him as the last driver who would hit his car.

Well, it's a dog-eat-dog world.

11. Delmon Young

While playing for the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, Young decided it was standard procedure to throw his bat at an umpire when he disagreed with a called strike.

It wasn't his first umpire incident, as he was suspended three games in 2005 for bumping an umpire.

He served a 50-game suspension for the bat-throwing incident and it seemed to put him right back on track.

In 2010, Young hit .298 with 21 home runs and 112 runs batted in and finished 10th in MVP voting.

10. Nyjer Morgan

Call it a Napoleon complex, but this outfielder doesn't take verbal or physical threats from anyone.

Having been disrespected by opposing fans and laughed at for his occasional bonehead plays, Morgan fights even after he gets clotheslined (by Gaby Sanchez).

Now playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Morgan was once a standout hockey player in the Western Hockey League before turning his focus solely to baseball.

9. Carl Pavano

An integral part of the Florida Marlins starting rotation in 2003 on their way to a World Series victory, Pavano now seems frustrated with his career.

While he has become a serviceable major league starter, most recently pitching for the Yankees and currently with the Twins, Pavano's career hasn't really matured.

He has started to take his frustration out on trash cans and any other menial objects resting in the dugout.

8. Todd Bertuzzi

As sad as this incident was, it made fans realize how crazy Bertuzzi truly is.

Retaliating for his teammate Markus Naslund, Bertuzzi followed Steve Moore and punched him from behind, offering Moore no chance to defend himself.

This cowardly act re-established Bertuzzi's reputation as an angry, short-fused hockey player who can easily be put in the same sentence as the infamous Sean Avery.

Chris Pronger isn't far behind.

7. Gennaro "Rino" Gattuso

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

MILAN, ITALY - MAY 13: Gennaro Gattuso and Francesco Gattuso of AC Milan after the Serie A match between AC Milan and Novara Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 13, 2012 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Seen as one of the premiere defensive mid fielders in soccer during his prime, Gattuso is known as the Italian bulldog, deservedly.

In a match against Ajax in September 2003, Gattuso allegedly slapped Ajax striker Zlatan Ibrahimović in the face with the back of his hand.

Against Tottenham Hotspur, Gattuso allegedly pushed Tottenham coach Joe Jordan away by the throat during a sideline incident, and then head-butted him after the final whistle.

Call him the Sean Avery of soccer, but Gattuso is a good teammate.

6. Serena Williams

She owes a lot of money to the swear jar.

Serena may be caring and gentle off the court, but when she's playing it's all business.

There is no question that she could play middle linebacker in the NFL, and defensive line if necessary.

Only one word can describe this Williams sister...beast.

5. Zinedine Zidane

If he is willing to attack his opponent in this manner, clearly anger problems exist.

Marco Materazzi had allegedly insulted Zidane's sister, causing the French footballer to head-butt Materazzi's chest.

Rather than head-butting soccer balls in practice, professional players should start using rubber chests to increase head strength.

4. Andy Roddick

This era's John McEnroe has had his share of meltdowns on the court.

While he may have the most dominant serve in tennis, Roddick has an uncontrollable temper that significantly affects his game, or helps it.

The former World. No. 1 is married to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker—a true power couple.

3. Milton Bradley

It seems too ironic that the song Dead and Gone by T.I. and Justin Timberlake is playing in the background for the second half of this video.

Milton Bradley has had numerous ejections and is known for breaking a bat over his knee after striking out.

Always a talented player, Bradley can't seem to control his emotions and even tore his ACL in 2007 while being held back by Padres coach Bud Black.

Give the guy a break; he created Monopoly.

2. Ron Artest

The wild brawl that occurred between the Pistons, Pacers and Detroit fans will headline Artest's legacy for the rest of his career.

Artest has always had a flair for the dramatic and perhaps the shortest fuse in sports.

Unfortunately for him, this reputation will never fade away as his hard fouls will always be exaggerated and his sticky defense will bother opponents.

While he may not have started this fight, he clearly finished it and crossed the line when he left the court for the stands.

1. Carlos Zambrano

Zambrano's solipsistic view caused his career to dwindle.

After entering the league in 2001, he posted nine straight seasons in which his ERA was below four.

The Cubs once thrived off his aggression and fervor but now only await the day he is gone.

With a vesting option of $19.5 million in 2013, look for the Cubs to trade the disgruntled pitcher.

His immature outbursts are no longer entertaining or beneficial.