Arr, the lasses' World Cup smooch, the Super Bowl banner, and other grandest sport quarrels of 2023!
2023-12-29
Arr, the realm o' sports be ablaze, mateys! 'Tis a treasure chest o' controversies that be settin' fans' tongues waggin' in 2023. 'Tis a tale I be sharin' with ye, aye, the very fires that be ignited this year.
In women's college basketball, a fight broke out between Memphis and Bowling Green during a handshake line. Tigers guard Jamirah Shutes was charged with assault and found guilty. Another controversy involved former Alabama standout Brandon Miller, who was named as a co-defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Ja Morant, a star basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies, faced scrutiny over incidents involving guns. He was seen in a Denver strip club holding a weapon and later received a 25-game suspension for being seen with a gun again. Additionally, he was involved in a legal battle stemming from a fight at his house.
LSU star basketball player Angel Reese caused controversy during the national championship game against Iowa when she taunted the opposing team after scoring a basket. This move sparked a firestorm on social media.
The Michigan cheating scandal in college football also made headlines, with the program being accused of running an in-person scouting scheme. Head coach Jim Harbaugh accepted a three-game ban.
There were also controversies in Northwestern football, where the coach was dismissed due to a hazing scandal, and in NASCAR, where driver Noah Gragson was suspended for liking a George Floyd meme on Instagram.
The Women's World Cup soccer championship celebration in Spain was marred by an unwanted kiss between Spanish soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales and player Jenni Hermoso. This incident led to accusations of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales.
Lastly, pitcher Trevor Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2020, settled a legal dispute with a woman who accused him of assault and sexual misconduct.
Overall, these controversies highlighted the drama and tension that can arise in the world of sports.