Whitecaps lose striker Mattocks to a… cooking injury?!?

Darren Mattocks

Athletes probably don’t suffer freak injuries at a rate any higher than us average Joes. But, because they are in the spotlight, we hear about them.

So, add Vancouver Whitecap Darren Mattocks to the list. The Whitecaps announced Tuesday that the 2012 second-overall SuperDraft pick will be out indefinitely thanks to injuries suffered Sunday in an, ahem, cooking accident.

The burns to his arm and shoulder are serious enough that he was still in hospital Tuesday, when the Whitecaps made the announcement.

“It was an unfortunate accident, but Darren is handling everything well and remains in good spirits,” said Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie in a release issued by the club. “We will have a better understanding on the recovery time and course of action later in the week, but we fully anticipate Darren to make a complete recovery in due time.”

Remember that two winters ago, Toronto FC prospect Nicholas Lindsay derailed his career with injuries suffered in a snowmobiling accident.

Mattocks joins an illustrious list of pro athletes who have injured themselves away from the field.

Boston Red Sox legend Wade Boggs bruised his ribs after he fell trying to take off a pair of cowboy boots in his Toronto hotel room.

Of course, NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress went from famous to infamous after he shot himself. Former Blue Jay outfielder Glenallen Hill injured himself while having a nightmare about spiders.

Many teams put clauses in contracts that forbid players from doing dangerous off-field activities, such as motorcycling or skiing. Wonder if Mattocks will find a no-cooking clause in an updated deal?