Dear Nate Burleson: Get delivery next time. Oy.
The veteran Detroit Lions receiver broke his arm in two places early Tuesday morning after crashing his car in Michigan while trying to save – and really, can you blame him? – one of two pizzas that was sliding off the seat of his 2009 GMC Yukon. Burleson, who leads the Lions with 19 receptions this season, over-corrected and his car smashed into the median.
The good news: he made it out relatively unscathed (save for the busted arm). The bad news: the pizzas couldn’t have possibly. And there’s nothing worse than cheese stuck to cardboard, misplaced toppings and sauce everywhere. Except, well, missing a whole bunch of games because you opted for pick-up instead of leaving the delivery to the pros.
Burleson is set to have surgery Tuesday, and he’s expected to be on the shelf for quite some time. Luckily, the guy’s got company.
Here are 15 more ridiculous sports injuries:
1. While having a nightmare that he was covered in spiders, former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Glenallen Hill stumbled out of bed, crashed through a glass table and down a flight of stairs, earning the nickname "Spiderman" along with a 15-day trip to the DL.
Arachnophobia: 1, Hill: 0.
2. In an effort to entertain the gallery during a 2011 tournament, golfer Thomas Levet jumped into the drink to retrieve a ball and ended up breaking his leg.
3. It wasn’t the acrobatic bicycle-kick goal that hurt former AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a 2010 match, but the over-exuberant fist pump that followed. The result? An elbow injury.
4. Shortly after signing a five-year, $80-million deal with the Chicago Bulls in 2010, forward Carlos Boozer tripped and fell over a gym bag while answering the door at his home, breaking his hand.
5. You can’t fault Kendrys Morales for being excited after hitting a walk-off grand slam to earn the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim a victory in 2010. But breaking his leg while jumping on home plate afterwards? Fault away.
6. In 2011, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Tallet strained a rib-cage muscle while sneezing. It turned out to be a godsend — a CT scan to determine the extent of the injury revealed he had kidney disease.
7. In 2000, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Glenn Healy cut his hand open in the off-season while replacing the bag on his favourite bagpipe, resulting in 10 stitches.
8. While throwing up an in-flight meal in 1992, Atlanta Braves stud southpaw Tom Glavine broke a rib.
9. Joel Zumaya missed three games during the 2006 ALCS with a wrist injury. Why? Too much Guitar Hero. Seriously.
10. Just days into his first spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011, pitcher A.J. Burnett fractured his orbital bone misreading a pitch during a bunting competition.
11. Skating in warm-up without a helmet or visor in 2012, Taylor Hall tripped over a teammate. The two went crashing into the boards, earning Hall a skate to the scalp and the mother of all forehead scars.
12. In September of 2011, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brett Cecil decided to fight a dirty blender… and lost. The lefty cut the index finger on his pitching hand and was forced to miss his scheduled start against the Yankees. Cecil also missed time in 2010 when he cut his thumb "chopping up chickens."
13. It may not have been the pancakes’ fault exactly, but when L.A. Kings forward Dustin Penner sat down for breakfast in early 2012, his back locked up and he couldn’t stand up.
14. Already sidelined with a herniated disc, 39-year-old Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic broke three fingers while using a snowblower and was forced to sit out an additional three months.
15. While dancing at a relative’s wedding in 2011, No. 2–ranked tennis star Kim Clijsters injured her ankle. She was eliminated in the second round of the French Open soon after and withdrew from Wimbledon.
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