Sick, Sad World of Sports: Who started off 2024 on the wrong foot

There was no shortage of allegedly heinous behavior to start the new year, with Chicago Bulls fans booing a widow, Vince McMahon resigning in disgrace (again) and various big-name athletes unaware of the age of consent.

But, hey, the good news is the NFL is over, so there won’t be any more fans going to watch live football and never coming back — at least not until the fall. So join us for this monthly slideshow that’s guaranteed to make you feel better about yourself, but sh-tty in general.

The home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill caught fire after a child was playing with a lighter Jan. 3. No one was injured, and Hill left practice early to deal with the blaze, but the house is totaled, according to Hill.

“It’s done. The house done, bro,” Hill told his teammates. “Smoke damage, fire damage. The whole upstairs is burnt down. It’s alright, though.”

Former Tampa Bay Ray Wander Franco was accused of sexual and psychological abuse during an early January hearing, according to a resolution from a judge in the Dominican Republic. The accusation stems from a relationship Wander allegedly had with a 14-year-old girl in which he paid the mother for her consent. Franco and the girl’s mother were initially accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. Judge Romaldy Marcelino said prosecutors took a more serious tone due to Franco playing in MLB. The mother still faces money laundering charges.

Police in Anaheim are investigating a brawl between Ducks and Winnipeg Jets fans during a Jan. 5 game that left one Ducks fan unconscious.

The fight occurred in the concourse, with the two sides squaring off midgame.

Two men exchanged blows outside of the Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans game in Nashville on Jan. 7.

Local police were not called, and no one was charged.

“It looks like it had dissipated at the end of the video when an officer is seen,” a police spokesperson said.

Girls basketball players from a private Jewish high school in New York were reportedly met with antisemitic taunts — including “I support Hamas, you f*cking Jew” and “Free Palestine” — from their opponents during a recent game that was canceled as a result of the hostility on Jan. 4.

Yonkers Public Schools fired the high school girls’ basketball coach and dismissed a player from the team as a result of an antisemitic.

Reality TV star Joe Gorga was kicked out of his son’s wrestling tournament after nearly getting into a brawl with a high school referee at Parsippany Hills High in Morris Plains, New Jersey in early January.

Eyewitnesses said Joe’s son Gino was excessively slammed to the mat twice by his opponent, who then stuck his tongue out at Joe.

Dylan Isaacs, a Buffalo Bills fan, was fatally shot near the Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 8 following the Miami Dolphins’ loss to its AFC East rival.

According to the victim’s aunt Cecelia Skye, a car backed into Isaacs in the parking lot while they were exiting, and Isaacs chased after the vehicle when it stopped, the driver exited and shot Isaacs.

Authorities have questioned one suspect.

Tennis player Alexander Zverev was appointed to the players’ council despite facing domestic abuse charges in Germany.

Zverev has already been fined €450,000 and faced a penalty order that he is lodging an appeal against.

Zverev denies the allegations from Brenda Patea, the mother of his daughter.

This was the second time a former partner has accused Zverev of domestic abuse.

The Gambia men’s national soccer team was forced to return to its airport after oxygen on the 50-seat propeller plane failed Jan. 10.

Coach Tom Saintfiet (pictured, right) said his team avoided tragedy during its attempted flight to the Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Some members of the team lost consciousness before the pilot opted to return to Banjul.

Texas Tech basketball player Pop Isaacs was accused of sexually assaulting a minor during the team’s trip to the Bahamas in November. A civil lawsuit was filed in Lubbock County by the victims’ parents, alleging the 17-year-old was intoxicated during the incident and could not give consent. The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16.

The suit alleges a booster provided alcohol to Isaacs and his teammates at a hotel room with the victim and another 16-year-old girl. Isaacs allegedly took the girl to another room where he sexually assaulted her while she “attempted to fight him off.”

Michael Irvin is under investigation over alleged misconduct by the Allen police department in early January. No details of the alleged misconduct were released, but Irvin’s attorney Levi McCarthern said his client is innocent.

“No idea what the specific allegations might be,” McCarthern said in a statement. “I have talked to Michael and I can assure you that he has done nothing wrong. Truly sad that he keeps having to deal with things like this.”

Before Barcelona’s trip to Saudi Arabia for a Super Cup game in mid-January, the team released a set of guidelines and warnings to its fans that came under scrutiny from the LGBTQ+ community. Due to Saudi Arabia’s policies on LGBTQ+ people, the club encouraged people to hide their sexual identity.

“Indecent behavior, including any action of a sexual nature, can lead to severe legal consequence for foreigners. Same-sex relations can also be subjected to severe penalties, as well as open displays of support for LGBTI causes, even on social media.”

Fans of the Chicago Bulls booed the widow of Jerry Krause during a Ring of Honor ceremony to honor its 1990s championship teams on Jan. 12. When former team executive Krause’ name was announced, fans jeered so loudly that Jerry’s widow, Thelma, was brought to tears.

Many people, including current Bulls TV analyst and member of those teams Stacey King, admonished fans for the behavior, calling it classless and disgusting.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, a former No. 1 overall tennis player, and her husband were found guilty of fraud in Spain on Jan. 17.

A Barcelona-based court ruled the duo hid assets to avoid paying a multimillion-euro debt. Sánchez Vicario, a first-time felon and four-time Grand Slam champion, avoided prison time because of a plea deal with the prosecution.

Members of the University of Georgia coaching staff allegedly drove drunk after recruiting visits, according to court documents filed Jan. 11.

The complaint alleges “text messages show that on occasion supervisors and coaches, in effect, encouraged recruiting staff to drink alcohol with football prospects’ families-well aware that staffers would leave the events after consuming alcohol.”

Georgia vowed to defend the accusations in a statement.

“We are reviewing the amended complaint, but we dispute its claims and will vigorously defend the Athletic Association’s interest in court,” a university spokesperson said Jan. 11.

Ryan Rollins was charged with seven counts of petty larceny in early January after the former Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors guard allegedly stole household goods from a Target.

Rollins was waived by the Wizards on Jan. 8 and later that week, the Alexandria General District Court accused Rollins of stealing groceries, body wash, candles and other small household items.

Rollins’ attorney Nathan Muyskens and agent Mike Silverman declined to comment when asked Jan. 11.

Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats apologized for shoving Missouri forward Aidan Shaw during a game Jan. 16. During a dustup in the first half, Oats shoved Shaw in the middle of the scuffle.

“I have all the respect in the world for the job [Dennis Gates has] done as an assistant and head coach,” Oats said after the 93-75 win. “No disrespect to him or his program. I apologized to both Coach Gates and Aidan Shaw. Aidan seems like a great kid. It’s an unfortunate situation, but I apologized to both of them.”

Dani Alves, ex-Brazil and Barcelona soccer player, could face nine years in prison over an alleged rape if prosecutors in Spain get their way. The 40-year-old Alves has been held in prison without bail since his arrest in January 2023. His story has changed several times over the course of the trial, with a verdict expected within the next several weeks, according to a Feb. 7 report.

The woman alleges that Alves took her into a toilet in the VIP section of a Barcelona nightclub before forcing her to have sex with him despite repeated pleas to be let go.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was found unresponsive, cold, and struggling to breathe after Carmel Police were dispatched to his home in December, according to a police report obtained by TMZ on Jan. 17.

The report says that on Dec. 8, 2023, local police were sent to Irsay’s Carmel residence after someone found the 64-year-old unconscious with a blue skin tone. By the time police arrived, Irsay was gasping for air and had a weak pulse and constricted pupils. Irsay was not woken up with a sternum rub but “responded slightly” after being administered a dose of Narcan — a drug most commonly used to revive people overdosing on opiates.

Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and “took over lifesaving efforts,” according to the report. Irsay was eventually transported to a nearby hospital, and police later classified the incident in their records as both “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning.”

On Jan. 9, the Colts released a statement via ESPN’s Adam Schefter stating that Irsay was “ being treated for a severe respiratory illness.”

An investigation into Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor was closed by police in Newport Beach, California on Jan. 17.

“After a thorough and exhaustive examination, we have completed our investigation into information that was circulating on social media involving Josh Giddey,” a statement from the department read. “Our detectives have reviewed all of the available information and were unable to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr. Giddey.”

An investigation was opened in November after allegations surfaced on social media that Giddey was involved with a high school junior.

Ángel Cabrera, a golfer who served 30 months in an Argentine prison for assaulting two former girlfriends, will be welcomed back to the Masters if he’s able to “straighten out his legal issues” and obtain a visa, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley told reporters at the Latin America Amateur Championship in Panama in mid-January.

Cabrera was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 for assaulting Cecilia Torres Man. A year later, he was given an additional 28 months for the assault of Micaela Escudero, also a former partner.

Gavin Wilkinson’s tenure as director of Sporting KC ended before it began in mid-January. A little over a week after the MLS club announced his hire, fan backlash over his part in enabling former Portland Thorns’ coach Paul Riley led the team to renege on its offer. Wilkinson withheld information about Riley’s alleged sexual harassment and helped the coach get rehired. Sporting KC principal owner Michael Illig announced the “mutually agreed” termination on the club’s website Jan. 19.

One of the two men charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct in connection with the death of a fan at a New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game in Foxborough in September pleaded not guilty Jan. 19.

John Viera, 59, entered the plea as he and Justin Mitchell, 39, are accused of punching Dale Mooney, 53. Mooney was later transported to a hospital where he was declared dead.

Udinese fans forced a brief suspension of play when they directed racist chants at AC Milan goalie Mike Maignan during a match at Bluenergy Filed on Jan. 20. Maignan, who is black, walked toward a referee and then off the field at the 33rd minute, followed by his teammates.

Play resumed after about 10 minutes. Maignan addressed the incident after the game.

“At the first time, I went to get the ball and I heard people call me ‘monkey’, but I didn’t say anything; then they did it again and I asked the bench for help, then I said that you can’t play football like that.

This is not the first time this has happened to me. These are things that need to be said. They are ignorant people. The fan comes to the stadium to cheer, maybe to whistle, but these things in football shouldn’t happen.”

“No, I don’t want to meet anyone, I don’t want to talk to them,” Maignan said when asked if he would be open to talking with the abusive fans. “They must have very strong sanctions, because talking is no longer of any use. They must stay at home and no longer come to the stadium. Football is beautiful because you come to the stadium, with your families, to have fun.”

Buffalo Bills fans threw snowballs at Patrick Mahomes following the Kansas City Chiefs’ win in the AFC Divisional round Jan. 21.

During postgame pleasantries, Bills fans targeted the KC quarterback who then ducked and dodged snowballs on his way to the locker room.

Kevin Porter Jr. reached a plea deal in his domestic assault case in New York on Jan. 23. The ex-Houston Rocket pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and a violation for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, fracturing her vertebrae in the process, at a Manhattan hotel. Porter must complete a 26-week domestic violence program and obey a limited order of protection, among other stipulations. If he complies, he can withdraw his assault plea, avoid jail time, and clear it from his criminal record.

Five hockey players, including four from NHL teams, were charged with sexual assault stemming from a 2018 incident while they were members of Canada’s world junior team. Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils and former NHL player Alex Formenton were charged Jan. 30. Lawyers for the players denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients.

Former LSU and current New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested Jan. 25 and is accused of using an alias to bet on sports while he was underage, according to the Louisiana State Police.

Boutte is facing a felony count of computer fraud and a misdemeanor count of gaming prohibited by persons under 21, according to police.

The wideout allegedly placed more than 8,900 bets between April 6, 2022, and May 7, 2023. At least 17 of those were on NCAA football games, and at least six were LSU games, police said. Boutte played for the Tigers from 2020-22.

Vince McMahon, already facing a bombshell sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit filed Jan. 24, also was accused Feb. 7 of covering up the alleged rape of one of his former female talents — who later died by suicide — as well as sexually harassing her.

John Laurinitis, the former head of Talent Relations and a co-defendant in the suit brought forth by former WWE employee Janel Grant, was also implicated, according to VICE News.

Laurinitis and “most upper-level management” in WWE were aware of the allegations — Massaro, in a sworn affidavit released after her death in 2019, said she was injected with a paralytic drug and raped by a man who claimed to be a U.S. Army doctor on a base in Kuwait, while the WWE was on tour there in 2006 — according to Laurinitis’ lawyer, who objected to the term “cover-up.”

WWE previously claimed that execs were unaware of Massaro’s allegations.

Cardell Hayes, who shot and killed New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith after a traffic crash in 2016, was found guilty of manslaughter Jan. 27. A jury convicted Hayes after a retrial of the nearly decade-old case, and he could face as many as 40 years in prison.

Former NBA point guard Rajon Rondo was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to a report from WDRB-TV.

During a traffic stop in Jackson County, Indiana, police smelled marijuana in Rondo’s car and began a search, ISP spokesperson Sgt. Stephen Wheeles told WDRB. During the search, police found a gun and drug paraphernalia. The 37-year-old was arrested and taken to a Jackson County jail, where he posted bond.

A statue of Jackie Robinson in Wichita, Kansas, was stolen from a public park and burned in a trash can in late January. League 42, a youth baseball organization, paid around $50,000 for the statue of Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League before breaking the color barrier as part of the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was installed in 2021 at McAdams Park where roughly 600 children play in League 42 each year.

Chip Ganassi, a longtime race car owner, accidentally ran over and killed another driver’s puppy prior to the start of the Rolex 24 in Daytona on the weekend of Jan. 27. Ganassi apologized to Devlin DeFrencesco and his family after the incident, pledging to make a generous donation to the Indianapolis Humane Society.

“The accident the other night with Devlin DeFrancesco’s dog was so unfortunate. I not only feel terrible about it I also feel terrible for Devlin, Katie and the DeFrancesco kids. On behalf of their dog Lucky and the DeFrancesco family I am making a generous donation to the Indianapolis Humane Society,” Ganassi said on X.

New Mexico State forward Robert Carpenter was issued a flagrant foul 2 and subsequently ejected after punching Liberty forward Shiloh Robinson in the face during the first quarter of the Aggies’ 79-73 home overtime win Feb. 1.

The two were tussling in the paint. As the action moved the other way, Robinson turned and bumped into Carpenter, who was guarding him. Carpenter then threw the haymaker, knocking Robinson down onto the court. The Flames forward did not return to the game afterward.

Former NBA player Matt Barnes allegedly told a student announcer at his son’s high school basketball game that he would “slap the s—t” of the teen, according to reports.

Barnes was upset about a no-call for a foul against his son during a game between Harvard-Westlake School and Crespi Carmelite High School.

Barnes had been on the court “multiple times,” according to Jake Lancer, the student broadcaster. When the two made eye contact, the 6-foot-7 former small forward allegedly put his hands on Lancer and told him he would “slap the sh-t out of you.”