Sports
Three Scariest Athletes of All Time: Halloween 2024 Edition
Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Mike Tyson arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Halloween costumes come in every shape and size.
So do professional athletes.
Sometimes, it’s hard to distinguish between the two.
On the gloomy side of sports history, there’s been guys who went after opponents’ shins with sharpened spikes, heads with 200-pound helmet-first projectiles, and just about everything in between.
Some were so scary, they went by monikers like Hitman, Grim Reaper and Galloping Ghost. Killer, Big Hurt and Kid Dynamite.
There was a Gravedigger, an Intimidator and an Assassin. An Undertaker, Monster and Great White Shark. Heck, one guy embraced being labeled He Hate Me so much, he put it on his back.
So did Gore. He didn’t have a choice.
Distinguishing “The Three Scariest Athletes of All-Time” is like picking the best costume on Halloween.
There’s old-school, middle management, and principal’s pals. All trying to be a holiday Man From Mars, but not bold enough to shave their head and bend their nose.
With apologies to the Hanson brothers, the Fearsome Foursome and everyone simply called Mean, here’s one of each: The three athletes—past and present—you’d most want to smack with your light saber if he/she offered you an autograph instead of an Airhead…
Mike Tyson
After his bout against Roy Jones Jr., Mike Tyson let the world in on his pre-competition training regimen. source: Getty Images The heavyweight champion of hideousness. He was so ugly… He even bit off a guy’s ear and was still the third-best-looking guy in the ring.
Tyson was from the “staredown” era of sports. Every quarterback had to look Dick Butkus straight in the eye. Batters buckled when Dave Stewart pulled down the brim of his cap. Nobody dared roll down their window and tell Dale Earnhardt to use his turn signal.
But Tyson was the most petrifying of them all. A pitbull to your pug. “Iron Mike,” he was called. Iron wishes it were that powerful.
Jack Tatum
The Raiders had guys named Dr. Death, Whiskey Man, The Molester, Mad Stork, Hit Man and the aforementioned Man from Mars. All led by a man known as Satin in Silver and Black, a Lord of Darkness to his closest friends.
But there was only one Assassin. The posterboy for targeting before Target started selling hydration supplements in squirting water bottles.
Tatum famously hit Frenchy Fuqua so hard when breaking up a Terry Bradshaw pass in the 1972 playoffs, the ball flew farther than the average Stephen Curry jumper. The Immaculate Reception was born when Franco Harris tracked down the disfigured football; a legend was born when Tatum said he’d do it all over again.
It’s what Assassins do.
Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding. Image source: Getty Images The path of destruction in women’s sports can be traced back to Joanie Weston, the Blonde Amazon of the roller rink. The bumper-car tradition lives on through pretty much everyone who guards Caitlin Clark.
But in between there were two particularly ferocious females: One who hit above the belt (Ronda Rousey) and one that didn’t.
The latter, of course, was Tonya Harding, who responded to her fourth-place finish at the 1992 Winter Olympics by taking a triple axel to the competition in order to earn a spot in the 1994 Games. OK, so she didn’t actually touch poor Nancy Kerrigan.
And that’s what makes Tonya terrifying. She knows people.
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
