10 Athletes Who Came Back From Public Scandals And Flourished

Kobe Bryant faced a significant scandal in 2003 when he was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old woman.

Although criminal charges were eventually dropped, Bryant publicly apologized for his behavior, and the case was settled out of court in a civil suit.

Following this scandal, Kobe continued his basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two more NBA championships. He would go on to become one of basketball’s most iconic and respected figures before his tragic death in 2020.

In 1992, Mike Tyson was found guilty of raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Washington in Indianapolis.

This conviction resulted in Tyson serving prison time – he was sentenced to six years, although he was released on parole after three – and his professional boxing career faced severe repercussions.

Tyson returned to boxing in 1995, briefly recaptured the heavyweight title in 1996, and has since engaged in various public appearances and acting roles. He is set to fight Jake Paul in July when he will be 58 years old.

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Michael Vick was embroiled in an athlete scandal involving dog fighting, where he ran an operation leading to the abuse and death of dogs.

This led to a federal indictment, a guilty plea, and Vick serving 21 months in federal prison.

He returned to the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, and later became an analyst for Fox Sports while working to rehabilitate his image and support animal welfare organizations.

Tiger Woods‘ cheating scandal came to light in November 2009 and involved multiple allegations of extramarital affairs.

The scandal unfolded after Woods was involved in a car accident near his Florida home just as a report from the National Enquirer had come out about the trysts. It led to a public apology, a break from golf, and eventual efforts at personal and professional rehabilitation.

Woods returned to professional golf but experienced several setbacks due to injuries and personal issues. He did, however, make a notable comeback by winning the Masters in 2019.

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Muhammad Ali’s most notable controversy was his refusal to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in 1967, leading to his conviction, arrest, and a ban from boxing for several years.

This act of defiance, motivated by his religious beliefs and opposition to the war, marked a significant moment in Ali’s career and the broader social and political landscape of the time.

Ali returned to boxing in 1970, eventually becoming the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship three times, while also being a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. He is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times.

Alex Rodriguez faced a significant athlete scandal involving his use of performance-enhancing drugs, which led to a suspension from Major League Baseball for the entire 2014 season.

This controversy tarnished his reputation and legacy as one of the greatest baseball players in history, overshadowing his remarkable on-field achievements.

After the suspension, Rodriguez returned to MLB with the New York Yankees and faced further controversy and criticism. Still, he continued to make contributions for his team hitting 33 home runs in 2015.

Rodriguez eventually retired in 2016 as one of the sport’s most accomplished yet polarizing figures.

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Dany Heatley was involved in a tragic car accident in September 2003, where his speeding led to the death of his Atlanta Thrashers teammate and friend, Dan Snyder.

The horrific incident resulted in Heatley pleading guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and receiving probation.

Heatley returned to professional hockey, eventually being traded to the Ottawa Senators where he scored 180 goals and 182 assists in four years. He was a five-time NHL All-Star.

Michael Phelps faced a scandal in 2009 when a photo of him smoking marijuana from a bong surfaced, leading to a three-month suspension from competitive swimming and the loss of a sponsorship deal with Kellogg’s.

By comparison to the other scandals on this list, Phelps’ is by far the tamest.

Phelps returned to professional swimming, winning 4 gold and 2 silver medals in the 2012 London Olympics, along with 5 more golds and 1 silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

He would go on to become the most decorated Olympian of all time.

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Chris Webber’s scandal involved accepting money from booster Ed Martin during his time at the University of Michigan, leading to a guilty plea to criminal contempt and a 10-year disassociation from the school.

It not only impacted Webber’s legacy but led to Michigan vacating its Final Four appearances in 1992 and 1993.

Webber continued his professional basketball career after the scandal, most notably with the Sacramento Kings. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Magic Johnson’s announcement of being HIV-positive in 1991 shocked the world and had significant implications for HIV awareness and his basketball career.

The disease itself was less scandalous than how he acquired it. The scope of his promiscuity would eventually come to light. Johnson would admit to having sex with “harems of women.”

Johnson would make a successful comeback to the NBA via the 1992 All-Star game where he put on a ‘magical’ display and was voted the game’s MVP.

Magic also won an Olympic gold medal with the “Dream Team,” and became a prominent figure in HIV awareness and advocacy while also building a business empire. He is now part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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