Strickland’s tantrum puts him in good company

What do Lebron James and Hunter Strickland have in common?

Yes, you’re correct, neither has ever retired J.B. Shuck in a game that mattered. But we’re thinking of something else.

True, both went from high school straight to the pros. But there’s another tie that binds these two professional athletes.

Ding, ding, ding! Right you are, both are members of the Temper Tantrum Sports Injury Hall of Fame.

Strickland isn’t the greatest member of the hall, but he’s the latest. After blowing a save in the Giants’ 5-4 loss to Miami on Monday night, Strickland took his frustration out by hitting a door with his pitching hand, breaking his pinkie. He will require surgery and is expected to be out of action from six to eight weeks.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Strickland “had a little snap.” Strickland went on Instagram to apologize for his actions.

“I completely understand how this portrays my character, which I will humbly work on,” he wrote.

James, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ deity, made no such humble promises when he disclosed after the NBA Finals that he had “pretty much played the last three games with a broken hand.” He injured his right hand, he said, when he punched a whiteboard after Game 1 – which the Cavs might have won had J.R. Smith attempted a shot instead of dribbling out the fourth quarter clock under the mistaken impression that his team led by a point.

So there are the most recent enshrinees into the Temper Tantrum Hall. Rounding out the top 10, with a big tip o’ the cap to Cleveland Plain-dealer sports columnist Bud Shaw: