We usually consider playing professional sports in the United States the pinnacle of competition. Though kids in America don’t grow up dreaming of playing on foreign soil, often it is the only option for athletes who hit a lull in their careers.

Sometimes, playing in a lesser league in another country marks the end of a professional career in the United States. Other times, the athletes return to America and resume playing in their respective leagues.

With the recent news that Celtics captain Paul Pierce plans on playing in Europe after his career is over in the NBA, we’ve come up with a list of 10 athletes who bolted Boston for a chance to continue their career in a foreign league.

10. Dino Radja

The 6-foot-11 Croatian forward came to Boston in 1993 after starring in his native country and Italy. Radja spent four productive seasons with the Celtics, averaging 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds, but the teams weren’t very good. Following their 15-win season in 1996-97, the C’s decided to move on without Radja and traded him to the 76ers. However, he failed his physical and was returned to Boston. Seeing the writing on the wall, Radja returned to Europe, playing in Greece and Croatia before retiring in 2003 by winning the Croatian title with his first professional team, KK Split.

9. Dmitri Kvartalnov

Though the majority of Kvartalnov’s playing days came in Europe, he was able to contribute on the ice in his short time with the Bruins. The winger came to Boston in 1992 from the IHL after being drafted 16th overall and recorded a point in his first 14 NHL games. The streak stood as the record for the longest point streak from the beginning of a career until Evgeni Malkin broke it in 2007. Following the 1993-94 season with the Providence Bruins, he went back overseas and played the rest of his career in Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Austria and Russia before retiring in 2008.

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After losing Sidney Rice for half the season to a hip surgery, the Vikings have traded with the Dolphins for Greg Camarillo, reports Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald via Twitter.

During his three seasons with Miami, the wide receiver caught 113 passes for 1,325 yards. His fourth career catch was an overtime touchdown against the Ravens to give the Dolphins their only win of the 2007 season.

After testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Marlins catch Ronny Paulino was suspended 50 games on Friday by Major League Baseball under the drug policy.

In a statement released by the team, Paulino said, “To control my weight this season, I used a dietary pill. I recently learned that the dietary pill contained a substance banned under Major League Baseball’s drug policy. I am ashamed and saddened for disappointing and distracting my family, my teammates, the entire Florida Marlins organization and baseball fans.”

This season, Paulino is hitting .259 with four home runs and 37 RBI. He’s struggled since the All-Star break, hitting only .195 with one homer. To replace him, the Marlins recalled catcher Chad Davis from Triple-A New Orleans.

After returning Tuesday from a strained left hamstring, Nick Punto is going back on the 15-day DL following Thursday’s game against the White Sox. Punto aggravated the same injury running the bases in the fifth inning.

The infielder is hitting .253 this season in 81 games. To fill his roster spot, the Twins recalled infielder Matt Tolbert from Triple-A Rochester for Friday’s game against the Angels.

The Bucks announced on Friday that they’ve officially signed free agent Early Boykins.

The guard is 34 years old and played with the Wizards last season, averaging 6.6 points 2.6 assists 67 games. Boykins spent part of the 2006-07 season with Milwaukee and averaged a career-high 14.6 points.

Former Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker worked out with the Vikings on Friday, reports Adam Schefter via Twitter.

With receiver Percy Harvin collapsing on Thursday with a migraine, Minnesota could be looking to add another pass-catcher for insurance. Walker is a familiar target for quarterback Brett Favre, who connected with the receiver for 89 catches, 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2004.

After that season, however, Walker wanted a new contract and Favre openly criticized him for not playing out his deal. Since then, Walker suffered a season-ending injury early in 2005 and has bounced around from the Broncos to the Raiders.

Last season with Oakland, Walker played in just three games and failed to record a catch.

Rookie LeGarrette Blount threw another punch at a player after the incident between Oregon and Boise State last September. This time, however, it was directed at his own teammate in practice.

After carrying the ball on a play and having his helmet thrown off, Blount got involved in a scuffle between Titans players on Wednesday. The running back took a swing at Eric Bakhtiari after the defensive end reportedly whispered something in Blount’s ear. Blount gave Bakhtiari a shove and then punched him while his helmet was still on.

Blount apologized to Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who said, “I am not disappointed whatsoever.” Blount claimed that he’s been receiving tough treatment and been provoked on a daily basis because of his past.

Here is the video of the play:

The Grizzlies and 12th overall pick Xavier Henry are in a contract stalemate, causing other teams to make offers for the Kansas product, writes Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.

Memphis owner Michael Heisley, however, stated that he doesn’t want Henry playing with any other team this upcoming season. “I’m not looking to trade him just to trade him,” Heisley said on Wednesday.

The contract disagreement between the two sides stems from rookie bonus incentives that the Grizzlies have offered Henry. Henry’s agent, Arm Tellum, has argued that only one player since the rookie salary scale was instituted in 1995 has accepted a performance bonus.

Greivis Vasquez, the Grizzlies’ late first-round pick (28th overall), also hasn’t signed for the same reasons. Vasquez, however, did participate at the Las Vegas Summer League in July.

If Henry doesn’t sign and play this season, Memphis holds the rights to negotiate with him until 2013.

Following Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Mets, the Astros placed closer Matt Lindstrom on the 15-day DL due to back spasm and tightness.

Lindstrom struggled in three of his last four outings, blowing three saves for losses. This season, the right-hander is 2-4 with 4.15 ERA and 22 saves in 28 chances.

Houston recalled left-hander Fernando Abad to replace Lindstrom on the 25-man roster.

The NL East-leading Braves bolstered their team for the stretch run by adding Cubs first baseman Derek Lee on Wednesday. In return, Chicago receives three pitching prospects from Atlanta in right-handers Robinson Lopez and Tyrelle Harris and lefty Jeffery Lorick.

With a 50-71 record, the Cubs sit behind the Houston Astros in the NL Central at fourth place. The Braves, meanwhile, are battling the Phillies for the division and were in search of a bat after losing longtime third baseman Chipper Jones to a torn ACL on Aug. 10.

In the final year of his five-year, $65 million contract, Lee is well below his career average of .282, hitting .251 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI. Due to dealing with a bulging disk on his lower left side, Lee’s first game in an Atlanta uniform could come back at Wrigley Field this weekend as the Braves and Cubs meet.