Athletes in Prison
1 of 10
While he may not be an athlete, Don King has been a major presence in the sports world for decades. But he previously spent roughly four years in prison. What was he convicted of?
Tax Evasion
Murder
Arson
ANSWER: In fact, he killed two men before his rise to fame. The first case was judged justifiable homicide; King shot a man who had attempted to rob the illegal bookmaking joint he ran. The second killing, though, occurred when King beat to death an employee who owed him money. King was convicted of second-degree murder for this killing, but the charges were later reduced to manslaughter. He ended up spending around four years in jail for the killing. In fact, he killed two men before his rise to fame. The first case was judged justifiable homicide; King shot a man who had attempted to rob the illegal bookmaking joint he ran. The second killing, though, occurred when King beat to death an employee who owed him money. King was convicted of second-degree murder for this killing, but the charges were later reduced to manslaughter. He ended up spending around four years in jail for the killing.
2 of 10
In 1989, United States Customs agents found 14 grams of cocaine in the underwear of which NHL player as he tried to enter the United States from Canada?
Bob Probert
Tie Domi
Craig MacTavish
ANSWER: MacTavish had his own legal issues. As an NHL player, MacTavish was a solid center who enjoyed a long career that spanned from 1979 to 1997. He even won four Stanley Cups. However, he missed the entire 1984-85 season because he was incarcerated. MacTavish had been driving drunk on January 25, 1984, when he was in a wreck that killed a 26-year-old woman. MacTavish was found guilty of vehicular homicide and spent a year in jail before resuming his career. He’s currently the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. MacTavish had his own legal issues. As an NHL player, MacTavish was a solid center who enjoyed a long career that spanned from 1979 to 1997. He even won four Stanley Cups. However, he missed the entire 1984-85 season because he was incarcerated. MacTavish had been driving drunk on January 25, 1984, when he was in a wreck that killed a 26-year-old woman. MacTavish was found guilty of vehicular homicide and spent a year in jail before resuming his career. He’s currently the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
3 of 10
For how long did the NFL suspend Leonard Little after he pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a drunk-driving incident?
Two Games
Eight Games
One full season
ANSWER: In 1998, Little crashed into and killed another motorist in St. Louis. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1000 hours of community service. He was suspended for eight games of the 1999 season. In 1998, Little crashed into and killed another motorist in St. Louis. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1000 hours of community service. He was suspended for eight games of the 1999 season.
4 of 10
Where is Michael Vick currently incarcerated?
United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas
United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado
Federal Correctional Complex, Petersburg
ANSWER: In December 2007, Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison. In December 2007, Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison.
5 of 10
Mike Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington at the Miss Black America pageant in 1991 (he was a judge). What state was Miss Washington representing?
Indiana
Arizona
Rhode Island
6 of 10
Denny McLain, the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season, has had his share of problems with the law. In the mid-1990s, McLain was charged with looting $12.5 million from his company’s pension fund, and he spent six years in federal prison for the theft. What kind of company did McLain own?
A car wash chain
A meat-processing plant
A beer distributor
ANSWER: Denny McLain’s career as a Major League pitcher was brilliant. He won two Cy Young awards, an American League MVP award, and a World Series ring during a career that ran from 1963 to 1972. He’s still mentioned on baseball broadcasts as the last man to win 30 games in a season. McLain wasn’t quite a masterful off the field, though. He had a penchant for gambling, which led him to make underworld connections and even run his own bookmaking operation. These troubles eventually led to the end of his baseball career, at which point McLain veered further afoul of the law. He worked for a Florida financial services company with rumored Mob ties, which led to a 1985 conviction for racketeering, extortion, and drug trafficking. He spent a couple of years in jail on that charge, and then bought a Michigan meat-processing plant in 1994. Two years later the plant went bankrupt, and McLain and his partner were charged with looting $12.5 million from the company’s pension fund. McLain spent six years in federal prison for the theft and was released in 2003. Denny McLain’s career as a Major League pitcher was brilliant. He won two Cy Young awards, an American League MVP award, and a World Series ring during a career that ran from 1963 to 1972. He’s still mentioned on baseball broadcasts as the last man to win 30 games in a season. McLain wasn’t quite a masterful off the field, though. He had a penchant for gambling, which led him to make underworld connections and even run his own bookmaking operation. These troubles eventually led to the end of his baseball career, at which point McLain veered further afoul of the law. He worked for a Florida financial services company with rumored Mob ties, which led to a 1985 conviction for racketeering, extortion, and drug trafficking. He spent a couple of years in jail on that charge, and then bought a Michigan meat-processing plant in 1994. Two years later the plant went bankrupt, and McLain and his partner were charged with looting $12.5 million from the company’s pension fund. McLain spent six years in federal prison for the theft and was released in 2003.
7 of 10
Mike Danton pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is currently serving a 90-month term in federal prison. Who was he trying to have killed?
His girlfriend
His agent
His neighbor
ANSWER: anton racked up 141 penalty minutes during the 2003-04 season, but off the ice he didn’t do his own dirty work. When he wanted his agent, David Frost, dead in 2004, he didn’t want to get his own hands dirty. Instead, he tried to hire a hitman to do the job for him. Unfortunately for Danton, his “hitman” was actually a police dispatcher. anton racked up 141 penalty minutes during the 2003-04 season, but off the ice he didn’t do his own dirty work. When he wanted his agent, David Frost, dead in 2004, he didn’t want to get his own hands dirty. Instead, he tried to hire a hitman to do the job for him. Unfortunately for Danton, his “hitman” was actually a police dispatcher.
8 of 10
In 2007, former closer Ugueth Urbina was convicted of attempted murder, illegal deprivation of liberty, and violating a Venezuelan law that prohibits taking justice into your own hands. What was his sentence?
A 4-year prison term
A 14-year prison term
Life in prison
ANSWER: Baseball fans remember Urbina as a solid right-handed reliever with a nice fastball/slider combo that helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series in 2003. Fans of Venezuelan jurisprudence remember Urbina as the man behind a horrific assault. Urbina was convicted of attempted murder in 2007 following an incident in which he allegedly attacked five workers on his Venezuelan farm with a machete and then tried to douse them in gasoline. Urbina maintains that he was asleep during the attack and that he is innocent. Baseball fans remember Urbina as a solid right-handed reliever with a nice fastball/slider combo that helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series in 2003. Fans of Venezuelan jurisprudence remember Urbina as the man behind a horrific assault. Urbina was convicted of attempted murder in 2007 following an incident in which he allegedly attacked five workers on his Venezuelan farm with a machete and then tried to douse them in gasoline. Urbina maintains that he was asleep during the attack and that he is innocent.
9 of 10
Which of the following things was not found in the trunk where Rae Carruth was hiding?
A Game Boy
A bottle to hold his urine
A pile of cash
ANSWER: Perhaps the most infamous of all NFL players, Rae Carruth’s career as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers actually got off to a promising start. During his rookie season in 1997, he caught 44 passes, including four touchdowns, and made the NFL’s all-rookie squad. In 1999, though, everything unraveled for him. His pregnant girlfriend was caught in a drive-by shooting. Despite four shots being fired in the car, she managed to call 911 and describe Carruth’s role in the assault. The receiver apparently blocked her car while a shooter in a separate car fired the shots. Carruth posted $3 million bail, but after his girlfriend died, he took off. He was eventually found in Tennessee, hiding in the trunk of a car with a huge pile of cash, some snacks, and a bottle to hold his urine. He’s currently serving no less than 18 years, 11 months in prison following a conviction for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Perhaps the most infamous of all NFL players, Rae Carruth’s career as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers actually got off to a promising start. During his rookie season in 1997, he caught 44 passes, including four touchdowns, and made the NFL’s all-rookie squad. In 1999, though, everything unraveled for him. His pregnant girlfriend was caught in a drive-by shooting. Despite four shots being fired in the car, she managed to call 911 and describe Carruth’s role in the assault. The receiver apparently blocked her car while a shooter in a separate car fired the shots. Carruth posted $3 million bail, but after his girlfriend died, he took off. He was eventually found in Tennessee, hiding in the trunk of a car with a huge pile of cash, some snacks, and a bottle to hold his urine. He’s currently serving no less than 18 years, 11 months in prison following a conviction for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
10 of 10
In 2000, Olympic skater/celebrity boxer Tonya Harding was sentenced to three days in jail and 10 days of community service on a domestic violence charge. What was it that she threw at her former boyfriend?
A lead pipe
A 15-lb. dumbbell
A hubcap
ANSWER: Still in a quiz-taking mood? Still in a quiz-taking mood?