Add Amare Stoudemire’s latest scuffle with a fire extinguisher following the new York Knicks’ loss to the Miami Heat in Game Two to the list of the weirdest sports injuries off all time.
Stoudemire lacerated his left hand when the glass broke on the casing. he was seen leaving the arena with his hand heavily bandaged, and will miss Game three on Thursday.
Historically, there has been a surprising amount of unusual sports injuries that continue to baffle even years later. ahead is a list of some of the most peculiar, each one making history one disability at a time.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joel Zumaya injured his throwing wrist and forearm playing Guitar Hero for Playstation 2. While it is unclear which song he was playing that caused the inflammation, the injury was bad enough to keep Zumaya out three games during the American League Championship Series in Oct. 2006.
There’s nothing more frustrating than those pesky layers of plastic wrapping on DVD cases. While viciously attacking the annoying barriers with a paring knife, San Diego Padres pitcher Adam Eaton stabbed himself in the stomach attempting to break through the wrapping. he underwent season-ending surgery in August of 2000.
Between hitting the gym and doing laundry, there’s tanning. Former MLB left fielder Marty Cordova suffered severe sunburn, not from the sun, but from falling asleep in a tanning bed. he missed several day games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2003.
Rub-a-dub-dub, Kerry Wood fell in a hot tub. in Feb. 2007, the relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs took a slip in a hot tub, hurting his chest and stomach. he was off the mound for only a few games.
Controversial slugger Sammy Sosa missed several games for the Chicago Cubs in 2004 after sneezing so hard he strained his back.
If there’s not enough evidence of the addicting properties of the Ninetendo Gameboy, former NBA forward Lionel Simmons missed several games during the 1991 regular season after getting tendinitis in his wrist from playing too much Mario Party.
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Clarence Blethen reached base only once in his career in 1923, but it became one of the most infamous base running moments in baseball history. he was known for his false teeth, which he kept in his back pocket, even at the plate. as he slid into second base, the dentures sunk into his behind and Blethen had to leave the game due to excessive bleeding.
What goes up must come down. it was during the 1934 U.S. Open when Bobby Cruickshank hit a ball into a body of water on the 11th hole. he had the lead with eight holes to go but his emotions go the better of him and he tossed his club high into the air. After getting clobbered on the noggin by the returning club, Cruickshank did return but ended up placing third in the competition.
In other Arachnophobia-related injuries, former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Glenallen Hill was placed on a 15-day disabled list after a traumatic nightmare involving spiders in 1990. in his dream, Hill said he was covered in spiders, sending him into a subconscious freak-out costing him an injured leg because of an unfortunate encounter with a nearby glass table.
Former Florida Marlin Bret Barberie wanted to relax with a delicious plate of spicy nachos, compiled with salsa and jalapenos. in one of the most bizarre injuries to a professional athlete, Bret Barberie missed one game in 1993 after apparently burning his eyes with chili sauce when he went to put his contact lenses in.
The list goes on and on, and if history is any indication of the future, athletes will continue to hurt themselves in unique ways. Whether it’s a broken bone or a stinging eyeball, obscure sports injuries will always give us something, or someone, to laugh at.