Daily Gallery: Strange Athlete’s Injuries

It was just one of those days in the NBA on Thursday. First, Fab Melo of the Boston Celtics suffered a concussion while walking through a doorway. Then during the Knicks-Spurs game, San Antonio’s Stephen Jackson sprains his ankle tripping over a waitress serving the Mayor of New York. Strange as those injuries were, there have been stranger.

Joe Sakic is a prodigy on ice. Not so much when it comes to snow removal. In Dec. 2008, while recovering from a herniated disc, Sakic went and broke three fingers and suffered tendon damage by “sticking his hand where he should not have put it” in a snowblower. He was out for an additional three months because of the injury, but it can be agreed that in this case, the Hall of Fame forward got off lucky.

It’s one thing to want out of kitchen cleaning duty in the clubhouse, but in 2011, then starting pitcher Brett Cecil may have taken it a step too far. His scheduled start was pushed back that September when he sliced his left index finger cleaning a blender at Fenway Park. While the cut did not need stitches, it was enough to make then coach John Farrell take the necessary precaution.

It’s one thing to fracture your hand on a wild pitch, but on a suitcase falling on your hand while searching for a lost sock? Such was the fate of Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who missed 4-6 weeks with the injury May 2012.

Andy Murray may be a world-class tennis player, but in 2010, he couldn’t even handle a video game without breaking down. Apparently, while playing a game of Pro Evolution Soccer with his then doubles partner, he twinged his hand. Hard. Like “needed-an-icepack” hard. While playing Playstation.

Speaking of video games… in the 2006 playoffs, Joel Zumaya was an important part of the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen. Or at least, he was until he took himself out for three games due to inflammation in his right wrist from playing Guitar Hero. Give credit to the game’s makers though. In their sequel to the game, they reportedly added to their credits, “No pitchers were injured in the making of this game. Except one.”

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” tells one to always know where to find a towel. But what if the towel is trying to hurt you? In early 2012, Tampa Bay’s starting pitcher David Price’s towel didn’t seem to like him using it to wipe his neck, and so, gave the ace neck spasms.

Hockey players are known to be tough. And Dustin Penner is a tough hockey player. At least until he was body-checked off the ice, by a plate of pancakes. Said Penner in early 2012, “I just leaned over to dip into some delicious pancakes that my wife made. It’s just like it (the pain) wraps around you and squeezes.” No word on whether or not he still includes the meal in his “breakfast of champions.”

If you think Penner’s injury was embarrassing, obviously you’ve never heard of what dropped Brent Sopel, literally, in 2007. The then-Vancouver Canuck missed their first play-off game after incurring back spasms while picking up a cracker. At least the pancakes were homemade and are delicious…