Lost in all the trite clichés about sports is the fact that sometimes you just want to punch your coach or even one of the people on your squad.
These 12 pro athletes who served teammates the fade acted on that impulse and either admitted or provided documented proof putting hands on their fellow players in a non high-five fashion.
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Photo: Associated Press
Deion Sanders
“Prime Time” and “Bad Moon” went from teammates to rivals when Deion jumped the sinking ship that was the Atlanta Falcons. During a one-on-one matchup, the Pro Bowl defensive back and the equally skilled wide receiver got too physical and slapped each other around while still wearing their helmets.
Tony Allen
A game of Boo Ray on an NBA charter plane got so real that former Memphis Grizzlies teammates O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen came to blows. Reports indicate it was Mayo who walked away with a shiner.
photo: WENN
Cam Newton
Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton makes way too much money to be duffing out a teammate in practice. So we’ll all naturally assume he wasn’t really trying to give Josh Norman a fully-fledged fade during their recent fight in practice.
photo: WENN/Harrison
Michael Jordan
Will Purdue, Horace Grant, and even Steve Kerr himself have all confirmed that Mike used his enormous hands to serve Kerr a quick jab when they both played for the Chicago Bulls during the “Three Peat” years.
Shaquille O’Neal
Scott Skiles is known for two things. For reasons unknown, Phife Dawg shouted him out on “The Infamous Date Rape,” and he’s one of the few people to try and go toe to toe with Shaquille O’Neal. This is where we remind you that Shaq had one foot and at least 100 pounds on Skiles.
Gilbert Arenas
It wasn’t a fade, but Gilbert Arenas did bring his guns into the Washington Wizards locker room before he proceeded to tell Javaris Crittenton he could pick the one he wanted to get shot with. Crittenton then brought his gun in retaliation, and neither of these men are in the NBA anymore. Message!
photo: WENN
Barry Bonds
High-pitched voice and suspect crucifix earring notwithstanding, you have to put your money on Bonds in this squabble.
Steve Smith
Unlike Cam Newton, Steve Smith had no qualms about knuckling down a teammate while he was a member of the Carolina Panthers. Despite the incident ending with Ken Lucas holding an ice pack over his eye, he completely forgave Smitty for what was later described as a sucker punch.
Latrell Sprewell
Yeah, yeah. Everyone knows that P.J. Carlesimo was the coach of the Golden State Warriors when Latrell Sprewell choked him out like a dope fiend attempting to buy product with eight dollars. But anytime a fade ends with the victim giving a press conference with welts around the neck from a proper chokeout, it deserves mention.
Dez Bryant
Only according to the reverse logic of professional American football can the guy who was smacked up by the $60 million dollar teammate walk away with a newfound respect. One should probably talk to Dallas Cowboys players Dez Bryant and Tyler Patmon about such matters.
Percy Harvin
We’ll never know exactly what happened because the Seattle Seahawks kept this on the low. But there were various reports last season of Harvin serving fellow wide receiver Golden Tate a good and proper fade in the locker room. Harvin wouldn’t reveal any details, but he confirmed the pair came to fisticuffs.
