Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have divorced after 20 seasons together with the New England Patriots. The quarterback is on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the coach remains in Foxboro. Sparked thoughts of other legendary sports marriages and couplings that wound up going through splitsville.
Phil Esposito and the Bruins
Phil Esposito as a huge part of a great run by the Boston Bruins. Imagine the shock when the prolific scorer was dealt to the rival New York Rangers.
Eddie Giacomin and the Rangers
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Ed Giacomin (pictured right, No. 1) was beloved by New York Rangers fans. The team waived the goaltender and he was picked up by the Detroit Red Wings. Unfortunately for Ranger management, the team’s next home game was against Detroit and the Madison Square Garden crowd turned on the Broadway Blues.
Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers
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A nation mourned when Wayne Gretzky was dealt from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings amid a dispute with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.
Dominik Hasek and the Sabres
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Dominik Hasek spent nine seasons with the Sabres, which included 234 wins and a trip to the Stanley Cup finals in 1999. The Sabres lost to the Dallas Stars in six game. In 2001, Hasek was traded to the Detroit Red Wings where he was figured to be the final piece to the puzzle of an already loaded squad. He recorded a career-high 41 wins in the regular season and played a major role in the Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup in the 2001-2002 season.
Eric Lindros and the Flyers
After suffering through a number of injuries with Philly during the 2000 season, Lindros and his family feuded with then-Flyers GM Bobby Clarke, who traded Big E to the New York Rangers in 2001 after allegations of the team trying to force the player to play without medical clearance.
Patrick Roy and the Canadiens
Patrick Roy brought Stanley Cups and a brash attitude to Montreal. After giving up a shocking nine goals in a game in 1995, Roy was pulled, turning to team president Ronald Corey and saying, “This is my last game for Montreal.” The two argued in the locker room, with the team shipping the goalie to the Colorado Avalanche a few days later, where Roy would go on to win another Stanley Cup.
Marcus Allen and the Raiders
After a contract dispute in the early-90s, Marcus Allen and Al Davis agreed to disagree. The great running back believed the owner was out to ruin the runner’s chances of making the Hall of Fame, and the owner was out to get him. Allen was traded to arch-rival KC in 1993.
Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers
Le’Veon Bell was so unhappy with his arrangement with the Steelers he wound up sitting out an entire season and missing out on about $14 million. Eventually, the free agent signed with the Jets.
Antonio Brown and the Steelers
Antonio Brown squabbled and squawked until the Steelers dealt him to the Raiders. That turned into another fiasco, which led to Brown spending a game with the Patriots.
Brett Favre and the Packers
Brett Favre created one of the uglier exits in sports when he left the Packers. There were all sorts of barbs, threats or retirement before he traded Green Bay for Gang Green.
Peyton Manning and the Colts
Peyton Manning missed the 2011 season due to injury. His reward for 13 years in Indy was getting cut. Ouch. He turned up in Denver and helped the Broncos win a Super Bowl.
Randy Moss and the Vikings
Randy Moss was the ultimate in diva receivers. His attitude wore thin in multiple places, starting with the Vikings.
Terrell Owens and the 49ers
Terrell Owens’ act grated and grated until it was time for him to move on to another team. This happened more than once in a career that wound up with the receiver in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Roger Clemens and the Red Sox
Wade Boggs and Red Sox
In 1992, prolific hitter Wade Boggs slumped to .259 — one of three times in his career that he failed to reach .300 — and at the end of the season, he left the Red Sox, with whom he had spent his entire career to that point. He was heavily pursued by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the arch-rival of the Red Sox, the New York Yankees. He chose the Yankees when they added the third year to the contract that the Dodgers would not offer. Boggs went on to three straight All-Star appearances, had four straight .300-plus seasons, and collected two Gold Glove Awards.
Reggie Jackson and the Athletics
Reggie Jackson and the Oakland Athletics were the prototype for family feud with owner Charles O. Finley. The great slugger eventually left the Bay Area for Baltimore, where he spent a short time.
Reggie Jackson and the Yankees
Reggie Jackson’s time in Pinstripes was full of victories and turbulence. The lefty slugger had issues with manager Billy Martin and owner George Steinbrenner during years that earned the Yankees the name of “The Bronx Zoo.”
Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox
Easy to forget Pedro Martinez left the Red Sox for the New York Mets. He was 32-23 with the Amazin’ Mets. However, the righty had one season with double-digit wins after spending seven years with the Red Sox and going 117-37.
Albert Pujols and the Cardinals
Albert Pujols ran for the money, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after 11 years for a monster contract with the Angels. Pujols hit 445 homers with the Cardinals and has added 206 in eight seasons in California.
Alex Rodriguez and the Mariners
Alex Rodriguez is no stranger to controversy. He left the Mariners for a 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers. The slugger spent three years in Texas before being sent to the Yankees after almost being dealt to the Red Sox.
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver was the Mets until a riff with upper management led to a trade to the Cincinnati Reds. He won 75 games with Cincinnati before returning to the Mets in 1983, when he went 9-14.
George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin
Over and over, George Steinbrenner would fire Billy Martin only to bring him back. It was a reality show before they existed.
Charles Barkley and the 76ers
Charles Barkley was the showman and star of the Philadelphia 76ers for eight seasons before being sent to Phoenix in a trade the backfired on Philly.
Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers
Wilt Chamberlain was a superstar in every way long before the term was thrown around loosely. The Big Dipper wore thin with the 76ers and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers before the 1968 season.
Kevin Durant and the Thunder
Kevin Durant infamously chose to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the dynastic Golden State Warriors. He won multiple championships as a Warrior before exiting for Brooklyn. Durant is sitting out this year while healing a torn Achilles.
Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves were Kevin Garnett and he was everything the team was about. The Big Ticket was dealt to the Boston Celtics in a deal that led to a championship for the green while the Wolves are still looking for their first NBA crown.
Allen Iverson and the 76ers
Allen Iverson was the face that ran the place in Philadelphia. However, the guard’s welcome ran out and he was dealt to Denver during the 2006-07 season. The great guard did finish his career as a 76er, playing 25 games in 2009-10.
LeBron James and the Cavaliers
“The Decision” proved to be one of the big missteps in LeBron James’ career. Not leaving for Miami, but how he handled the exit, which scorched his beloved fans in Cleveland and Ohio.
Michael Jordan and the Bulls
Michael Jordan left the Bulls for baseball. Later, he returned from retirement and surfaced as a Washington Wizard in a forgettable run.
Shaquille O’Neal and the Magic
Shaquille O’Neal broke the hearts of the people in Orlando when he bailed to Los Angeles. O’Neal teamed with Kobe Bryant for one of the great runs in NBA history.
Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers
The friction was better than the talent and Kobe Bryant won out over Shaquille O’Neal, who was sent to Miami.
Steve Austin and WWE
Stone Cold Steve Austin felt he was misused by being matched up with Scott Hall in a WrestleMania X8. The result turned into Austin going through customs and heading home after the Toronto event as the rest of the crew headed to another event in Canada.
Bret Hart and WWE
The “Montreal Screwjob” between Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon is one of the most infamous chapters in the history of sports entertainment.
Hulk Hogan and WWE
Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon have a Brady-Belichick feel to them. Which one made the other? Just each and you will get a different answer.
Brock Lesnar and WWE
Brock Lesnar left WWE, apparently was fed up with the rigorous travel schedule. Then, “The Beast” turned up in UFC and it created another series of battles.
CM Punk and WWE
CM Punk complained about royalties that he claimed were owed to him, he hit out at WWE medical staff, and he stated that he no longer had a working relationship with the company. That led to an exit and an unsuccessful run in UFC. Punk has turned up on a WWE-themed show recently.
