Let’s just say 2014 was a rough year for professional sports.
This past year was turbulent for the luminaries in many an industry–just ask former Jeffries banker Sage Kelly–but few corners faced as much controversy as the NBA and NFL. Career threatening, or ending, scandals rocked players, team owners, and league executives alike.
To develop this list, I looked back at the year’s news and surveyed my Forbes colleagues, soliciting suggestions for names of those who’ve screwed up epically in the past 12 months. The list is hardly comprehensive, and focuses primarily on news that occurred in or captivated the U.S. It’s unscientific, and unranked.
Though many people were suggested more than once, it’s not an election process. If it were, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have won in a landslide. Goodell had a rough year but hung onto his job and as such does not make this list (he should probably consider himself on notice for this list next year.)
The word “orgy” appeared in career-wrecking court documents more often than one might expect in 2014. Violence against and the general mistreatment of women, gays, and people of color–much of it perpetrated within view of surveillance cameras–figured prominently in many of these downfalls, and though a few of those receiving dishonorable mentions were ousted by boards, most proved to be their own worst enemies.
In alphabetical order, the biggest career crashes of 2014
Gurbaksh Chahal
The CEO and founder of RadiumOne lost his job in April, following a legal saga stemming from allegations that he kicked and punched an ex-girlfriend 116 times in 30 minutes. Originally facing 45 felony charges, he later plead guilty to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to probating and community service. The company fired him under pressure from the public and the media. He returned with a new advertising venture in July.
Dov Charney
American Apparel founder Charney’s inappropriate behavior towards employees—ranging from alleged verbal abuse to sexual harassment–has long been cause for concern, but this year his antics drove stock down to $0.58 a share, and Charney finally got the boot. (An appeal is, of course, underway.)
Heather Cho
The Korean Air Lines executive, daughter of company chairman Cho Yang Ho, relinquished some of her responsibilities earlier this month after an in-flight outburst referred to by media outlets as “nut rage,” in which she insisted a plane return to the gate and a flight attendant be removed because Cho was served macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a plate, in first class. Her father later announced her resignation from any other Hanjin Group positions, saying he “failed to raise her properly.”
Bill Cosby
The septuagenarian comic was having something of a renaissance this year until accusations from his past surfaced anew. After standup comedian Hannibal Buress referenced sexual assault allegations of sexual assault against Cosby in an October performance in Philadelphia, more than two dozen women came forward to accuse Cosby of sexual abuse or assault, many stating that he drugged them. An NBC show starring Cosby slated for 2015 was cancelled, as was a Netflix comedy special.
Mike Jeffries
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch once told Salon, “We want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that.” But the 70-year old couldn’t find enough cool, good-looking people to buy his company’s product—Jeffries resigned this month after 11 consecutive quarters of declining sales.
Sage Kelly
High-profile—and net worth—divorces often dredge up nasty personal details, but former Jeffries banker Kelly’s is one for the record books. The managing director resigned from his position after wife Christina di Mauro detailed stories of his cocaine and mushroom use—allegedly with clients and coworkers—and reported participating in an orgy along with her husband, a client, and his girlfriend.
Elizabeth Lauten
The former communications director for Tennessee Representative Stephen Fincher resigned after being taken to task for comments she made about the first daughters following their appearance at the annual White House turkey pardoning. In a social media post in which she critiqued the teens’ outfits and behavior, the Republican staffer urged the Presidents daughters to “try showing a little class.”
Adrien Peterson
In September the Minnesota Viking was accused of beating his four-year old son with a tree branch. He received a six-game suspension from the NFL—ringing in at $4.1 million—and will not be eligible for reinstatement before mid-April. An investigative report by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune also accused Peterson of misuse of funds donated to his charitable foundation, including an instance in which foundation funds were used to pay for hotel rooms in which Peterson participated in an orgy.
Ray Rice
The Baltimore Ravens running back was arrested in February along with fiancée Janay after a domestic dispute at a hotel in Atlantic City. Rice was suspended for two games but the issue resurfaced when additional video footage of the event was released by TMZ this fall, showing Rice punching Janay before dragging her unconscious body out of an elevator. The NFL suspended Rice indefinitely, and though the suspension was later overturned, the Ravens terminated his contract.
Donald Sterling
In April, TMZ Sports published an audio recording of a 2013 conversation between Sterling and then-girlfriend V. Stiviano, in which 79-year old Sterling makes racist remarks and instructs Stiviano not to bring black friends or associates with her to Clippers games.Sterling was banned from the NBA for life and fined $2.5 million. Small change, considering that Steve Ballmer would pay $2 billion—roughly three and a half times the team’s valuation—for the Clippers a month later.
By: Kathryn Dill Forbes Staff