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The recent altercation between Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes has led to an argument between the media and athletes.
Embiid became enraged after Hayes criticized the superstar’s alleged lack of work ethic, with the columnist invoking the name of the center’s dead brother and his young son in the article.
That led to Saturday night, when Embiid confronted Hayes, shoved him into the locker room and told him, ‘Next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you’ll see what I’m going to do to you.’ and I’m going to have to… live with the consequences.’
It’s certainly not the first time journalists and sports stars have clashed, and some athletes have viewed the media as adversaries over the years.
Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at eight other occasions when athletes and the media clashed, whether physically or not.
Sixers superstar Joel Embiid shoved a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist last Saturday night.
Jim Rome vs. Jim Everett
Possibly the most famous incident of an altercation between an athlete and a reporter (at least in North American sports), former New Orleans Saints quarterback Jim Everett once flipped over a table to attack ESPN’s Jim Rome.
Everett was famous for his performance in the 1989 NFC Championship game with the Los Angeles Rams, when he was sacked so much that he fell into the pocket anticipating a tackle before it arrived.
That haunted him for years and led to his appearance on Talk2, hosted by Rome and broadcast on ESPN2, in 1994. Rome had been routinely mocking Everett for years, calling him ‘Chris’ Everett (in reference to tennis player Chris Evert ) during his aversion to being hit.
When he appeared on the show as a guest, Rome almost immediately called him ‘Chris’. Everett challenged him to say it to his face again, telling Rome that if he did so “we’ll need a break at the station”, implying that he would fight him.
About ten seconds after the warning, Rome called him ‘Chris’ again. Everett pushed the table between them aside and pushed Rome to the floor in his chair as the cameras continued to roll.
The two eventually broke up and Everett apologized. Roma was not injured and no legal action was taken.
Marshawn Lynch against the media (in general)
This is not a fight between two particular people, but rather a general disdain for the media by a star athlete.
Star NFL running back Marshawn Lynch had always been reluctant to speak to the media while he was a player. While it frustrated journalists, it often generated some funny responses to questions.
Lynch was fined several times by the NFL for refusing to speak to the media, leading him to devise ways to talk to reporters without answering their questions.
After a November 2014 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Lynch answered almost every question with the word “Yes.”
A few weeks later, in December 2014, after the second game against the Cardinals, Lynch responded to almost every question with “Thanks for asking” or “I appreciate you asking.”
Then, of course, there was his famous Super Bowl XLIX media appearance, where he responded to every question with the phrase, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” which became a meme shortly after.
Running back Marshawn Lynch addresses the media before Super Bowl XLIX in January 2015
Billy Martin vs. Will Hagar
New York Yankees manager Billy Martin was a fierce competitor as both a player and a coach. Even when he wasn’t competing, he got angry quickly.
Martin was in Reno, Nevada, on opening day for a basketball team coached by a friend of his.
Journalist Will Hagar, 25, gave an interview to Martin, which was initially described as “cordial”. Once Hagar started asking questions about Yankees star Reggie Jackson, that’s when Martin got upset.
Hagar told the New York Times at the time: “He said writers always twist things… He saw me writing things and wanted to see my notes.”
That’s when Hagar said Martin began hitting him, requiring him to be restrained.
According to Martin, Hagar “challenged me to a fight, no doubt” and that he “deliberately wanted me to hit him.” His questions got worse at the end. He threatened to fight me. That’s when I hit him.
Yankees manager Billy Martin (left) with star Reggie Jackson after the 1977 World Series.
Deion Sanders vs. Tim McCarver
Deion Sanders was a phenomenal two-sport athlete in his playing days: competing professionally in Major League Baseball and the NFL.
The two sports rarely overlapped, but they did in 1992, when Sanders played football for the Atlanta Falcons and baseball for the Atlanta Braves.
Before the 1992 National League Championship Series, baseball writer Tim McCarver criticized Sanders for playing both sports at the same time, saying it should be considered a breach of contract and calling it wrong.
The Braves ended up winning the 1992 National League Championship Series in seven games, featuring Sanders. He decided to celebrate by dumping several buckets of ice water on McCarver’s head, prompting the journalist’s famous response: “You’re a real man, Deion.” I’ll say that.’
Jamal Adams vs. Connor Hughes
During a game in the 2023 NFL season, Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams made a bad coverage in a game against the Dallas Cowboys that resulted in a touchdown.
Connor Hughes, a SNYTv reporter who covered Adams when he played for the New York Jets, retweeted a video of the play and captioned it: “Ouch.”
Adams responded by posting a photo of Hughes and his wife with the same caption and a mocking emoji. He eventually deleted the post.
When asked if he would apologize, Adams said, “It’s always the athlete who crossed the line when he responds.” But at the end of the day, disrespect is disrespect, however you want to take it. “So I responded.”
Jamal Adams refused to back down after mocking journalist’s wife on social media in 2023
Adam posted a photo of Connor Hughes’ wife and captioned it “Ouch” before deleting it.
Kim Mulkey against the Washington Post and the LA Times
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey once threatened to sue the Washington Post over an article they were going to publish about her methods and program.
Mulkey described the article as a “hit article” before it was even published, and the article was eventually published despite his threats.
The article accused her of attacking gay players while she was a coach at Baylor University.
Additionally, she criticized an LA Times article that referred to her players as “dirty debutants.” That article was eventually modified and the author apologized.
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey went after two newspapers in 2024
Lawrence Taylor vs. Ernie Palladino
Former New York Giants defensive end Lawrence Taylor once attacked journalist Ernie Palladino after his playing days ended.
Taylor visited a Giants practice in 1995 when the team was 0-3 and needed some inspiration.
Reporters present tried to speak to Taylor, but he refused. Palladino told Taylor he was wrong and cursed him.
Taylor then yelled at him and began walking towards Palladino and grabbed him by the neck.
The two eventually separated and apologized about an hour later.
Giants legend Lawrence Taylor (pictured in 2024) once put his hands on a reporter in 1995.
Will McDonough vs. Raymond Clayborn
Finally, this is an example where the media fought back, literally.
New England Patriots cornerback Raymond Clayborn had a bad week in early September 1979. He had fought with his teammates twice that week in practice and not even a 56-3 loss to the New York Jets could help him. to change your mood.
After the game, Clayborn was seen yelling at writers and bumping into them, prompting a response from the Boston Globe’s Will McDonough, the father of ESPN man Sean McDonough.
McDonough saw Clayborn’s behavior and commented, “Hey Ray, no need to do that.” Clayborn reacted by sticking his finger in the writer’s face and poking him in the eye.
What happened next became legend in journalism circles: McDonough reacted to the blow by punching Clayborn twice in the face and knocking him into a laundry cart. Some say McDonough’s punch knocked him “out of action.” Others said it was more of a fight.
Either way, McDonough only added to his reputation as a no-nonsense reporter and became a hero among Boston sportswriters.
Boston Globe sportswriter Will McDonough once punched a Patriots cornerback after a game.