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As a sports fanatic, I’m always on the lookout for the most extreme sports when I traverse the globe.  I realize that I almost never sit down and think about the dangers of the things I do in life.   I act on my impulses before I think things through, which gets me into trouble as a result.

The following list identifies sports that are dangerous, inhumane and unnecessary – even for entertainment purposes. You should not attempt these stunts, unless you are willing to risk your life or a couple of limbs.

1. Bullfighting:

Bullfighting is a blood sport. A Spanish bullfight is set up to have men (matador) fight against a frightened and confused animal in an enclosed ring. Throughout the fight, the bull is tortured, enfeebled and brought to its knees by a variety of spears, spikes and daggers. These weapons impose incredible pain and the distraught bull is weakened by blood loss.

After approximately 15 minutes of extreme suffering, the matador finally slays the beaten bull. Many bulls die drowning in their own blood because of the matador’s imprecision, which often pierces the bull’s lungs instead of the heart. Following this, a short dagger (puntilla) is used to separate the bull’s spinal cord at the neck before the bull is hauled out of the arena. In the worst cases, the bull is still hanging onto life as it is hauled away.

This ‘sport’ is so violent that it is banned from television in Spain, especially on TVE-Spain’s state-run television channel.

2. Heli-Skiing:

Helli-skiing is off-train downhill skiing that is only accessible by helicopter. There is a reason why these areas have never been used before. If you ever dreamed of wide open terrains and zero lift lines, this is for you. However, people who seek to do such things are crazy and are risking their lives for the most extreme. Countries like France are on top for banning this sport.

3. High Altitude Mountain Climbing:

Mountain climbing can literally kill you. High Altitude Mountaineering, such as climbing Everest and these other 8000 meter peaks, is an extremely dangerous activity where people die every year. Frankly I cannot think of any more dangerous activity on earth!

In 2001, Babu Chiri Sherpa, probably the strongest Everest climber ever, died simply by stepping in the wrong place and falling into a crevasse. Sherpa climbed the summit 10 times.

4. Tennis:

Tennis injuries are only limited to joints and ligaments, so no one’s in real danger of dying. Tennis players sustain a number of injuries. There were over 90,000 tennis injuries reported in 2011, which comes to approximately 15% of estimated tennis players. But we’re just talking about injuries that were so bad that they required medical attention. Most ankle and wrist injuries surely were never reported.

5. Skiing with Yaks:

This sport is very popular in Manali, India, about two hours from Delhi. Yak skiing involves standing at the bottom of a large slope wearing skis and attached rope. Attached to the other end is a domesticated yak via a pulley attached to a tree at the summit.

At the go, the skier, who is holding a bucket of pony nuts as a treat for the yak, shakes the bucket to entice its attention and then drops it as they are hurled up the hill at a terrifying speed on their skis by the two-ton hairy yak on the other end of the rope.

Domesticated yaks are quite calm creatures and also love pony nuts. When tempted by their favorite treat, very little will stop them and God help you if you get in their way. One pieced of advise: Never shake the bucket before you’re tied to the Yak rope.

They are they species of their own kind and something about them makes us, the fans, obsess over them. It maybe their lifestyle, their achievements, their voices and their skills or maybe it`s just their power to do set records.

The life, soul and legacy of these athletes live on even after their passing. They`ve left this world abruptly, accidentally and unnaturally. We feel heartbroken, as if this world is unfair and leaving us with not enough notice.

So let`s take a moment to reflect on the following notable deaths in sports. May these athletes live on in our memories.

1. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL Team:

The whole KHL team died in a plane crash in September of 2011. The plane crashed because of incorrect braking caused by the pilot, which also caused the plan to take off too sharply. After further investigation, it was found that the co-pilot was taking a banned drug. The team was heading to Minsk, Belarus to play its opening game of the Kontinental Hockey League season.

Russian investigators charged a former airline executive in connection with the crash. Vadim Timofeyev, former deputy director of now-defunct Yak Service Airlines, was charged with “a violation of the rules for transport safety and operation of air transport” for permitting 2 unqualified pilots to fly the plane that crashed shortly after takeoff.

On Thursday, investigative committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told reporters that Timofeyev was supposed to ensure that crew members were qualified and their training complete, but instead allowed the pilots to fly the aircraft “illegally.”

Federal investigators later revealed that the pilot and co-pilot had falsified documents stating that they had undergone the necessary training for the Yak-42.

2. Sarah Burke:

Sarah Burke was a Canadian freestyle skier who was a pioneer of the superopipe event. She was a 4 time gold medalist at the Winter Games and won several world championships, including the halfpipe in 2005.

Burke died at the age of 29 in January of 2012 after tearing the artery that supplies blood to her brain during a training run in the super pipe at a personal sponsor event at the Park City Mountain resort.

As the result of the fall subsequently after completing a jump, she suffered a ruptured vertebral artery, one of the four major arteries supplying blood to the brain, causing her to go into cardiac arrest as a result.

Burke was rushed to hospital, where she was put on life support and therapeutic hypothermia was initiated to protect her brain. On Jan. 11, she had surgery to repair the torn artery, and had been in a medically induced coma until she died. She had sustained severe irreversible damage to her brain because of the lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest. This brain damage from lack of oxygen ultimately led her to death.

3. Bjorn Sieber:

This Austrian World Cup skier died in a car crash on October 26, 2012 at the age of 23. He won 2 medals at the world junior championships and silver in the giant slalom in 2009. This is just a few of his achievements.

4. Alexander Dale Oen:

Norwegian Olympic swimmer, Alexander Dale Oen, died on April 30, 2012, after he finished his training session in Arizona. He was found unconscious in his hotel room after having suffered a heart attack, which was caused by a coronary heart disease. This heart disease was a rare disease known to people of his age and fitness.

He was a medalist at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 where he won silver at the 100m breaststroke. There was great potential for this athlete as he planned to attend the London Olympics as well.

5. Nodar Kumaritashvilli:

A men’s luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died on the eve of the Vancouver Olympics after a high-speed crash occurred during training for the Winter Games. Doctors were unable to revive Nodar Kumaritashvili, and the 21-year-old died at a hospital, hours before the opening ceremony was to begin.

Kumaritashvili enjoyed luging since he was 13 and came from family lugers. His cousin was the head of the Georgian Luge Federation. Kumaritashvili, competed in the 2008-2009 Luge World Cup where he finished 55th of the 652 races.

Wondering what to get the adventure lover in your life this holiday season? You could offer to spike his eggnog with some pure adrenaline, or you could try surprising him with a voucher for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here are ten awesome gift ideas to choose from. Read on with caution: the descriptions of some of these adventures alone can raise your heart rate.

Take the Plunge

What could be more thrilling than exploring below the surface of the ocean? Gift adventure seekers with scuba diving lessons, or plan a trip to the Great Barrier Reef for seasoned divers. For those who aren’t sure about jumping in with both feet, a voucher for a snorkeling adventure also makes a great gift.

Go Up, Up and Away

Spirits soar when loved ones are gifted the chance to ride in a hot air balloon. Float high above Australia’s unspoiled wilderness or look out over its bustling cities. This is a great gift for a couple or family, as many hot air balloons can accommodate more than one passenger at a time.

Visit The Winner’s Circle

Vouchers for driving experiences make excellent holiday gifts. Some experiences are even suitable for teens who don’t yet have a driver’s license, which definitely ups the coolness factor of this gift. Recipients can speed around the track in the luxury model of their choice or suit up for a real race-car-driving experience. And the winner is…you! For giving the best gift of the season.

Sail the Seas

Shopping for someone who loves speed, sea, speed and sunshine? And did we mention speed? Give the gift of a jet boat ride or jet skiing adventure. Recipients will plow through waves at top speed with the wind in their hair and salt spray tickling their faces. Their thanks will be profuse—if they ever catch their breath.

Climb to New Heights

A rock-climbing voucher is another adventurous gift idea. The ultimate test of strength and endurance, rock climbing pits man against nature with very little in between them. Gift a novice with lessons and a veteran climber with the opportunity to scale a new peak for an experience they’ll never forget.

Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View

Invite your loved one to see the land from 14,000 feet with a skydiving voucher. Experienced skydivers can jump alone, but novices can get the same adrenaline rush strapped to an expert for a tandem dive. Trust us, the recipient will be thinking of you fondly as he freefalls back to Earth.

Loop the Loop

Aspiring pilots and lovers of thrill rides in general will be swept away by a voucher for a ride in an aerobatic plane. Piloted by experienced professionals, the planes take passengers along for the ride of a lifetime as they plunge, twirl and flip in the air. The jaw-dropping, stomach-churning ride will ensure that your favorite adrenaline junkie’s holiday really takes off.

Reel Them In

Know someone who loves salt-water fishing? Consider the gift of an extreme fishing trip. Charter a boat and a guide to help your favorite fisherman go after big game fish and bring home a little supper or a trophy for the wall.

Combat Boredom

Inject the holidays with a little action by giving your favorite adventure lover the gift of a combat experience. From flights in real fighter jets to simulated battlefields full of citizen-soldiers armed with paintball weaponry, these adventures have all of the action and none of the danger of real military experiences.

Ouotback Adventure

Experience of a life time, while camping out in one of Western Australia’s gorgeous campgrounds or parks and face down crocodiles, dangerous snakes and the area’s fiercer-than-they-look kangaroos in their natural habitats.

Plan an Australian Outback adventure for the thrill seeker in your life with Best of the Kimberley, a travel and tourism organiser in Kimberley, Western Australia.

Sports is a hugely popular online category across the world with billions of people visiting a sports website every year. People mostly enjoy following their various sports online and are constantly updated with the latest developments. There are a number of popular sports websites to turn to for the latest developments. These websites provide news, gossip and opinions about almost every sport imaginable.

1. ESPN

The website primarily covers North American sports. It stands as the most popular sports website in the world, primarily covering NFL, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR. The website also has sections for other sports like soccer, tennis, and boxing and provides live score updates.

2. Yahoo Sports

This is a complete sports website covers most major sporting events in Europe and the North American regions like football, NFL, NBA, MLB, and NASCAR. They also offer live scores on many sport events on their website. The rumours section is one of the most visited pages, as it provides its viewers with up to date gossip.

3. Sports Illustrated

This popular sports website comes in at #3. Owned by Time Warner and with 3.5 million subscribers to their magazine, the website largely covers the sports from the North American regions. The SI photos are tremendously popular around the world. Viewers know where to look to find the breaking news, live scores and daily analysis of all NA sport events.

4. ESPN Cricinfo

One of the most popular sites for cricket news, lives scores and photos. It was originally conceived in the pre-WWW form in 1993 by Dr. Simon King and was acquired by Wisden Group in 2002.

5. Fox Sports

Fox Sports is a major part of the Fox Broadcasting Company (part of News Corporation). It was created in 1994 with Fox’s acquirement of broadcast rights to National Football League games. In the following years, it has televised the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Bowl Championship Series, as well as the World Cup. ‎

Adrenaline is a dangerous thing. Although useful in small doses, it’s highly addictive and, like any drug, your tolerance only increases the more you get. That’s how you find yourself, one day, looking at a bungee cord tied to a precarious bridge, 1000ft above a churning river and thinking ‘what if we added crocodiles?’ Here are 10 sports specifically designed for those who reached the absolute limits of intensity, then leapt off them on a flaming motorbike, giving fate a double finger:

1. BASE Jumping

BASE Jumping is either shockingly admirable or utterly, utterly insane. With at least 200 confirmed fatalities since 1980, a sudden gust of wind, a split-second miscalculation or simple bad luck are all that’s needed to reduce you to a sticky mess they’ll have to scrape up with a shovel. The competitive element comes in seeing who can go the longest without dying.

2. Ghost Riding

The rules of Ghost Riding are simple: get in car. Start car. Wait until car has built up sufficient speed. Exit car and do tricks on roof as you cruise toward certain death. This ‘sport’ from the San Francisco area checks all the boxes required of the extreme pastime: it’s pointless, dangerous and predominantly enjoyed by young males so numbed by apathy it takes a near-death experience for them to feel anything at all.

3. Encierro

Running with the bulls at Pamplona, Spain is a rite of passage enjoyed by drunks, tourists and the insane; resulting each year in a handful of poor sods getting trampled, often by their fellow humans. Gorings and actual deaths are relatively rare (14 in the last century), but the statistics neglect to mention the number of underpants lost to sudden soiling.

4. Volcano Boarding

Like snowboarding, but down the side of an active volcano, Nicaragua’s latest (tourist) sport attracts thrill-seekers who want to combine the rush of hurtling down a mountainside with the thrill of doing it on a goddamn active volcano. Given the blending of speed and the potential for explosions it’s only a matter of time before Hollywood snaps it up for Point Break 2.

5. Buzkashi

Afghanistan’s national sport involves charging around on horseback, whip in hand, dragging a headless goat carcass behind you as you attempt to… actually, we’re not sure. While national leagues have mellowed the practice out a good deal, traditional forms of the game can last for days and are noted for their brutal violence.

6. The Iditarod Trail

Ever wanted to recreate Scott’s last expedition, but can’t get to Antarctica? Alaska’s race from Anchorage to Nome on the Bearing Sea has everything you require for your themed-suicide: bitter winds, endless night and temperatures routinely below -30c. Expect frostbite, hypothermia and frozen huskies; and for the winner… nothing. Just the glory of knowing you managed to survive.

7. Solo Climbing

What could make dangling high above the Earth, with only a sheer cliff face to cling to and a single rope between you and death even more extreme? Removing the rope.

8. Cheese Rolling

Every year, inebriated adults gather at Cooper’s Hill, England to hurl themselves headfirst down a steep slope in pursuit of a runaway cheese. Unsurprisingly there are injuries. The perfect blend of whimsy, drunkenness, and cheese, Cheese Rolling is for those who like their sports insane in more ways than one.

9. Cave Diving

Find an aquatic cave, preferably one with sub-zero temperatures, jagged rocks and aggressive marine life. Enter cave with little oxygen and no real plan, wash up dead on a beach 3 weeks later. That is cave diving; a sport that has claimed over 500 lives in half a century. It’s the deadliest sport on the planet, and will probably remain so, until someone finds a way of combining it with BASE jumping.

10. Train Surfing

Popular in Germany in the 80’s, Train Surfing disappeared for a while, only to resurface in South Africa a few years ago. The premise is simple: find a train and cling to it as it reaches speeds no human should ever endure. For maximum effect, try it on a speeding intercity.

Author: Alfie Davenport works for Ladbrokes Games. Whilst he enjoys the mild thrill of the occasional bet, he doesn’t think he has it in him to try out any of these crazy sports.

Buried, stuffed, walloped! Do you recognize these words anywhere? You may here a football commentator stating these words when there is a fight. In fact, many sports commentators would replay the scenes and enthusiastically describe the scenes over and over again.

Research has been extensively done on this topic. The debate surrounding the research related to whether fans incite player violence or reflect it. The evidence of course was inconclusive; however, we know that group solidarity is a part of sports. Spectators will always show solidarity with their favourite team, viewing the opposing team as enemy and fostering hostility towards the out-group.

The question still remains: how is violence and aggression portrayed in sports? Is it being rewarded? Let’s look at the theory behind why this is what indeed happened.

1. Biological Theory:

This theory was proposed by Konrad Lorenz. The aggression is seen as a basic human characteristic. It is socially acceptable way to discharge an accrual of aggression. I don’t think this is always the case, as was apparent at Bertuzzi case. Tie Domi is another case, but that did not prevent him from playing. Domi was seen showing aggression not only to fellow team members, but to spectators as well. He received a slap on the wrist for pouring water on a spectator’s head for heckling.

2. Psychological Theory:

This theory states that aggression is caused by frustration. Goals are blocked and sports players are unable to achieve their objectives. Many times, frustration is aimed at officials because of their decisions or lack of decisions. Injuries that interfere with performances and taunts also may cause frustration.

3. Social Learning Theory:

This is the theory with the most empirical data and verification. The behaviour is learned through modeling and is reinforced by rewards and punishments. Young athletes see sports players as role models and attempt to imitate their behaviours. This is more than the case with wrestling, where kids have tried to mimic the moves scene on scene. One should also further examine the Bobo Doll experiment by Albert Bandura to better comprehend the learning process.

4. Hellstedt theory:

Hellstedt believes that negative outcomes of sports involvement are usually caused by parents and coaches. Rewards are only given if the team wins. This is not correct as all games should be non-competitive until the learning has at least somewhat matured.

5. Media Impact:

Media is not the innocent bystander in all this. In fact they play an enormous role in promoting today’s violence in sports. They mainly look out for the entertainment needs of the spectators and sports fans. The example used to further prove the legitimacy of this argument is the nightly telecasts sports news. Telecasters highlight the daily scores and recognize the scuffles that may have occurred in the game.

Professional sports are the most entertaining form of reality television and there is no doubt about it.  Every week there is news of trades, injuries, tragedies and other stories that catch our viewers’ eyes. Trades, injuries, The list goes on and on so there’s no point in list every single news that hits sports  news. And when nothing is happening and everything is dull, there is still the matter of games, coaches being fired, players being suspended for a variety of reasons and the all important, “Where is the this team going to play in?”

There are many “scandals” that have taken place over the course of the existence of the NFL. Many happened long before most of us were even born or were old enough to read about what had taken place. Others have had a ringside seat to some of the best scandals this side of the OJ Simpson Trial.

This article examines top 10 jarring NFL scandals of all time. To make this list of all-time scandals, players, coaches and performers  had to stand out for doing something crazy–not just a DUI or assault case. Think big when reading this article.

1. Big Ben’s Sexual Relations:

Pittsburg Steeler’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is famous and well liked, but behind every hero there is a story. In 2008, allegations emerged in Lake Tahoe regarding allegations of sexual assault. Roethlisberger was suspended for 6 games, which was then reduced to 4 in 2010. The 2008 case was sidelined by more allegations in March of 2010 in Milledgeville, Georgia.

2. Eddie DeBartolo Jr.: Extortion:

This owner is the most disliked in the history of NFL and for good reason. He and the Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards got into trouble with the law for extortion and for failing to report a felony when getting a river boat casino license. He received a $1 million fine and was put on a 2 year probation, as a result.

3. OJ Simpson Murder Trial:

The OJ Simpson murder trial was by far the most disgraceful scandal to every hit NFL. The football star was tried on two counts of murder following the 1994 death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman. It was the most publicized criminal trial in American history, being shown throughout North America on television networks. After a lengthy trial that lasted 9 months, Simpson was acquitted.

This was the least of his problems. The Brown and Goldman families sued Simpson for damages in a civil trial. The jury found there to be a preponderance of evidence against him to lead a civil trial.

Time Magazine said it all: “An American Tragedy” with a mugshot of O.J on the cover.

4. Lawrence Taylor Sex Scandal:

Lawrence Taylor is one of the best known defensive players in the history of the NFL. He’s ranked on top by former players, coaches and media critics. Although he is on top on TV, he is considered to be at the bottom in real life. He is drenched in controversy time and time again. He’s admitted to using drugs throughout his career, being suspended several times for failing drug tests. He was also jailed 3 times for drug possession. In 2011, he came  under scrutiny yet again for sexual misconduct against a 16 year old. But this is not all, Mike Wallace revealed that Taylor hired prostitutes and spent thousands of dollars a day on narcotics. WOW!

5. Super Bowl XXXIII:

Atlanta Falcons’ defensive back Eugene Robinson was arrested for soliciting a prostitute for $40 in Miami. The prostitute was actually an undercover cop. What was disgraceful about the whole scandal was that Robinson was the recipient of the Bart Starr Award from a Christian group Athletes in Action. He was even a bigger let down in the game, missing tackles and throwing an interception.

In order for one to work with the vulnerable sector, one must obtain a vulnerable screening test. In both Canada and the United States, candidates must be in good standing health and not have a history of diseases such as Smallpox, Measles and Tuberculosis. In the United States, particularly, all teachers MUST submit their fingerprints for registry.

Somehow these rules do not apply for coaches as they keep defying the boundaries of their subordinates. Here are just 10 gruesome examples.

1. Jerry Sandusky:

Sandusky was a former Penn State University Assistant Football coach. In November of 2011, he was charged with 40 counts of child sexual abuse within a 15 year period. After being accused of molestation, Sandusky admitted to showering with his boys. 9 years before, Mike McQueary made a statement where he admitted to seeing Sandusky anally raping a 10 year old boy.

2. Don Peters:

Peters coached the 1984 US women Olympics team. In 2011, he was banned from the sports Hall of Fame for allegedly sexually abusing two girls. One girl accused Peters of fondling her at 16 and having sex with her at 17.

3. Graham James:

In December of 2011, former junior NHL coach Graham James was accused of sexual assault yet again, including by NHL player Theoren Fleury. He was jailed before for 3.5 years in the 1990s for sexually assaulting two players approximately 350 times in a 10 year period.

4. Bernie Fine:

He was a Syracuse Orange Associate Basketball Men’s Coach. In November of 2011, two men from Syracuse University came forward accusing Fine of sexual abuse. After these allegations, another male individual came forward as well. In response to the allegations, Fine was fired from his job.

5. Michael Cardamone:

This father of two and husband was accused for sexual assault as well. After assisting a girl who fell, Michael Cardamone was accused of improper touching. He was eventually convicted for assaulting and touching underage girls in a period of two years.

Some of us like to watch sports while the rest of us don’t mind getting our clothes dirty playing them. The following are popular all over the world mainly because they are so much fun!

1. Soccer

The rules of soccer are easy to understand and the game is fairly simple as long as you know what is allowed and what will get you a red or yellow card. About 4 billion people are in love with this sport and the televised games gather the highest ratings every year.

2. Volleyball

Volleyball is even easier to play because all you need is hand-eye coordination and strong wrists. Over 900 million people either play it or watch it. Beach volleyball is very popular and is the best way to get that tan that you’ve always wanted! High schools particularly focus on the benefits of this sport.

3. Basketball

This game isn’t as simple as it looks and one has to keep a number of rules in mind when playing it. It is massively popular amongst teenagers and while it will help if you are tall, it is not necessary as such. If you have good aim and know how to run, this game is perfect for you.

4. Rugby

Rugby is very popular in England and is among the roughest sports in the world. Players have to constantly tackle each other and there are hardly any rules or restrictions as far as the aggression is concerned. It is divided into a number of categories out of which College Rugby and Tag Rugby are the most sought after.

5. Water Sports

Sports like scuba diving, jet skiing and many others are well-liked because they are entertaining and thrilling. The adrenaline rush that you will get when you see a school of fish swimming beside you is nothing less than exhilarating.

1. Alexander Ovechkin

Country: Russia

NHL Team: Washington Capitals

Captain and Left winger of Washington Capitals, Ovechkin was selected in the 2004 entry  draft of the National Hockey League. He joined the Dynamo Mosco from 2004 -2006. He transferred to NHL in 2006, winning Rookie of the Year, scoring 52 goals, leading with 106 points. Winning a list of trophies each season, Ovechkin deserves the Number # 1 spot.

2. Sidney Crosby

Country : Canada

NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

This Canadian Centre and Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is nicknamed ‘The Next One’.  Sidney Crosby started his NHL Career in 2005. In his second season when he won the Art Ross Trophy, he was the youngest to win a scoring title in any North American League. In 2009 he became the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup. He has won awards like the Rocket Richard Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership award. Crosby has represented Canada in World Junior Championships, IIHF World Championship and Winter Olympics.

3. Steven Stamkos

Country: Canada

NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Stamkos had a breakout season in 2009–10, being near the NHL lead in goal scoring for most of the season. Stamkos ended the season with 51 goals, tied for most in the NHL with Sidney Crosby. Stamkos is the third youngest player to achieve this accomplishment. He is currently leading NHL in points and goals scored.

4. Alexander Semin

Country: Russia

NHL Team: Washington Capitals

Semin  made his professional debut in Russia’s second-tier League in 2001–02. He made his NHL debut in the 2003-2004 season. Due to confusion about Semin’s obligations to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which requires all Russian men to serve two years, Semin was not allowed to return to the Capitals when NHL resumed the following season in 2005–06. Along with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Semin helped form a highly offensive core with the Capitals in 2008–09. Semin was identified as one of the currently most improved NHL players.

5. Brad Richards

Country: Canada

NHL Team: Dallas Stars

Richards was drafted in the 3rd round, 64th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, despite recording 82 assists and 115 points in his draft year. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004. On February 26, 2008, roughly 3 hours before the NHL trade deadline, Richards was traded to the Dallas Stars in a blockbuster deal along with goaltender Johan Holmqvist for goalie Mike Smith, centre Jeff Halpern, winger Jussi Jokinen and a 2009 4th round draft pick. Richards finished 7th in the NHL points standings in 2009-2010 season, just behind former teammate Martin St. Louis. He also finished fourth in total assists, and second in powerplay production in the league.