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They Got Hurt How? Bizarre Athlete Injuries

As New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress recovers after he allegedly accidentally shot himself in the thigh, he can take some solace in knowing he isn't the only athlete to have suffered a bizarre, off-the-field injury.

Here are some of the more unusual injuries athletes have suffered.

Clint Barmes: The Rockies infielder fell and broke his collarbone while carrying a package of deer meat into his house that he received from teammate Todd Helton.

Wade Boggs: The former Boston Red Sox star once injured his back while putting on a pair of cowboy boots.

Kim Clijsters: The tennis player tripped over her dog while playing soccer and injured her tailbone.

Adam Eaton: The San Diego pitcher took a trip to the emergency room in 2001 after he stabbed himself in the stomach with a knife while trying to unwrap a DVD.

Chris Hanson: While playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, punter Chris Hanson suffered a freak ax injury. Coach Jack Del Rio put a tree stump and an ax in the team's locker room to demonstrate his mantra -- "Keep chopping wood." One day Hanson lost control while trying to whack the log, resulting in a deep gash in his non-kicking leg.

Glenallen Hill: The former outfielder once fell out of bed and crashed into a glass table after having a nightmare that he was covered in spiders.

Kevin Mitchell: The MLB player has had a couple of bizarre injuries. He once strained a muscle while vomiting, and then in another incident, he chipped his tooth on a doughnut that he left defrosting in the microwave too long.

John Smoltz: The pitcher burned his chest while ironing a shirt. The catch? He was allegedly wearing the shirt while he was ironing it.

Steve Sparks: The right-handed pitcher dislocated his shoulder while attempting to a rip a phonebook in half, a stunt he had once seen during a motivational speaking seminar.

Sam Torrance: At the 1993 Ryder Cup, the Scottish golfer -- who had a problem with sleepwalking -- left his bed and tackled a tree, which he thought was an intruder. He suffered a broken toe in the incident.

Joel Zumaya: The relief pitcher suffered from inflammation in his arm, which caused him to miss three games of the 2006 American League Championship Series, because of playing too much "Guitar Hero."

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