Longest sports suspensions
Eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox were banned for life for taking part in fixing the 1919 World Series. Seated in the Chicago courtroom in 1921 are (from left) Arnold Gandil, Claude ‘Lefty’ Williams, Charles ‘Swede’ Risberg, Eddie Cicotte, George ‘Buck’ Weaver and ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson as well as attorney Thomas Nash. (Chicago History Museum / Getty Images)
A look at the most severe suspensions in the four major pro sports leagues in America.
Colts quarterback Art Schlichter was suspended indefinitely by the NFL in 1983 for gambling. He was reinstated in 1984 but released in 1985 when he admitted he had been gambling again. He pleaded guilty to an illegal gambling charge on April 1, 1987. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle did not reinstate Schlichter after he applied for permission to play again. (Lenox McClendon / Associated Press)
Bengals running back Stanley Wilson was suspended permanently by the NFL on May 15, 1989, for substance abuse. His problems came to public light when he missed Super Bowl XXIII against the San Francisco 49ers after a night of cocaine usage. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)
Cardinals running back Earl Ferrell was suspended in 1990 after reportedly testing positive for drugs three times in 1988 and again before the 1990 season. He decided to retire after an eight-year career. (George Rose / Getty Images)
Warriors guard Latrell Sprewell threatened to kill Golden State Coach P.J. Carlesimo before choking him and dragging him to the ground during a practice. The NBA team voided the remainder of his contract, but Sprewell had the voiding of his contract overturned and he was suspended for 68 games. (Sam Morris / Associated Press)
Chris Simon, shown while playing for the New York Rangers, was suspended for 30 games in December 2007 when he was with the Islanders for slamming his skate into the foot of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jarkko Ruutu. The previous season, he was suspended for 25 games for taking a swing with his stick at the head of the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg in March 2007. (Ed Betz / Associated Press)
Reds Manager Pete Rose was suspended 30 days for shoving umpire Dave Pallone twice when arguing a call in May 1988. The suspension is the longest for a manager involving an on-field incident. Rose claimed that Pallone scratched him as they were pointing fingers at each other and yelling about the play, which provoked him to shove Pallone. (Gregor Mahany / Associated Press)
