The thrill of victory, the agony of … victory.
There are few things sadder in sports than a heartfelt celebration gone awry, and there’s been no shortage of these gain-then-pain calamities through the years.
A.J. Ellis joined the ranks this weekend. The Dodgers catcher severely sprained his ankle as he jubilantly rushed the field following Josh Beckett’s no-hitter on Sunday. Ellis had the day off and — irony alert — was injured when he stepped on the catcher’s mask discarded by fill-in Drew Butera.
In honor of Ellis’ misfortune, here are some of the most classic sports celebration injuries:
Gus Frerotte
Also on the list of great self-inflicted sports injuries and most famous headbutts. After scoring a touchdown in a November 1997 game against the Giants, the Washington quarterback spies the padding behind the end zone and runs in headfirst. The wall isn’t as cushioned as Frerotte expected, and he’s forced to leave the game with a concussion.
Bill Gramatica
This pratfall is often mocked because the stakes were so low. Gramatica kicked a 43-yard field goal for the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a regular-season game against the Giants (them again) in December 2001, then started hopping around, pumping his fists with joy. The younger Gramatica brother failed to stick the landing and tore his ACL, missing the rest of the season.
Athletic triumph and booze make for a dangerous cocktail. Vonn, the skiing champion who now dates Tiger Woods, was celebrating a downhill victory at the world championships in France in February 2009. She picked up a broken champagne bottle and cut a tendon in her thumb.
Ted Ginn Jr.
The Ohio State wide receiver/returner was KO’d from the BCS National Championship in 2007 after taking back the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score. Ginn sprained his foot and had to leave the game after a Buckeyes teammate slid into him while celebrating in the end zone. No. 1-ranked Ohio State went on to lose to Florida, 41-14.
Kendrys Morales
You’ve seen this scene before: Morales, cleanup hitter for the Angels, cranks a walk-off grand slam against the A’s in May 2010, and as he rounds the bases, teammates gather at home plate for a celebratory mosh pit. A blissed-out Morales long-jumps onto the plate … but lands awkwardly, breaking his leg and blowing his ACL. He missed the rest of the season and all of 2011.
Chris Coghlan
Let this stand in for the not-insignificant number of baseball players hurt in dugout congratulations or hopping over the railings. Coghlan gets points for originality: In July 2010, the Marlins outfielder was trying to smash teammate Wes Helms with a post-game shaving-cream pie when he took a bad step and tore the meniscus in his knee. He missed the rest of the season.
Thomas Levet
The veteran French golfer had a fun idea for how to celebrate a European Tour title at the Alstom Open in July 2011. Levet removed his shoes and socks and leaped into the lake abutting the green. Problem was, he broke his shin with the jump, and had to sit out the British Open.