For as long as people have been playing sports, they’ve been getting injured.
However, all injuries are not equal. Some are way weirder than others. The world’s No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy and former (and perhaps future) San Antonio Spurs three-point threat Matt Bonner have highlighted this fact over the previous few days.
McIlroy was supposed to start the defense of his British Open title a week from today, however his chance to do so won’t take place.
McIlroy took to Instagram on Monday to announce he ruptured a ligament in his ankle while playing soccer with his friends on Saturday. The regretful-looking McIlroy was on crutches and wearing a Buick-sized walking boot in the photo. On Wednesday, he posted again to announce he wouldn’t be competing at St Andrews.
McIlroy is a big soccer fan, but one has to think he is now wishing he had skipped Saturday’s kickabout, or at least put it off for a couple of weeks.
Believe it or not, McIlroy wasn’t the only athlete to reveal a bizarre injury this week.
Bonner, who has been a three-point specialist for years, saw his three-point percentage drop significantly last season. Speaking to the Concord Monitor’s Tim O’Sullivan, Bonner said tennis elbow may have been the cause of his down shooting year.
How does Bonner think he developed tennis elbow?
By upgrading to a new iPhone.
“Everybody is going to find this hilarious, but here’s my theory on how I got it,” Bonner said. “When the new iPhone came out, it was way bigger than the last one, and I think because I got that new phone it was a strain to use it. You have to stretch further to hit the buttons, and I honestly think that’s how I ended up developing it.”
Hey, the iPhone 6 barely fits in any article of clothing without enormous pockets, and the iPhone 6 Plus is basically a tablet, so you’ll get no arguments here, Matt.
McIlroy and Bonner aren’t alone though. They are only additions to a long list of strange sports injuries.
Former Boston Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs bruised his ribs when he fell while struggling with his cowboy boots. Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa messed up his back sneezing.
Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch tore his ACL celebrating after sacking Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. To make things more embarrassing Tulloch appeared to be mimicking Rodgers’ “Discount Double Check” celebration.
Unfortunate injuries even made their way to LSU’s campus. Former LSU fullback J.C. Copeland suffered a concussion when he slipped in the shower two days before the team’s 27-24 loss to Ole Miss on October 19, 2013.
McIlroy has received a lot of criticism for doing something many view as foolish, but the examples above indicate you can get hurt doing just about anything on or off the field.
So give him a break.
The truth is that it’s just a weird world of sports where unforeseen and untimely injuries happen.
Jack Woods is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.