The Most Gruesome Sports-Injury Photos of All Time

Intro

Quick question: If you're an athlete, what's most likely your biggest fear? Massive child support payments? Losing the millions you've earned? Getting exposed by thirsty groupies? Nope. As terrifying as those may seem, nothing is scarier for an athlete than a gruesome injury. It not only can take away their main source of income, but it prevents them from doing the thing they love the most. Broken and dislocated limbs, slit throats, eyes coming out of the sockets—athletes have suffered a lot of unimaginable injuries over the years. And we're not even talking about those injuries occurring in combat sports like MMA or boxing. So, if you want to feast your eyes on some truly scary sites this Halloween, take a look back at the Most Gruesome Sports-Injury Photos of All Time...

Rudy Tomjanovich

20. Rudy Tomjanovich

Sport: Basketball
Year: 1977
Ever had someone threaten to "smash your face in?" Well, that's what Kermit Washington did to Rudy Tomjanovich. Literally. During the '70s, fights were a regular occurrence in the NBA and ABA (you've seen Semi-Pro). Kermit was in the middle of a scuffle when Rudy tried to calm things, but instead received a knuckle sandwich. The hit, which caused a broken jaw and multiple facial fractures would eventually lead to Rudy T's early retirement.

Rajon Rondo

19. Rajon Rondo

Sport: Basketball
Year: 2011
Yeah, point guards are usually known for their finesse play and habit of leaving the dirty work to their bigger teammates. But during this year's NBA playoffs, Rajon Rondo proved that the little guys can be tough, too. During Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the team everyone loves to hate the Heat, Rondo dislocated his elbow after crashing to the floor while tangled up with D-Wade. After popping it back into place, Rondo returned to lead the Celtics to victory with 11 assists. Funny how some players suffer injury but return to play, while others are completely healthy but just disappear late in the game. Yes, we mean you, Bron Bron.

Eduardo Da Silva

18. Eduardo Da Silva

Sport: Soccer
Year: 2008
OK, we all know soccer is notorious for players frequently flopping and feigning injuries, but when shit gets real this is the type of thing that could happen. In a match against, Birmingham City, Arsenal's Edauardo Da Silva suffered a broken fibula and a dislocation of his ankle that actually exposed the bone. This was all the result of a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor. Off topic, but we definitely think this should be the punishment for those dudes in the club who spaz anytime someone accidentally steps on their kicks. #justsayin'

Janos Baranyai

17. Janos Baranyai

Sport: Weightlifting
Year: 2008
Even if you're an Olympic weightlifter, 300-plus pounds can be just a wee bit much for your body to handle. Janos Baranyai found this out the hard way at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. As he attempted to hoist the bar, his elbow dislocated. The injury put him out of commission for two years but he's active again and will attempt to make it to the 2012 Olympics in London. No one said moving weight was easy, fam.

Shaun Livingston

16. Shaun Livingston

Sport: Basketball
Year: 2007
Off top what are some of the most severe sports injuries you can name? Tearing an ACL or MCL, right? How about both in addition to damaging your lateral meniscus, dislocating your patella and tibia-femoral joint. For those that didn't go to med school we'll put it in layman's terms: He fucked every possible part of his knee up. Despite all of that, he made his return to the court less than two years later. Medical advancement, FTW!

Steve Nash

15. Steve Nash

Sport: Basketball
Year: 2010
Do not be fooled. Steve Nash is up there with the McQueens and McClains in terms of badassness. Any man's nose would break after meeting Derek Fisher's bowling ball head. But Nash put it back in place and returned to the game like a fucking boss. What else should you expect from a G?

Mick Foley

14. Mick Foley

Sport: Wrestling
Year: 1994
What's missing from this photo? An ear, son! While facing Big Van Vader in Germany, Cactus Jack added to his legend. After getting his head caught up in the ropes, he squeezed his way through and his ear fell off. The referee picked it up and handed it over to ringside. As we would expect Foley kept fighting, bloody and deaf in one ear. Dude is a beast, ya heard?

Terry Butcher

13. Terry Butcher

Sport: Soccer
Year: 1989
English people take their soccer very seriously. During a qualifer for the 1990 World Cup against Sweden, England's Terry Butcher suffered a gash to his forehead early in the match. Instead of sitting out the rest of the game (umm...you know, like a sane person?), Butcher got some stitches in his dome, wrapped it with bandages and was back out on the pitch. His constant heading of the ball resulted in the wound opening and the subsequent blood bath that you see in this photo. Oh yeah, England got the draw they needed to qualify for the Cup and Butcher was seen as a hero by his fellow countrymen. Everyone appreciates some good head. Ayo!

Chasity Melvin

12. Chasity Melvin

Sport: Basketball
Year: 2007
We already told you how it's just as real playing in the WNBA as it is in the men's league. The ladies can make some of the same jaw-dropping plays and, unfortunately, they can suffer some of the same terrifying injuries. Such was the case for Chasity Melvin of the Chicago Sky. While playing against the New York Liberty, Melvin was accidentally poked in the eye by Shameka Christon causing her eye to come out of the socket. She was rushed to the hospital where the eye actually went back into the socket on its own. Luckily there was no permanent vision damage and she only suffered a few scratches to the cornea. Glad to hear she made a full recovery, but we've seen these kind of eyes before—Allan Ray and, more importantly, at Magic City, son!

Jacob Olesen

11. Jacob Olesen

Sport: Soccer
Year: 2006
Anytime your foot resembles a T, it's bad news. Fuck that, it's terrible news. Danish Striker Jacob Olesen dislocated his ankle to this extent in a match of October 2006. It took him six months to recover.

Llewellyn Starks

10. Llewellyn Starks

Sport: Track and Field
Year: 1992
This picture taken at the 1992 New York Games, was the end of long jumper Llwellyn Starks career. A compound fracture during a jump was the culprit. For those that need to step their WebMD.com game up, a compound fracture is an injury in which a broken bone is exposed through the skin. Or in other words, some shit you'd never want to happen to you.

Bryce Florie

9. Bryce Florie

Sport: Baseball
Year: 2000
Red Sox pitcher Bryce Florie suffered one of the most horrific on-the-field baseball injuries when he took a line drive hit to the face in September of 2000. The ball was hit by Ryan Thompson of the Yankees (coincidence?!), and caused Florie to have multiple facial fractures and eye damage. Bryce made his return the next season before being released by the Sox mid-way through the year. Anytime you're doing a job that calls for the possibility of balls flying at your face (II), but it doesn't stop you from quitting then you've got a true passion for your profession. Word to these girls.

Joe Theismann

8. Joe Theismann

Sport: Football
Year: 1985
In one of the most brutal hits in NFL history and most memorable Monday Night Football moments, Lawrence Taylor ended Joe Theisman's career with this sack that caused a compound fracture. Realizing the severity of the injury, LT immediately signaled toward the sideline for help. To this day, Taylor said he has never watched the play on tape and has no plans on ever doing so. Can't say we blame him.

Paulo Diogo

7. Paulo Diogo

Sport: Soccer
Year: 2004
This is an example of when soccer celebrations go wrong. Like many footballers, Paulo celebrated a goal like a maniac. He Lambeau leaped onto a fence to give the fans some dap, but his wedding ring got stuck and as he escaped so did his finger (ring still attached). Can you believe the refs actually carded him for "Excessive Celebration?" We kid. We wouldn't put that shit past NFL refs, though. #keepit100

Djibril Cisse

6. Djibril Cisse

Sport: Soccer
Year: 2006
When French striker Djibril Cissé broke his leg after being knocked over by China's Zheng Zhi in a friendly match it appeared like he'd be out for a while. This created a situation as Olympique de Marseille had agreed to acquire Cissé in a transfer from Liverpool. But three months later, Dijibril was back on the pitch. Surprisingly, this isn't even the most severe injury he's had; Cisse broke his tibia and fibula two years earlier. SMH, dude needs to stop trying to do the stanky leg during matches. It's quite disgusting.

Ewald Lienen

5. Ewald Lienen

Sport: Soccer
Year: 1981
OK, so who brought a shank out onto the pitch? Actually, for German footballer Ewald Lienen, it was the cleats of Norbert Siegmann—a defender on the opposing team—that did this kind of damage. A sliding tackle was all it took to open this 10-inch wound which required 23 stitches. Despite the gruesome look of things, Lienen was back on the pitch a few weeks later. So, soccer players actually used to be tough...what happened?

Borje Salming

4. Borje Salming

Sport: Hockey
Year: 1986
For anyone who doubts for a second that hockey is the most gruesome of the four major sports, peep this photo and think again. In 1986, Borje Salming of the Toronto Maple Leafs fell and was accidentally sliced in the face by Gerrard Gallant's skate blade. The injury required over 200 stitches to put Salming's mug back together. And dude never had to buy a Halloween mask ever again. #weregoingtohell

Tyrone Prothro

3. Tyrone Prothro

Sport: Football
Year: 2005
In a game against the Florida Gators, Alabama wide receiver Tyron Prothro completely snapped his tibia and fibula while trying to haul in this catch in the end zone. Sadly, despite multiple rehabilitation efforts, this injury ended his career. SMH, they don't pay these kids enough for this kind of shit. Wait, they don't...SMH even more.

Clint Malarchuk

2. Clint Malarchuk

Sport: Hockey
Year: 1989
Despite spending over a decade in the league as a goaltender, this is the horrific moment that Clint Malarchuk will always be known for. In a game between the St. Louis Blues and Malarchuk's Buffalo Sabres, Uwe Krupp of the Sabres and Steve Tuttle of the Blues clashed in front of Buffalo's goal and during the mix-up, Tuttle's skate cut Malarchuk's throat. The cut severed an artery in Malarchuk's neck. Buffalo team trainer and former Arm medic, Jim Pizzutelli, saved Malarchuck's life by reaching into his neck and pinching the artery to stop the bleeding. Despite the severity of the injury, Malarchuk only spent one night in the hospital and returned to practice four days later. To sum things up: Pizzutelli is a hero and Malarchuck is a beast. #nuffsaid

Julio Castillo (fan)

1. Julio Castillo (fan)

Sport: Baseball
Year: 1989
Photoshopped? We wish. Julio Castillo, a 15-year-old from Queens, impaled himself on a wrought-iron fence while going after a baseball. As he slipped while climbing the fence, the inch-wide spike sliced through his neck and exited his mouth. Firefighters were called in to cut away a section of the fence which remained attached to Castillo as he was rushed to the emergency room. He reportedly made a full recovery.