Please celebrate responsibly
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I can't remember a more exhilarating start to a game than when Ted Ginn Jr. returned a 93-yard kickoff return on the opening play of the BCS title game. And then disaster struck.
Though reports differ, early word Monday evening was that while celebrating the dazzling touchdown score, the Buckeyes' most explosive offensive weapon tweaked his ankle. He spent the rest of the game on the sidelines, hobbling on a crutch.
Injuring yourself celebrating a touchdown is a pretty embarrassing sports injury. But he wouldn't be the first athlete to injure himself in such a fashion. There's a long tradition of celebration-related injuries in the world of sports.
Here are five other notable celebration-related sports injuries, as highlighted by Peter Schrager of Fox Sports that serve as a reminder to athletes not to celebrate too hard:
1. Bill Gramatica: Following a 42-yard field goal kicked into stiff winds in 2001, Bill Gramatica jumped for joy in celebration. As his teammates joined him, Gramatica abruptly fell to the ground, clutching the back of his right leg. Gramatica hyperextended his right knee, ultimately missing the rest of the 2001 season as a result.
2. Gus Frerotte: In a tight NFC East Sunday night battle vs. the Giants televised nationally in 1997, Frerotte celebrated a Redskins score in arguably the worst way possible - by head-butting a padded cement wall behind the Washington end zone.
Frerotte, a Pro Bowl quarterback that year, spiked the ball after a touchdown run, and ran toward a pack of fans in the crowd. Caught up in the moment, he slammed his head against the padded wall. Seconds later, he recoiled in pain. Frerotte sprained his neck, missed the rest of the game, and went to the hospital for the entire second half.
3. Jake Peavy: Following the Padres National League West-clinching victory in October, San Diego players mobbed each other on the mound. Peavy broke his ribs in the process. The Cy Young candidate tried toughing it out for Game 1 of the Padres' NLDS matchup vs. the Cardinals. He had his worst outing of the year, allowing eight runs in just 4 1/3 innings. The Padres lost the game 8-5, and were swept 3-0 a few days later.
4. Dustin Mohr: During an early April game with the Padres in 2005, Colorado Rockies' outfielder Dustin Mohr jumped out of the dugout to celebrate a late-inning home run hit by a teammate. He hobbled back to the bench in pain. Sure enough, he strained his left calf popping out of his seat. He ended up on the 15-day disabled list later that week.
5. Terry Harper: While playing for the Atlanta Braves in the early 1980s, Terry Harper made a name for himself as a reliable pinch hitter off the bench. Yet, Harper is best remembered for his work outside of the batter's box. Standing in the on-deck circle, Harper once dislocated his shoulder wildly waving in a runner from third base.
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