Top 10 Sports Divorces

Shaquille and Shaunie O’Neal

Duration: 2002-2009

Without high-profile sports splits, we wouldn’t have guilty-pleasure entertainment like Basketball Wives, which was created by Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife Shaunie. She, of course, is now more famous four parlaying her split with the four-time NBA champion and TNT comentator into a reality show starring other former spouses and girlfriends of basketball players.

O’Neal, the seven-foot center who spent his NBA career between several teams, and his wife were married the day after Christmas in 2002, and their union produced four children. (Shaq also had a daughter from a previous relationship.) But as both would admit in later interviews, stardom and temptation became the same toxic combination it is for any celebrity marriage. They separated in 2007, but tried to patch things up. But before long, they both knew it was over. The two divorced in 2009 settling for an undisclosed, but reportedly substantial, amount.

Next: Frank and Jamie McCourt

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

Duration: 2004-2010

Like Michael Jordan, he is considered among many to be the best ever at what he does: championship golf. But when it comes to keeping his marital house in order, Tiger Woods apparently could never figure out his handicap.

Married in 2003 to Swedish model Elin Nordegren and soon after creating a seemingly perfect life in Jupiter Island, Fla., they had two children as Woods continued his hold on several international golfing titles. But with notoriety, even in his world, comes temptation. A day after a 2009 National Enquirer allegation that he had an affair, Woods crashed his SUV just down the street from his house. He then stopped golfing for the rest of the year. Suddenly, several women came forward with claims they had an affair with Woods. Ultimately he publicly, tearfully admitted his indiscretions and took an indefinite hiatus from the sport that made him famous.

From there it got ugly. As Woods lost millions of dollars in endorsements, he became the butt of late-night comedians and all but fell from grace. In 2010, his divorce became official, settling with Nordegren for a reported $100 million.

Next: Mike Tyson and Robin Givens

Michael and Juanita Jordan

Duration: 1989-2006

Like many things that Michael Jordan has done in his life, this was one for the record books. Arguably, the Chicago Bulls (and later Washington Wizards) forward is the best basketball player in the history of the sport. Seller of everything from athletic gear to fast food and even one of the few pro athletes to star in a film with animated characters, Jordan made more than $350 million over the course of his 17-year-marriage to his wife, Juanita. But before they signed the marriage license, they signed a prenuptial agreement, entitling her to half of his dough. Through their lives together, she reportedly put up with his philandering until she filed for divorce in 2002, but the couple reconciled. But five years later they announced a “mutual and amicable” split, which resulted in the largest celebrity divorce settlement in history: $168 million. Hard to imagine what the former Mrs. Jordan would do with that amount of cash. Maybe purchase a basketball team?

Next: Tony Parker and Eva Longoria

Tiki and Ginny Barber

Duration: 1999-2010

For the past few years it seems we’ve heard nothing but bad news about Tiki Barber. First, he quits football the year before his former New York Giants teammates upset the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII, only to try an NFL comeback last year that fell flat. Figuring he’d be luckier with love, he tries to tie the knot with Traci Lynn Johnson, but there’s a problem there, too: his divorce from his wife, Ginny, was never finalized. As the saying goes, hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned, and especially a woman equipped with a good lawyer.

Apparently Ginny never forgot Tiki walking out on her when she was eight months pregnant with twins. She reportedly demanded $150,000 per month from him, which he says he can’t afford to pay. He may be right because football seems to have gone on without him and he was dropped from his role as an NBC commentator in 2010.

Next: David Justice and Halle Berry

Sports Spllits

• Kobe and Vanessa Bryant
• Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian
• Shaquille and Shaunie O’Neal
• Frank and Jamie McCourt
• Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
• Mike Tyson and Robin Givens
• Michael and Juanita Jordan
• Tony Parker and Eva Longoria
• Tiki and Ginny Barber
• David Justice and Halle Berry