10 Scandals That Rocked Pro Sports [Photos]

1 of 11

❯

❮

It’s not looking good for suspended Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson. After being charged with felony child abuse in September, a Minnesota Star-Tribune report accused the all-pro of using funds from his charity to fund a room for himself and his jumpoffs.

photo: WENN

If Peterson is convicted on either charge he could immediately find himself in one of the biggest sports scandals ever. What does it take to go from the hall of fame to the hall of shame? Follow along as we revisit some of the biggest scandals in sports.

—

Photo: WENN

Cue up the copy of Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like A Lady.” Ronaiah Tuiasosopo catfished Notre Dame defensive back Manti Te’o by posing a fake, terminally ill woman named Lennay Kekua.

The murder of Baylor University basketball player Patrick Dennehy by his teammate Carlton Dotson was one of that 2003’s more tragic stories.

photo: WENN

Tiger Woods hasn’t been the same since he was linked with 12 different mistresses in 2009. He reportedly smashed and bribed mistresses, escorts, trailer park waitresses and models.

photo: WENN

If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit. O.J. Simpson was acquitted in the criminal trial against his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, which was dubbed the “Trial of the Century.” Simpson still ended up in prison after a kidnapping and armed robbery conviction in 2008.

photo: WENN

A federal judge hit Michael Vick with a 23-month sentence for lying under oath about his involvement in a dog-fighting ring.

After claiming to have no knowledge of paid bounties to target and injure specific players, the NFL suspended New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Tim Donaghy took foul to a new level by fixing the games he called as an NBA referee. He ended up serving a 15-month prison sentence before emerging and writing a book to tell how he did his dirt.

photo: WENN

Lance Armstrong how does a man win the Tour de France seven times after surviving testicular cancer? It helps to have steroids coursing through your veins. Leave it to Oprah Winfrey to draw out the confession as she did on her show in January 2013.

photo: WENN

The The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative was arguably moving more dope than Freeway Ricky Ross. According to federal documents, the list of BALCO clients included MLB MVP Barry Bonds and Olympic runner Marion Jones.

photo: WENN

There was a ton of blame to go around when Ray Rice coldcoked his wife Janay inside of an Atlantic City elevator in January of 2014. After the full video went public, the NFL doubled down and suspended Rice for the entire 2014 season.