Top Ten Chicago suspensions

Last week Jim Thome was suspended one game for arguing balls and strikes which spurred this kinda cool idea.

10. Joakim Noah shooting a one and one



Rookie Noah’s one-game job for insubordination after going face-to-face with an assistant comes in at #10 on this list. But what really makes the list is when the Bulls as a team team decided to have him sit out one more game. That didn't make the locker room any more awkward. The entire team should have been suspended this season on account of sucking.

9. Foulke, Magglio, Parque suspension



The two-for-one fight night special occurred in April of 2000 for the White Sox. The first encounter brought out both teams onto the field, but it is the second one that fans remember. The rumble happened after Sox pitcher Jim Parque struck Dean Palmer with a pitch. Palmer came after Parque and devastation ensued. Magglio was given a five game suspension while bloody-faced Keith Foulke (needed five stitches under his eye) and Parque got three. A dozen more suspensions were given in total. After this, the franchise quickly changed their annual slogan to “These kids can fight.”

8. Lou Piniella’s tirade



Many had been questioning the Sweet Lou off-season acquisition, until June 2, 2007. Piniella went on a tantrum which included dirt kicking AND a hat kick. (unique-points were added for that) Lou served his four games and the Cubs made a complete 180, taking the easiest division in baseball by storm.

7. Jim Miller's Over-The-Counter experience



I kind of felt bad for Miller, who had kinda-sorta won the quarterback job after an ongoing position battle equivalent to King Kong vs. Godzilla. Ok, not really. But Miller did not look like the type of guy who was taking over-the-counter pills to bulk himself illegally. (Maybe he should have.) But like all Hollywood films, this ended with a happy ending as Miller would get the start in 2000.

6. Barrett pops AJ



During the second game of the 2006 Cubs/Sox series at Comiskey, Michael Barrett slid into home on a close play with AJ standing over him. Barrett got up and exchanged words with AJP and jacked the catcher in the face. (I can't imagine Pierzynski getting under anybodies skin) While Sox fans may have gotten the last laugh when Barrett was given a 10-game-suspension, the Cubs gained some mad street cred.


5. Ventura attacks senior citizen



While Bill James may have named Ventura the greatest third baseman of the ‘90s, many will remember him for going after the aging Nolan Ryan; and getting absolutely pummeled. Ryan put him in a headlock and proceeded to pound at his head, making him look like the young 20’s ballplayer as oppose the 40-year-old plus pitcher he was. Ventura’s two-game suspension was most likely spent recovering in the ER.

4.Tom Lysiak taking it out on the wrong guy



This is before my era many call birth, but when I read about this story on Sunday, I was shocked that this had not been talked about more, if not for its severity, then its humor. Lysiak, a Blackhawk during the 1983 season, had had enough of linesman Ron Foyt for one day. After Foyt pulled him away from a faceoff, Lysiak decided to take his stick and trip the ref. A mandatory 20 games was slapped on the center, and after much dispute, was served.

3. Rodman’s kick to groin



I talked about this incident last week, but there is no way it can be kept out of this list. While we discussed last week that for whatever reason, Rodman fell to the floor and decided to kick the cameraman in the groin for no reason and then refused to apologize. What I failed to mention was that his 11-game-suspension was, at the time, the longest in NBA history. That should have sent a message making his mind “tick before he kicks.”

2. Sammy’s BP bat



To many Chicagoans, this was Sammy’s last straw. During an inter-league match up against the mighty Devil Rays in early June, Sosa belted a swinging bunt that almost reached the pitcher, breaking his bat. Umpires checked the splintered bat and found a cork. While Sammy blamed it on it being his “batting practice bat” which he uses to entertain the crowd, it is difficult to forget that he ran from field to the dugout quicker than he ran down the baseline. Eight games did not serve justice to Wrigleyville.

1. Rodman’s head-to-face



While the Bulls were busy perfecting the best season by any NBA team, Rodman was busy showing the crowd his wrestling moves. In March of 1996, Rodman disputed a call and in his anger, headbutted the ref after being ejected. “91” walked straight off the court and immediately served his six games. I will never forget the horrified look on my Mom’s face when my brother asked for his jersey for Christmas.