The 3 Most Notorious Brawls Involving Michigan Sports Teams

Athletic competition can bring out the best in us and show us how far the human body can be pushed. But when some athletes are competing at such a high level there frustrations and emotions can get the best of them and lead to arguments and in some cases physical altercations.

Now when it comes to hockey fighting is part of the game and you wouldn't be surprized to see a Detroit Red Wing or Grand Rapids Griffins player drop their gloves and throw haymakers at a player on the other team.

⬇️ Old Michigan Sports Teams We Forgot Existed ⬇️

But even in hockey sometimes the fights can get out of control and descended into pure chaos.

Popular sports website Bleacher Report came out with a list of the 20 biggest brawls in sports history and three of the teams are from right here in Michigan.

Three Big Brawls Michigan Sports Teams Have Been In

Coming in at number 16 for biggest brawls in sports history on July 1st, 2003.

The fight began in the fifth inning when a pitch from Whitecaps pitcher Matt Roney hit Lugnuts player Matt Nuzzo.

This led to immediate tensions on the field, with players from both teams exchanging heated words.

As tempers flared, players and coaches rushed to the field, resulting in a massive melee that involved nearly all players on both benches.

The brawl lasted several minutes and included punches thrown, players grappling, and chaos throughout the field.

The game was temporarily halted as umpires attempted to restore order.

In total, several players were ejected from the game due to their involvement in the fight.

⬇️ Old Michigan Sports Teams We Forgot Existed ⬇️

Coming in at number 12 for biggest brawls in sports history happened between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche on March 26th, 1997.

The rivalry between the Avalanche and Red Wings had been brewing since their playoff encounter in the 1996 Western Conference Finals.

In that series, a brutal hit by Avalanche player Claude Lemieux on Red Wings forward Kris Draper resulted in severe injuries for Draper, including a shattered cheekbone.

The aftermath left the Red Wings seething for revenge, especially after Lemieux received only a two-game suspension for his actions.

As the game go underway, it quickly became clear that both teams were prepared for a fight. In the first period multiple fights broke out almost immediately.

The game had 18 fighting majors and a total of 148 penalty minutes.

The chaos peaked when Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy skated out of his net to defend teammate Lemieux against Red Wings player Darren McCarty, leading to a dramatic goalie fight between Roy and Red Wings goaltender Mike Vernon.

This moment was insane as both goalies dropped their masks and gloves to fight, something rarely seen in hockey

⬇️ Old Michigan Sports Teams We Forgot Existed ⬇️

Coming in at number 1 for biggest brawls in sports history is the Malice at the Palace between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers on Friday November 19th, 2004

As the game neared its conclusion, with the Pacers leading by a significant margin, tensions escalated when Pistons player Ben Wallace committed a hard foul on Pacers forward Ron Artest.

Wallace's frustration boiled over, leading him to shove Artest, which ignited a confrontation between players from both teams. The situation escalated dramatically when a fan threw a beer at Artest while he was lying on the scorer's table. In response, Artest charged into the stands to confront the fan, prompting his teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal to join him.

This led to an all-out brawl that spilled onto the court, with players and fans exchanging punches amidst flying objects like cups and even a folding chair. In total, nine players were ejected from the game, and several fans were arrested. The incident resulted in injuries to nine spectators, with two requiring hospitalization.

A total of 141 games worth of suspensions were handed out to players involved in the brawl. Ron Artest received an unprecedented 86-game suspension, marking it as the longest in league history for an on-court altercation. Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games, while Jermaine O'Neal received a 25-game suspension. Ben Wallace faced a six-game suspension for his role in instigating the melee.