3. Stephen Hunt Almost Takes Petr Cech's Head Off (Football)
Goalkeepers are a breed of people who are often seen as being not quite right in the head. Their job is to throw themselves in front of fast-moving footballs, fast-moving footballers, flailing arms and legs and full-on rugby-style pile ons. Chelsea's Petr Cech is known as being a particularly brave member of the goalkeeping union, and, to his misfortune, he displayed his bravery in an incident which backfired greatly on him in 2006. Chelsea were playing Reading, and Cech had rushed out to dive at the feet of the advancing Stephen Hunt. Cech successfully claimed the ball, but due to the momentum of the attacker, Hunt was unable to move out of the way and his knee collided with the skull of the goalkeeper. On surface value, the collision looks nasty enough, especially with the manner in which Cech's head whips back, and the dazed way he attempts to drag himself off the pitch. But it is the what-ifs which truly make this a sickener, as had Hunt's knee been planted mere inches in either direction, he could have smashed Cech's face or put his knee through the keeper's temple. The collision left Cech with a depressed skull fracture, for which he required surgery, and could have easily cost the man his life had he chosen to rush his comeback. Luckily, Cech managed his return well, and to this day, some seven and a half years after the incident, must wear a protective helmet over his skull, as any serious head injury could prove to be fatal, given the trauma previously suffered.
