92. Howard Stung For Sticking Tongue Out At Fans
Year of Fine: 2017
Est. Fine Total: $35,000*
In 2017, Dwight Howard was fined $15,000 for sticking his tongue out at fans during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Apparently, there were sexual implications to Howard’s tongue wagging, and the NBA wasn’t what you’d call ‘happy’ about it.
Howard Stung For Sticking Tongue Out At Fans ©Abbie Parr / Getty Images
The incident led to much debate on whether players should be able to show emotion while playing or whether they should just keep their heads down and play the game. Regardless of your opinion, it’s clear that this type of behavior is not tolerated by the NBA and comes with a price. In Dwight Howard’s case, that price was $35,000.
93. Frank Gore Fined For Showing Too Much Ankle
Year of Fine: 2013
Est. Fine Total: $10,500*
Frank Gore, a three-time Pro Bowl running back, was actually fined $10,500 by the NFL for wearing his socks too low. The violation of the league’s uniform policy was enforced during the NFC Championship game between the Atlanta Falcons and Gore’s San Francisco 49ers.
Frank Gore Fined For Showing Too Much Ankle © Abbie Parr / Getty Images
Many people have argued that Gore’s fine is an excellent example of how ‘nit-picky’ the league has become about non-essential issues. If you ask Frank Gore or any of the other footwear violators, there are more pressing matters to attend to than how long players’ socks must be.
94. Bertuzzi Puts Moore’s Career On Ice
Year of Fine: 2004
Est. Fine Total: $250,000*
Todd Bertuzzi, the former Vancouver Canucks hockey player, was fined a quarter of a million dollars for punching Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche in the back of the head during a game. The incident occurred during a game in 2004 and resulted in Moore sustaining 3 fractured vertebrae, head trauma, and several other cosmetic wounds.
Bertuzzi Puts Moore’s Career On Ice @BR_OpenIce / Twitter
Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely and also faced criminal charges for his actions but later reached an out-of-court settlement. Todd was also suspended 20 games for his unprovoked act of aggression. At the time, Bertuzzi’s punishment was the 4th longest suspension the league had given out.
95. Running Back Fined $10 Grand For Throwing Ball
Year of Fine: 2010
Est. Fine Total: $10,000*
Just when you think you’ve heard everything, in 2010, an NFL running back was fined $10,000 for throwing a football. Okay, so it’s not as simple as that, but still quite absurd. During a late-season matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Jacobs lost his temper in frustration and threw the ball a little too hard, and it ended up in the stands.
Running Back Fined $10 Grand For Throwing Ball ©Wesley Hitt / Getty Images
Jacobs’ ball toss cost him a cool $10K. But it also taught him a very valuable lesson. If you’re paid to run the ball, don’t throw it. It won’t end well.
96. Messi Fined For Wishing Mum A Happy Birthday
Year of Fine: 2011
Est. Fine Total: $2,200*
The man most modern soccer fans consider the GOAT of the sport, Lionel Messi, proved he is every bit as human as the rest of us when he sent his mum a birthday message and was fined $2,200 for wearing a shirt with a message on it to his mother for her birthday.
Messi Fined For Wishing Mum A Happy Birthday ©Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Of course, neither the league nor Messi’s club was happy with his disregard for the rules. The message on the shirt said “Happy Birthday, Mum” and was visible to viewers watching the game. The shirt violated La Liga’s rule prohibiting players from showing unapproved messages.
97. Wes Welker Fined For Wearing A Hat
Year of Fine: 2011
Est. Fine Total: $10,000*
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was fined $10,000 in 2011 for wearing a hat from the wrong sponsor during a post-game press conference. It’s not so much the fact that he was given the fine that bothered Welker most as much as it was the principle of the matter.
Wes Welker Fined For Wearing A Hat ©Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
The wide receiver had been wearing the same Bonk energy bars hat all season long. Yet, it wasn’t until the latter part of the season that the league acted. History has shown the NFL is stringent on their players and coaches regarding sponsorships—something Welker would have been well-aware of.
98. Got Milk?
Year of Fine: 2005
Est. Fine Total: 6-Game suspension
In a bizarre incident, the Marlins batboy was suspended six games after making a bet with pitcher Brad Penny of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bet was that if the batboy could drink a gallon of milk within 60 minutes before the start of the teams’ Sunday afternoon, matchup, Penny would give him $500.
Got Milk? @BradPenny / Twitter
The catch? The batboy was not to let any of the milk ‘return to sender.’ The batboy succeeded. However, Unfortunately, the Marlins and MLB officials got wind of the wager and suspended the batboy 6 games for his actions. Penny was also reprimanded but was not given any punishment.
99. Jokic Needs A Language Check
Year of Fine: 2018
Est. Fine Total: $25,000*
More often than not, when international athletes are handed fines for offensive language or actions, they are ignorant of their wrongdoings because where they come from, it’s not wrong. That being said, in 2018, Nikola Jokic made a homophobic remark that got him in some hot water.
Jokic Needs A Language Check ©Dustin Bradford / Getty Images
Although Jokic apologized for his actions, he still received a $25,000 fine. Pocket change for a star like Jokic, but still enough to send a message. It’s important for athletes to be mindful of their words and actions when interacting with fans, the press, or each other, even if provoked.
100. The Devils Get Caught Trying To Cheat The System
Year of Fine: 2010
Est. Fine Total: $3 million*
In 2010, the New Jersey Devils were found to have manipulated the salary cap system in order to gain an advantage. The NHL launched an investigation into the team’s activities and found that they had circumvented the rules by signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a 17-year contract that would help the team work around the salary cap.
The Devils Get Caught Trying To Cheat The System ©Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
As a result of their violations, the New Jersey Devils were fined $3 million and were forced to give up 2 high-round draft picks. This punishment serves as a reminder that teams are not above the law. Even management has to play by the rules, or they will face significant repercussions.
101. Denny Hamlin Attempts To Manipulate Race’s Outcome
Year of Fine: 2023
Est. Fine Total: $50,000*
In March 2023, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin was fined $50,000 for admitting to attempting to manipulate the outcome of a race. On a podcast after the event, Hamlin mentioned that his contact with Ross Chastain was no accident. He intentionally hit his rival’s car to manipulate the points standings.
Denny Hamlin Attempts To Manipulate Race’s Outcome ©Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Many claim race manipulation of this kind is common practice in the sport, but race officials say otherwise. Besides the $50,000 fine Hamlin’s been ordered to pay, he’s also been docked 25 points from the season standings. Hamlin is appealing the fine.
102. Beasley Feels Kahn’s Wrath
Year of Fine:
Est. Fine Total: $50,000*
In 2010, Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn was fined $50,000 for comments he made about one of the team’s newest players, whom they had recently traded for, Michael Beasley. Kahn had commented on one of Beasley’s — who was the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft — “habits.”
Beasley Feels Kahn’s Wrath @sophia971922 / Pinterest
To put it bluntly, Kahn came right out and said that Beasley “smokes too much marijuana.” True or not, that’s not something an employer should say to the press about one of their employees.