A scandal in any sport can be huge. It cannot only ruin the reputation of an individual player or team, but it could also ruin the reputation of a particular university or legend. These scandals are magnified and discussed more because of an athlete's place in society or their popularity among young sports fans. Here are the 15 biggest scandals that rocked the sports world. With so many to choose from, feel free to add one of your own.
15. The Mitchell Report
Getty Images
15. The Mitchell Report
Getty Images
Baseball has been rocked this century by several steroid scandals, but the worst was when former Senator George Mitchell released his report. The report named 89 players who were alleged to have used steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, including Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Andy Pettitte (among others).
14. Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
14. Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
In 2003, while rehabbing in Eagle, Colorado, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old hotel employee. Bryant admitted to committing adultery, but denied the assault allegation. The case was dropped after Bryant's accuser refused to testify.
13. The Fab Five
Getty Images
13. The Fab Five
Getty Images
The Fab Five was arguably one of the most talked about teams in college basketball history, but all of their records are now gone after some players accepted payments from booster Ed Martin. As a result of the scandal, coach Steve Fisher was fired, the 1992 and 1993 Final Four seasons were vacated and Chris Webber, Michigan's best player, was disassociated from the program for a decade.
12. SMU Death Penalty Scandal
Getty Images
12. SMU Death Penalty Scandal
Getty Images
After repeatedly violating NCAA rules by paying players, the SMU Mustangs became the only program in college football history to receiver the "Death Penalty". The sanctions cancelled SMU's entire 1987 season, and then the program suspended their 1988 football program. The scandal was so big in magnitude that the Mustangs had only one winning season over the next 20 years.
11. Spygate
Getty Images
11. Spygate
Getty Images
During the New England Patriots' regular season opener against the New York Jets, the NFL found evidence that the Patriots were taping the Jets' defensive signals in order to gain an advantage. In the aftermath of this scandal, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was fined 0,000, the organization 0,000 and forfeited New England's first-round pick. New England recovered and went 18-0 before losing Super Bowl XLII.
10. Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan
Getty Images
10. Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan
Getty Images
During the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Tonya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt hired a hit-man named Shane Stant to injure Harding's biggest rival, Nancy Kerrigan, before the Winter Olympics. Stant struck Kerrigan with a baton, forcing her out of the competition. Kerrigan was still named to the Olympic team, winning the Silver Medal while Harding finished a disappointing eighth.
9. Tiger Woods
Getty Images
9. Tiger Woods
Getty Images
During Thanksgiving weekend in 2009, Tiger Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree, resulting in several injuries. What unraveled was a sex scandal involving Woods cheating on his wife Elin Nordegren with several different women. Woods and Nordegren divorced in 2010 while Woods' golfing hasn't gotten back on track, winning no majors since the scandal occurred.
8. Tim Donaghy
Getty Images
8. Tim Donaghy
Getty Images
Numerous fans have suggested that the NBA is "fixed", and they have used the 2007 Betting Scandal as evidence. During the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was investigated for betting on games in which he officiated. For his role, Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison, and three months of supervised release.
7. Donald Sterling
Getty Images
7. Donald Sterling
Getty Images
On April 25, 2014, TMZ Sports released audio to the public of a conversation between Donald Sterling, the Los Angeles Clippers owner, and a female friend named V. Stiviano. In the recording, Sterling said, "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people... but the little I ask you is ... not to bring them to my games." The recording was so damning that commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life.
6. Michael Vick
Getty Images
6. Michael Vick
Getty Images
In 2007, former Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick was implicated in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring and sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role. Vick funded and promoted the ring, and participated in several executions of dogs who didn't perform well. Vick was released by the Atlanta Falcons, and after serving time, he was reinstated in 2009 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
5. Lance Armstrong
Getty Images
5. Lance Armstrong
Getty Images
From 1999 to 2005, Lance Armstrong captured the hearts of Americans as he overcame cancer to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles. A few years later, he would become America's biggest disgrace. In 2012, Armstrong was banned for life by USADA after being investigated for doping violations. After months and months of serious denials, Armstrong finally admitted to doping in an interview in 2013.
4. Pete Rose
Getty Images
4. Pete Rose
Getty Images
Pete Rose became MLB's all-time leading hitter in 1985, but in 1989, all of his statistics would be struck from the record books. As manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Rose was found to be betting on games, including several games involving the Reds. Then-commissioner Bart Giamatti subsequently banned Rose for life, and after more than a decade of denials, Rose eventually confessed in 2004.
3. Black Sox Scandal
Getty Images
3. Black Sox Scandal
Getty Images
The 1919 World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati became known as the biggest scandal in baseball history. Eight White Sox players, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, were accused of throwing games as the Reds won a best-of-nine series five games to three. All eight were eventually acquitted in court, but were eventually banned for life by baseball, and remain banned to this day.
2. Jerry Sandusky
Getty Images
2. Jerry Sandusky
Getty Images
Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky brought incredible shame to his former employer after he was indicted on 52 counts of child molestation in 2011. Sandusky was eventually found guilty on 45 of 48 charges and sentenced to 30-60 yards in prison. In the aftermath, several Penn State officials, including coach Joe Paterno, were fired for covering up or failing to notify authorities for the assaults.
1. O.J. Simpson
Getty Images
1. O.J. Simpson
Getty Images
In 1994, former Buffalo Bills star O.J. Simpson was tried on two counts of murder following the deaths of Simpson's wife Nicole Brown and Nicole's friend Ronald Goldman. In a trial that captivated the nation, Simpson was acquitted on both charges, which divided the nation. In the civil trail years later, Simpson was found liable for both Brown's and Goldman's deaths and the victim's families were awarded over $33 million in damages.
Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer forwww.RantSports.com. Follow him onTwitter, like him onFacebook or add him to your network onGoogle+.
There are several sports franchises that haven't been good in the past but are headed toward contention now. Expect these teams to win a title or two in the next few years. Read More
@BrianKalchik 
PREV
