Boot-chuckers get their kicks in weird way
Replacement halfback Nick Phipps didn’t just throw a tantrum as the Wallabies got belted yet again by the All Blacks on Saturday. He got hold of Malakai Fekitoa’s boot and hurled it into a Westpac Stadium stand. We check out sport’s most famous flying boot incidents and the men who made it happen.
Maloney
The former Warrior has got serious form, and might be Phipps’ role model. Three years ago, the Roosters recruit threw boots belonging to Blake Ferguson, of the Raiders, and Kevin Gordon, of the Titans, into the stands. Roosters coach Trent Robinson got him to stop the habit. There were even concerns about crowd safety should a flying boot cause injury. “He’s just a cheeky player and a great competitor who will look for any edge he can get,” Robinson said. Really?
Ferguson
The most famous flying boot incident of them all which helped lead to David Beckham’s departure from Manchester United.
Ferguson described the dressingroom incident, which led to a cut over Beckham’s eye requiring two stitches, chris.rattue@ nzherald.co. nz after an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford. “Between us on the floor lay a row of boots. David swore. I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye. Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him,” said Ferguson. Beckham described how he lunged towards his famous manager, and was held back by Ryan Giggs and other players. “Suddenly it was like some mad scene out of a gangster movie,” he wrote.
Turan
Atletico Madrid’s midfielder hurled a boot at linesman during a match against Barcelona last year and received only a yellow card, whereas it should have been red. The boot had been dislodged in a tackle that Turan wasn’t happy about. His coach substituted Turan shortly afterwards, fearing the fiery Turk might end up being sent off. The incident went unreported by the referee. Fellow players even gave him a boot-shaped cake for his birthday two days later.
McDonald
The Costa Rican striker was sent off and suspended for taking off his boot and throwing it at a club opponent who kept fouling him. McDonald had to apologise and was suspended.
Suarez
No bad boy list feels complete without including Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan opponent muncher. Suarez punched a dugout and hurled a boot on to the pitch when Uruguay were beaten by Venezuela this year. Suarez was unhappy at not even being selected as a substitute, although Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez said he was not fit to play because of a hamstring injury.
Price
Lakers basketballer Ronnie Price lost his shoe, tripped, then hurled it at Golden State Warriors opponent Andrew Iguodala in a practice match two years ago, in an apparent effort to stop Iguodala and the ball getting away from him. He received a technical foul.