Top five sports scandals of the ‘00s

As 2010 ushers in a new year, a new decade and a new era, we look back at what has happened over the past years.  But the media has been taken to a whole new level since 1999 that we had to make our own “Top five” list.  Athletes have been finding new ways of attracting headlines.  Here are the major sports scandals of the decade.

By Kyle Benning [Contributor]

5. Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a Man? – August 2009

After dominating the World Championships and shattering records, Semenya was questioned by the world.  The 19-year-old South African native won gold in the 800 m completing the race in less than two minutes, which was the fastest time of the year.  After she broke the record in 2008 at the Junior Championships, the world was asking if she truly was a woman.  Gender testing was recommended after the Juniors, but broke down due to “insensitivity”.  Semenya went to court and was allowed to keep her medals and prize money, but the area is still foggy on what “qualifies” as a woman runner and if Semenya will be able to run again.

4. Tiger Woods’ Baker’s Dozen plus One- November 2009

Tiger Woods has generated the biggest sports scandal of all-time.  He was looked upon as the perfect role model; smart, charming and talented.  But this winter, we got to see the “dirty” side of the legend.  Fourteen women have admitted to having some sort of sexual relationship with Woods and he has not denied it.  The Associated Press’ “Athlete of the Decade” has announced an indefinite leave from professional golf until further notice.  Gillette has suspended advertisement with Woods saying he is “no longer the right representative for the company.” It is rumoured that Elin Nordegren has handed Woods divorce papers, but we are unsure what the world’s highest paid athlete is going to do.

3. Spain’s Paralympics Basketball Team Needs IQ Testing- August 2000

The Paralympics do a lot for those with disabilities.  They show the world that talent knows no boundaries and that anything is possible.  It is a moving event and one with a lot of respectability.  So why would anyone want to tarnish their reputation by cheating?  Why don’t you ask 10 of the 12 men who won gold for ID Basketball in Sydney?  Spain was caught cheating in several events in this Paralympics and had five medals taken away.  The main issue was that the players on the team had to have a learning disability and an IQ of less than 70.  The Spanish Paralympic Committee failed to test the team.  This has gone down as one of the “most outrageous sporting moments” in history and ID events were not allowed to be played in the 2004 Paralympics.

2. Steve McNair’s Death by Mistress- July 2009

Steve McNair always had a problem with women.  He couldn’t pick one to settle down with.  He has four children with three different mothers plus a dead mistress.  What McNair could never understand was that some women are mentally unstable and pursuing a relationship with them while you’re married isn’t the brightest idea.  McNair had a 20-year-old mistress who was struggling financially and I assume that the former Titans quarterback refused to help her, which is probably why she murdered him.  He will be remembered fondly and his name sits in the record books as the Titans all-time leading passer.

1. Ray Lewis’ “Manslaughter” Charge- January 2000

Ray Lewis has established himself as the Baltimore Ravens defensive captain.  He is one of the most aggressive line backers in the NFL and one of the most intimidating ones as well.  But this reputation got to his head after a Super Bowl XXIV party in Atlanta where Lewis and two friends got into a dispute with rapper Chino Nino’s entourage.  The fight left two men dead with stab wounds with Lewis and his friends taken in by police for questioning.  Eleven days later, they were indicated for murder and aggravated assault.  But when the trial came along, the evidence was inconclusive showing Lewis being a peacemaker.  Lewis pled guilty to a misdemeanour and had one-year probation sentence.