Today is the 50th birthday of Jeff Van Gundy. The former Knicks and Rockets coach may be best remembered for his role in the famous Knicks-Heat brawl of May 1998. As Charles Oakley and Alonzo Mourning squared off, Van Gundy famously grabbed onto Mourning’s leg to prevent the fight. Van Gundy is now an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA. (Jeff Christensen/Reuters)

SI VAULT: Van Gundy is easy to mock, but he’s shrewd and fearless (10.30.00)

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Red Sox OF Coco Crisp dodges a punch by Rays pitcher James Shields during a 2008 brawl between the two A.L. East rivals. Crisp charged the mound after being hit by a pitch and the ensuing brawl resulted in eight players getting suspended. (AP).

GALLERY: Notorious Basebrawls

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Rangers defenseman Dale Purinton lands a thumb in the eye of Boston’s Colton Orr during this 2005 fight. (Lou Capozzola/SI)

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