These Sports Feuds Escalated Quickly!

Try as professional sports might to not turn into the WWE, sometimes athletes emotions get the best of them. These bitter feuds, of course, are best when played out in front of a national audience. From pitchers going head hunting to linebackers diving at the knees, sports feuds can get fantastically out of hand in the blink of an eye.

Here are some of our favorite over-the-top feuds, including that time Rougned Odor punched Jose Bautista in the jaw for a late slide!

Ali And Frazier Take Fight Promotion Too Far

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While promoting one of the biggest boxing matches of all-time, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier fell into a heated rivalry. Ali started the fireworks, calling Frazier an “Uncle Tom.” Frazier refused to call Ali by his converted name (his given name was Cassius Clay) and held a grudge for 30 years, even as Ali’s health rapidly declined.

When Muhammed Ali announced he had Parkinson’s disease, Frazier happily commented, “they want me to love him, but I’ll open up the graveyard and bury his [expletive] when the good Lord chooses to take him.” Before dying, Ali apologized for his words, but we don’t know if Frazier accepted or plans too.