10 Times Athletes Fought With Their Own Teammates
Bill Romanowski vs. Marcus Williams
Top 10 Funniest Bill Burr Moments
he four-time Super Bowl winner Bill Romanowski is a polarizing figure in the NFL. On one hand, great linebacker. On the other, terrible sportsmanship. Romanowski was involved in several altercations on and off the field during his pro career. But arguably the worst incident happened during training camp for the Oakland Raiders in 2003. After tight end Marcus Williams blocked Romanowski during a scrimmage, instead of brushing it off, the linebacker squared up to Williams. He pulled off Williams’s face mask and punched him in the face. He was knocked out and also sustained some injuries. The incident was taken to court in 2005 and Romanowski was ordered to pay Williams $340,000.
Keith Primeau vs. Bob Probert
Typically fighting doesn’t usually result in the people involved becoming friendly afterward. But legendary Canadian hockey players Keith Primeau and Bob Probert aren’t like most people. During a practice in 1994, Probert, who had a massive reputation as an enforcer, had been winding up the younger Primeau. So, he decided to square up against Probert. Teammates and coaches initially just watched as the two threw multiple punches at each other. But as the fight went on, they eventually came in to separate them. Apparently, the bad blood was settled. But this wouldn’t be the last time Primeau took on a teammate. During his stint with the flyers, he fought Chris McAllister and broke his nose. Yikes.
Salimatou Kourouma vs. Kamite Elisabeth Dabou
After losing to Serbia at the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the Serbian player Sasa Cado was being interviewed. However, nearby, a kerfuffle broke out between these Mali players, with some punches being launched. Their teammates quickly moved to separate them. In the aftermath, the pair apologized for their actions and stated it was due to frustration from the loss.
Bismarck du Plessis vs. Mohamed Haouas
If there are two rugby union players you shouldn’t mess with, it’s these two. They’ve been involved in several controversial incidents throughout their careers. In 2018, du Plessis and Haouas were warming up for the French team Montpellier prior to a match. However, for some reason, the two behemoths decided that trying to knock the other out was a good idea before the actual game even started. Punches from both players were flying in as their other teammates tried to separate them. Somehow, the incident had no lingering effects on Montpellier’s going into the match against their opponent, Racing 92. They hammered them 41-3.
Lee Bowyer vs. Kieron Dyer
Top 10 Times Olympic Athletes Cheated
On April 2, 2005, Newcastle United had a horrible day. They were down a player when Steven Taylor was sent off and soon found themselves losing three-nil to Aston Villa in the English Premier League. It couldn’t get worse, right? Nope, it could and did. Teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer seemingly had words on the pitch, causing the latter to ram his head at Dyer. The two then got in a scuffle with punches being thrown and shirts getting pulled. Quickly, the referee blew his whistle as Newcastle teammates and even Villa players attempted to separate the two players. The ref sent them both off, reducing Newcastle to eight men. Afterward, Bowyer, who instigated the brawl, was fined and suspended.
Jeff Kent vs. Barry Bonds
Jeff Bezos's 10 Billion Dollar Earth Fund: A Nice Gesture?
It’s no secret amongst fans and those in the MLB that these two San Francisco Giants stars did get along. During a game against the San Diego Padres, which the team went on to lose, tensions reached an all time high and boiled over. The two were screaming at each other in the dugout, and a scuffle broke out. While their teammates helped to separate the two, it was seemingly the authority of manager Dusty Baker that stopped the battle. It spelled the beginning of the end for Kent’s tenure with the Giants. He left the team the following season to join the Houston Astros.
Draymond Green vs. Jordan Poole
Over the years, the Golden State Warriors have become synonymous with winning in the NBA. But most recently, they’ve made headlines as a result of some in-team clashing. During a practice, things got tense, as Draymond Green can be seen clearly getting heated with teammate Jordan Poole, who seemed nonchalant about it all. Eventually, Green was getting more and more aggravated, and it led to him directly going up to Poole and giving him his piece of mind. Teammates were quick to separate the two but Green was able to land a vicious blow. He was not suspended but fined by the team. Only time will tell if this will affect the team or not in the long term…
Paul O’Connell vs. Ryan Caldwell
The Future of Esports with Paul Dawalibi
Legendary Ireland’s rugby union player Paul O’Connell had a reputation for picking fights. But that changed one fateful day in 2007. During a training session, Ryan Caldwell was desperate to make an impression and get into the Ireland team. However, after getting under O’Connell’s skin one too many times, the Munster icon snapped and punched him in the face. Ireland’s doctor rushed over and had to resuscitate the then-Ulster player on the pitch as they waited for an ambulance. Caldwell was taken to hospital and ended up being okay. After that near-tragic experience, O’Connell toned down his aggression.
Joey Barton vs. Ousmane Dabo
Barton regularly caused problems on and off the pitch throughout his career. He was a manager's worst nightmare. In 2007, he attacked Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo during a practice. Knocked unconscious, the French midfielder was taken to the hospital for his injuries. The police were soon called in and arrested Barton for assault. The England international pled guilty and received a suspension, ordered to complete community service, and pay a fine. While out on bail for the Dabo assault, Barton moronically had a fight in Liverpool. This resulted in him being sentenced to six months in prison. These incidents basically meant the end of his City career. But, somehow, he still made a living as an athlete afterward.
Gilbert Arenas vs. Javaris Crittenton
Top 10 Gilbert Gottfried Moments
Teammate fights certainly go up a few levels in seriousness when weapons are brought in. In 2009, Washington Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton argued in the locker room over a gambling debt. Instead of fisticuffs, the two pointed firearms at each other as their basketball teammates ran for cover. Luckily, no one was injured. But the two had broken laws with their over-the-top actions and were suspended by their team. Arenas pleaded guilty to carrying an unlicensed weapon. He received two years of probation and thirty days in a halfway house. Crittenton got a year of probation and was released by the Wizards. Years later, having clearly learned nothing from this experience, Crittenton was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Julian Jones.
