Tom Brady joins list of banned sports superstars

The NFL stunned most observers by suspending New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady for his role in the deflating of footballs.

Brady, banned for the first four games of the NFL season unless his appeal is successful, joins a long list of marquee players who missed playing time for various transgressions.

The list includes some pretty unique characters.

Shoeless Joe Jackson

The mother of all banishments (remember, these are star players who were active at the time of their suspensions, so Pete Rose and Lance Armstrong don't qualify). After the Chicago White Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1919 World Series, Jackson and seven other teammates were accused of throwing the Fall Classic for $5,000 US apiece. Despite being acquitted by a jury in 1921, all eight players were banned for life by baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

Ben Johnson

The Canadian sprinter solidified his global-icon status during the 1988 Seoul Olympics when he ran the 100 metres in a world-record time of 9.79 seconds. However, his achievement was wiped out three days later as he was stripped of his gold medal and world record for using the banned substance stanozolol. Johnson was suspended for two years and returned in time for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, only to be banned for life in 1993 for excess testosterone.

Michael Vick

Vick was at the height of his star power as quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons before it all came crashing down in August 2007. Shortly after pleading guilty to spearheading a dog-fighting ring, Vick was suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Vick spent 21 months in prison, then two months of home confinement. Goodell reinstated Vick, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, in the third week of the 2009 campaign.

Paul Hornung

The Packers running back was an MVP and four-time NFL champion, including the first Super Bowl, but got into hot water in 1963. Hornung, along with defensive tackle Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions, was suspended indefinitely by commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and being linked to known mobsters. Hornung returned for the 1964 season and played another three years.

Luis Suárez

During the group stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Uruguay striker bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on the left shoulder. Uruguay would go on to win 1-0, but Suarez was banned from soccer for four months after the incident. It was the third time Suarez was suspended for biting an opponent, following similar incidents in the Dutch and English leagues. He was also banned in England for racial abuse.

Mike Tyson

Before Suarez, there was Tyson. The "Baddest Man on the Planet" was disqualified in a 1997 world heavyweight title bout after biting both ears of champion Evander Holyfield. Following the second bite, referee Mills Lane picked up a piece of Holyfield's right ear, prompting the disqualification. Tyson had his boxing licence taken away until the Nevada State Athletic Commission reinstated him on Oct. 18, 1998.

Alex Rodriguez

Already admitting to taking performance enhancing drugs from 2001-03, A-Rod was at the centre of the Biogenesis baseball scandal, where several players were suspended for using steroids. However, the biggest punishment was saved for Rodriguez. Commissioner Bud Selig initially suspended the New York Yankees slugger for 211 games. An appeal reduced the suspension, but Rodriguez still missed all 162 games of the 2014 season. 

Maurice (Rocket) Richard

The Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins were battling at the Montreal Forum in 1955 just prior to the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. During the game, Richard had his head cut open by defencemen Hal Laycoe. The fiery Quebec icon retaliated by tomahawking Laycoe in the head with his stick. In an attempt to control the situation, linesman Cliff Thompson and Richard fell to the ice. Still seething from Laycoe's blow, Richard punched Thompson, the second time he struck an official that season. In an unprecedented move, NHL president Clarence Campbell suspended Richard for the final three regular-season games. During the next game at the Forum, a tense situation escalated to what would become known as the Richard Riot.

Ron Artest

As a member of the Indiana Packers, the man who would later change his name to Metta World Peace was involved in a famous brawl at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004. Artest went after a fan in the stands who he believed threw a drink at him. NBA commissioner David Stern wasted little time in suspending Artest indefinitely, which turned out to be 86 games, including the playoffs.