# Most unsportsmanlike and sportsmanlike athletes by sport **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 31, 2019, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801 "2019-03-31T06:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/1 "2019-03-31T06:43:23Z")
Don’t have time to follow all 250 or so sports out there SO PLEASE DON’T RIP ME make your arguments, but based on my experience and first impressions: **MOST UNSPORTSMANLIKE** MLB Baseball -Pitchers trying to deliberately hit batters because they showed them up or the other team’s pitchers hit their batters, followed up by dugout clearing brawls. -Base runners “spikes up” dirty tactics including trying to the second baseman’s legs out during the throw from first base -Spitballs, emery boards, and other dirty tactics by baseball pitchers -Steroids and other PEDs trying to get the advantage -An under reported signal stealing scheme by many teams -No shaking of the hands by the teams after a game or a series. Everyone just heads right back to the dugout. Is there a dirtier game with a longer history of cheating than professional baseball? Is there truly any sport with less sportsmanship and more dirty dealing than baseball? NHL hockey I think the reasons for this are obvious. Only reasons not #1 are the handshake lines after each Stanley Cup playoff series, ironically one of the biggest displays of sportsmanship in athletics, and there is actually a “code” amongst fighters. NASCAR Ok we can debate “athletes” here on another thread, and while many racers are friends. there seems to be a fist fight every other race, finger pointing every race, and some dirty tactics between drivers despite speeds at over 200 miles per hour and the risk of death. 1/2 the fun of NASCAR seems to be the “paint rubbing”. Other sports that seem to be unsportsmanlike: Australian Rules Football, Ladies Ice Skating, Lacrosse. Suspicious? Polo! . . . . **MOST SPORTSMANLIKE** Judo Been watching international tournaments over the past year or so, the athletes follow referees instructions to the letter, and shakes each others hands no matter the decision even unfair. Excessive celebration from winners is very rare, and I know there was one time at the Olympics or another competition a judo player attacked a referee, which was viewed with horror by the Judo community. NFL football Cant tell you how many times I’ve seen players help up players they just tackled, and when the game is over, everyone goes from trying to kill each other to best friends. Soccer Yeah I know there is diving, and dirty tackles but at the end of the day most of the teams seem to be able to put their differences aside and shake hands at the end of the match and even trade kits. I think the combination of many players being on the same club but different countries and vice versa helps. Seems to me the players “know” each other, and recognize their foes are just trying to do their job in multiple venues. Other sports that "seem " to have good sportsmanship: Rugby, Formula One (at least among the podium racers), golf, UFC and boxing . . . Agree? Disagree? Is there a sport I missed? Who are the good sports and bad sports out there? Remember: BY SPORT, not athlete! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/2 "2019-03-31T06:49:20Z")
What’s wrong with trying to hit the batter? Dude needs to man up. Cricket is a downright dirty sport. As is tennis. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/3 "2019-03-31T06:52:51Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > What’s wrong with trying to hit the batter? Dude needs to man up. > Cricket is a downright dirty sport. As is tennis. Educate us? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/4 "2019-03-31T07:00:57Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Don’t have time to follow all 250 or so sports out there SO PLEASE DON’T RIP ME make your arguments, but based on my experience and first impressions: > > **MOST UNSPORTSMANLIKE** > > MLB Baseball > -Pitchers trying to deliberately hit batters because they showed them up or the other team’s pitchers hit their batters, followed up by dugout clearing brawls. > -Base runners “spikes up” dirty tactics including trying to the second baseman’s legs out during the throw from first base > -Spitballs, emery boards, and other dirty tactics by baseball pitchers > -Steroids and other PEDs trying to get the advantage > -An under reported signal stealing scheme by many teams > -No shaking of the hands by the teams after a game or a series. Everyone just heads right back to the dugout. Catchers trying to fool the home plate ump by moving their mitt into the strike zone after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/5 "2019-03-31T07:08:41Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Educate us? **Cricket** Ball tampering, match fixing, spot fixing, home team being incharge of designing playing conditions. **Tennis** Match fixing, PEDs, and the authorities seem to be involved in covering up. (Serena, Rafa and Djoker). ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/6 "2019-03-31T07:23:25Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > **Cricket** > Ball tampering, match fixing, spot fixing, home team being incharge of designing playing conditions. > > **Tennis** > Match fixing, PEDs, and the authorities seem to be involved in covering up. > (Serena, Rafa and Djoker). wait Serena Williams ? when was this? ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/7 "2019-03-31T07:33:42Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Catchers trying to fool the home plate ump by moving their mitt into the strike zone after the fact. I don’t think so. However, when a player attempts sleight of hand whether via framing a pitch or pretending to have caught a fly ball, the umpire gets the call correct, and then the player argues the call, I consider arguing in the scenarios where one knows better to be unsportsmanlike. Dishonestly working the refs occurs more in other sports, and it might occur even less in baseball if they can get robots to call balls and strikes. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/8 "2019-03-31T07:36:05Z")
She has gotten multiple [dodgy TUEs for otherwise banned substances.](http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2018/07/serena-williams-drug-testing-tues-theraputic-use-discrimination/75548/) Including several which were granted weeks later. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/9 "2019-03-31T08:44:53Z")
Good Sportsmanship I think the world cup skiers have a healthy respect for each other. Sure there are individual rivalries but I get the feeling that the threat of really bad injury on every run gives them all a decent sense of perspective. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/10 "2019-03-31T12:05:00Z")
Both NFL: Sportsmanlike: Walter Payton Unsportsmanlike: Ndamukong Suh ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/11 "2019-03-31T12:22:28Z")
I haven’t watched it for a long time, but snooker was unusual in that players would delcare fouls on themselves that nobody spotted, and would actually argue with the referee when he replaced the balls in a way that was to their own favour. I’ve no idea if this is still the case. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/12 "2019-03-31T14:01:26Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > I haven’t watched it for a long time, but snooker was unusual in that players would delcare fouls on themselves that nobody spotted, and would actually argue with the referee when he replaced the balls in a way that was to their own favour. I’ve no idea if this is still the case. Good one, yes that is still the case. It is seen as terribly bad form to seek an advantage in that way. Of course it is a little self-serving because if you are trying to get out of a snooker, mess it up, but get another chance with the balls replaced then you do need them to be put back in the same way as it gives you a better chance of getting it right the next time. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/13 "2019-03-31T15:59:07Z")
I’m not an expert on it (yet), but from everything I’ve learned so far, rugby is a particularly sportsmanlike sport. Yes, it’s violent and the players get beat up, but they’re expected to respect each other, and (even more importantly) respect the referee. In big matches, the referee is miked up, and you can hear him providing instruction to the players: “I didn’t like that hit, and if you do it again, it’ll be a penalty,” to which the players will respond respectfully (“yes, sir”). A friend of mine, who grew up in Ireland, likes to say that “rugby is a violent sport, played by gentlemen, while soccer is a beautiful sport, played by thugs.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/14 "2019-03-31T16:37:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there a dirtier game with a longer history of cheating than professional baseball? Is there truly any sport with less sportsmanship and more dirty dealing than baseball? Yes - boxing. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/15 "2019-03-31T16:57:48Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Both NFL: > Sportsmanlike: Walter Payton > Unsportsmanlike: Ndamukong Suh I’d also put Andrew Luck high on the list for sportsmanship: > **[Colts QB Andrew Luck Gets Inside Defenders' Heads with Polite 'Trash Talk'](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2300806-colts-qb-andrew-luck-gets-inside-defenders-heads-with-polite-trash-talk)** > > Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is viewed as one of the NFL's best young players and a great role model for children. As it turns out, his trash-talking is something that parents would be OK with their kids hearing. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/andrew-luck-the-nfls-most-perplexing-trash-talker-1418663249](https://www.wsj.com/articles/andrew-luck-the-nfls-most-perplexing-trash-talker-1418663249) For unsportsmanlike you gotta also consider Vontaze Burfict. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/16 "2019-03-31T17:12:29Z")
double post ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/17 "2019-03-31T17:13:31Z")
Distance runners in general. Even high school cross-country/distance track is devoid of trash talking and such. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/18 "2019-03-31T17:48:18Z")
I’m combining Major League Baseball and softball. Baseball: Albert Belle breaking up a double play by absolutely leveling Fernando Vina: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VV3fNK31HD4/maxresdefault.jpg "Belle crushes Vina to break up double play") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV3fNK31HD4) Softball: Central Washington University’s girl’s softball team, who carried an opponent to each base after she sustained a torn ligament in her knee rounding the bases after hitting her first career home run. Game rules prohibited her teammates or coaching staff from helping her. If they were to use a pinch runner, rules dictate that the home run would be changed to a single. So two members of the opposing team carried her around the bases, stopping at each one so she could touch each base with her non-injured leg: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xVlKtI7yd_s/hqdefault.jpg "Softball player carried around bases by opponents") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd_s) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/19 "2019-03-31T21:04:16Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Good Sportsmanship > > I think the world cup skiers have a healthy respect for each other. Sure there are individual rivalries but I get the feeling that the threat of really bad injury on every run gives them all a decent sense of perspective. Snowboarding and free style skiing seems to be very sportsmanlike it almost seems as if everyone is rooting for each other. I’m NOT talking about when snowboarders race each other ——that looks like it can get chippy! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801/20 "2019-03-31T21:08:13Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Yes - boxing. Yeah there’s been some ugly episodes but at the very least after MOST fights the boxers congratulate each other after bashing each other’s faces in for 45 minutes. There’s always exceptions to the rule! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vFOdi7qkCK0/hqdefault.jpg "Adrien Broner Vs Manna Pacquiao (Adrien Broner Believed He Won The Fight)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFOdi7qkCK0) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unsportsmanlike-and-sportsmanlike-athletes-by-sport/831801.md?page=2)