When Animals Attack: 12 Sports Figures Who Have Felt Nature's Wrath

Doug Melvin, general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, was hospitalized Wednesday when he was stung by an Arizona bark scorpion. It's not the first time a sports figure and an animal have crossed paths -- and when it's happened the results have been unpredictable, ranging from minor injury to death. Here are 11 other instances of (sports)man vs. nature.

Dave Hollins vs. a brown recluse spider

The Phillies reserve infielder landed on the 15-day disabled list not once but twice during the 2002 season due to the venomous bite of a brown recluse spider.

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David Cone vs. a Jack Russell terrier

The Yankees pitcher missed a start in June 1998 after he was bitten on the ring finger of his pitching hand by his mother-in-law's terrier.

David Seelig/Allsport

Svein Grondalen vs. a moose

While jogging in the forest before a World Cup qualifier, the brawny Norwegian defender ran into a moose and injured himself so badly he was forced to miss the match.

Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Randy Keisler vs. a pygmy rattlesnake

As if shoulder surgery, a demotion to the minors and a spat with reporters weren't enough, the Yankee pitcher was later bitten by a pygmy rattler  in his backyard.

Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies vs. thousands of bees

Thousands of bees swarmed around a camera bay at Coors Field during a 2012 game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks, prompting a delay -- and, shortly after, the arrival of a beekeeper with a large vacuum cleaner.

AP

Darren Barnard vs. his puppy

The Welsh footballer was housebreaking his new puppy when he slipped on a puddle of its urine and ripped a knee ligament that sidelined him for five months during the 1999 season.

Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images

Nolan Ryan vs. a coyote

The Hall of Fame hurler's career was briefly interrupted in 1985 when a coyote bit him on his non-pitching hand while he was tending cattle on his Texas ranch.

Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Mistar vs. a herd of pigs

The Indonesian footballer was tragically killed at 25 years old when a stampede of pigs charged across his team's practice field in 1995.

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Bryan Robinson vs. his dog

In 2002, the Bears defensive end tripped over his dog, tumbled down a staircase backwards and suffered two broken wrists.

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Julio Arca vs. a jellyfish

In 2004, the Argentine midfielder was hospitalized after being stung by a jellyfish when he decided to take a dip in the North Sea during preseason training with Sunderland.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Glenallen Hill vs. imaginary spiders

The arachnophobic Blue Jays outfielder suffered bruises, rug burns and assorted lacerations after slamming into a wall and falling into a glass table while having a violent nightmare about two spiders.

Rick Stewart/Allsport