The Strangest, Most Unexpected Stories In Sports This Past Decade, Part III
Andrew Luck had his retirement announced for him by Adam Schefter on August 24th. During the fallout, many pondered where that story ranked throughout the annals of strange sports history. The answer was a resounding: not that high. And it’s getting lower by the hour thanks to characters like…
Antonio Brown’s Raiders Career
Starting last December in Pittsburgh, sitting out important games in which the Steelers’ season relied on to even attempt to get into the playoffs, forcing his way out of Pittsburgh, landing in Oakland, renegotiating his contract, taking a hot air balloon to training camp, getting into a cryogenic machine sans socks and giving himself frostbite, Helmet Gate, getting fined by the Raiders, publicly complaining about getting fined by the Raiders, getting into a confrontation with Mike Mayock, calling him a cracker, threatening to punch him in the face, Vontaze Burfict being the voice of reason in a football conflict, punting a football in his GM’s face, being suspended by the Raiders for week one, being unsuspended by the Raiders for week one, releasing a short film where he wiretapped his own coach telling him to cut the shit and just play football, posting on Instagram demanding his release, and then being released. And Drew Rosenhaus is already hinting at a potential lawsuit over the $30 million dollars the Raiders just took back from AB for conduct detrimental to the team, the out clause which allowed them to release him for $0 total. We’re about 67% of the way through this story and it’s already substantially crazier than Andrew Luck just being in constant pain and wishing to no longer be in said pain. AB’s Raiders career was a hot sun that burned bright and fast. But it didn’t end nearly as quickly as…
Chris Paul’s Lakers Career
The League was about to return from a lockout. Chris Paul was entering his final season under contract in New Orleans, a franchise without an owner. The Lakers were trying to extend the final Championship years out of Kobe Bryant. Mitch Kupchak made a three-team deal to land the All NBA point guard and usher in the next era of Los Angeles Lakers basketball. Pau Gasol was to be a Rocket; Luis Scola, Goran Dragic, Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, and a first round pick were going to New Orleans; and the Lakers were to pair Kobe and Paul and continue contending the West. Instead, David Stern threw the League into a controlled chaos which only he could have pulled off. He rejected the trade, and since the Hornets were owned by the League there was nothing that could be done. “Basketball reasons” was born as a legitimate alternative answer towards saying “No” to things. Mitch Kupchak was allowed to renegotiate another trade for Paul should he pay more, but wouldn’t budge. Chris Paul was furious, Lamar Odom refused to show up to practice the next day, and when the dust settled Lob City was born.
