The most awkward and funniest interview moments in sports history
Take a look back at the most awkward interview moments in sports history
During the 2013 Daytona 500, intrepid Fox Sports reporter Erin Andrews took to the infield to hear about the overall experience of NASCAR's biggest race from none other than 50 Cent.
What ensued has already been marked in sports interview history as one of the most awkward on-camera moments of all time. After the usual smiles and pleasantries, 50 Cent went in for the real thing -- a full-on kiss of Andrews during the live broadcast. Andrews, in the most professional manner possible, gave the rap star the cheek treatment and carried on with the interview.
Good job on the part of Andrews, because everyone watching at home simply couldn't help but cringe for her sake.
The hip hop stars' would-be kiss got us here at Gamedayr wondering: Is it the most awkward, crazy, or unexpected interviewing moment in sports history? There's only one way to find out.
Read on, and when you have had the chance to go through all the choices, vote on your favorite.
Nicole Richie really likes Kobe Bryant -- really likes him
Just like 50 Cent's attempted kiss of Andrews, this one involves something of a controversial celebrity, a sideline reporter, and most likely some sort of cocktail (or seven).
At the very least, however, Nicole Richie wasn't attracted to the reporter himself -- but to none other than Kobe Bryant.
So close to Hollywood, Lakers games are always star-studded events. However, and for whatever reason, Fox Sports decided to forgo the usual characters, guys like Jack Nicholson who show up at every game, in favor of the train wreck that was Paris Hilton's best friend in Miss Richie.
Well, the broadcast definitely got what it paid for. After the guy asked, "Are you a basketball fan? You got a favorite Laker?"
Richie responded with the erudite, "I love Kobe Bryant because I want him to have sex with me!"
Oh yeah, and then she went with the standard, sorority girl holler. Hilarious for everyone except the reporter, who immediately threw it back to the broadcast booth.
Wait, we thought Kellen Winslow was a football player?
While starring as a tight end for Miami, Kellen Winslow's Hurricanes faced off against the Tennessee Volunteers. So studly was Winslow on the afternoon that when, at one point, he went to make a block on a Vols linebacker, he actually blocked that guy into another defender, thus actually blocking two guys on one play. He even managed to hurt one of them in the process.
Of course, the main reason for post-game interviews is to give sports journalists the chance to share with the general public the mindset of a superstar athlete such as Winslow. Well, after that game, Winslow let the world know exactly what was going through his mind at that moment, and it wasn't exactly football.
In order to get and stay pumped up on the battlefield (literally, in this dude's mind), Winslow told reporters that he is "a f*&#ing soldier".
Whatever you say, guy. Just don't Vin Diesel anyone, alright?
The Canes lost the game to the Vols, but Winslow's post-game rant will forever win the web.
Bill Belichick pounces on reporter in press conference
Fox25 sports anchor Kristine Leahy asks Bill Belichick a question he doesn't like, and the future Hall of Fame coach lets her know it.
Basically, the genius that is Bill Belichick was out-coached, out-thought and just generally out-classed during a regular season meeting against the Colts. After the game, Leahy asked Belichick if playing against the best in the league was a good way to gauge his own team.
At that point, Belichick told Leahy that he did not agree with her "soliloquy" and that he had no idea which game Ms. Leahy was even watching.
Coming from a guy who, apparently, really needs a dictionary ('soliloquy'? Really?) this is one awkward press conference moment.
Kurt Busch is an angry, angry man
NASCAR star Kurt Busch raced cars before he got arrested, and he raced cars again afterwards. Obviously, his fans were curious to find out how the driver was feeling out on the track with the probation he was under simply hanging over his head.
Or, at least, The Sporting News' reporter, Bob Pockrass, wanted to know how Busch was feeling.
However, instead of receiving a level-headed answer from the nutbar, Pockrass instead got a threat on his well-being.
“It refrains me from beating the s*** out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions. But since I’m on probation, I suppose that that’s improper to say as well.”
Yeah, dude -- definitely improper to say. Since when was cursing at someone on live television anything less than crazy awkward?
Nick Saban has talented guys, and he isn't apologizing
Nick Saban, at times, seems like he takes it upon himself to make every experience with the press an awkward one. Thus, it was not easy picking just one, but here goes nothing.
As Saban jogged into the locker room for the halftime break of the Crimson Tide's season-opening blowout win over Michigan, ESPN's Heather Cox pulled him aside for a quick question. All the reporter asked was what it was like balancing three talented running backs in a committee.
Instead of simply saying something like, 'Oh, we are going to give them equal carries until one stands out' or 'They have all earned playing time because of hard work', Saban instead went on the defensive, and immediately stated the following.
"Well, I don't think it's a running-back-by-committee, I think it's a lot of good players getting an opportunity to play. So, ya know, I don't know what's wrong with that."
He was already jogging away when Cox replied with a quick "It's all good, thanks Coach".
No, Saban, there is nothing wrong with having great players, but man, we have got to work on those social skills.
Ryan Leaf melts down in San Diego locker room
No 'awkward sports moments' list would be complete without a Ryan Leaf cameo.
In this case, think back to the days when Leaf still actually suited up for the San Diego Chargers. After being selected at No. 2-overall by the Bolts, just behind Peyton Manning, big things were expected, but instead all the franchise got were some big interceptions and even bigger locker room blow ups.
Luckily for us, one was caught by TV cameras.
Following yet another in a string of absolute garbage performances in 1998, a reporter did something that wasn't to Leaf's liking. At that point, Leaf leapt from his seat and began berating the reporter with shouts of "Don't touch me!" and "Knock it off!"
That is, until the quarterback's teammates were able to get over to him to cool him off. Unfortunately, Leaf's teammates were not always there, as this was just one in a number of awfully awkward interview moments before finally being sentenced to five years in prison on drug use and burglary charges.
Holly Rowe will not be denied her airtime
ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe did not get to where she is by simply standing on the sidelines (zing!). No, Rowe gets her airtime by any means necessary, and sometimes that means literally shoving another reporter out of the way altogether.
Following Michigan's 2012 Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech, all eyes were on Wolverines coach Brady Hoke. However, to make sure the eyes of the nation were on both Hoke and herself, Rowe barreled through another reporter to get next to the Maize 'n Blue Big man.
Basically, next time you watch Holly Rowe giving a report on the Worldwide Leader in Sports, just think about that other reporter Rowe had to box out for the spot -- she'll be bleeding out on the ground with Rowe standing over her. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point.
NBA commish David Stern unleashes the fury on Jim Rome
David Stern has been the final arbiter in all things relating to the NBA for decades. Thus, he takes particular umbrage whenever the integrity of something related to his league is called into question.
However, that is precisely what sports television personality Jim Rome did after New Orleans was awarded with the No. 1-overall draft pick from the lottery. The franchise was obviously going to take Kentucky's Anthony Davis, who was far and away the best player in college the year before.
What Rome was questioning, however, was the fact that the NBA was officially the owners of the Hornets at the time. Having a player the caliber of Davis suiting up would make the franchise more attractive to a potential buyer.
But Stern wasn't going to stand any questions on the integrity of his draft lottery from Rome. After Rome's questions, Stern fired back with a totally random, "Did you stop beating your wife yet?"
Wow.
The point was that Rome was asking an incriminating question with absolutely no basis in reality.
Of course, had Stern just told him, "You're asking me an incriminating question with absolutely no basis in reality," he would have perhaps gotten his point across a little bit better.
But how would we be entertained, then?
'Do you have a favorite celebratory Canadian beer?'
Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals is a once-in-a-generation phenom. During his first season in the nation's capital, one in which he won National League Rookie of the Year, Harper turned just 19 years old.
Generally speaking, jokes along the lines of 'You should enjoy some sparkling grape juice tonight', go over with a chuckle and a fun answer. However, a reporter instead asked the outfielder that since the Canadian drinking age is 19, does Harper have any Canadian beers of choice?
Definitely a leading question, and one that prompted a Nats communications staffer to answer first. However, undeterred, Harper simply smirked and came back at the reporter with a great answer:
"That's a clown question, bro."
That reporter just got served, bro.
Kobe Bryant admits that his team can't guard -- sort of
Where's Nicole Richie when you need someone to compliment you?
Following a blowout loss to Oklahoma City in the playoffs, Kobe Bryant was itching to get done with whatever post-game press conference questions were to be asked.
Well, after going through the standard stuff, such as "Well, it was tough" and "We've got to just play better," Bryant thought he was finished.
However, one guy had one last question. A reporter shouted out "Can you guard? Can you guys guard?" Was his question sarcastic? Definitely. Did it get Kobe a bit riled up? Definitely.
The Lakers superstar responded in kind, with a shake of his head, a brisk "Nope" and then got up and walked out of the room.
Again, can we get Nicole Richie out here, please?
Heather Cox really wants to interview David Shaw
While this post-Rose Bowl scene looks like the standard interview between Stanford coach David Shaw and ESPN's Heather Cox, we are actually lucky Kirby Lee got a picture of it in the first place.
Why?
Because the interview was only about five seconds long, that's why. Cox managed to get a question in, and Shaw wanted to stick around, but game officials were pulling him in several different directions in the post-game chaos. Thus, and on live television, Cox was left standing by herself saying "Are you kidding me?"
Not the best way to open up 2013, there, Heather.
Peyton Manning goes off on 'idiot kicker'
The one and only Peyton Manning did not always have sure-footed Adam Vinatieri kicking when he lead the Colts down the field. Before Vinatieri brought his Super Bowl-winning leg from New England to the Midwest, Peyton had to deal with prima donna Mike Vanderjagt.
In an interview, Vanderjagt said that Manning didn't play with enough passion.
That was a bad mistake by Mr. Vanderjagt.
Lynn Swan had the chance to ask the future Hall of Famer about the kicker during the Pro Bowl, and what he got was one of the most epic and hilarious interview responses of all time.
Manning blasted Vanderjagt, shocked even that he was wasting his time talking about an "idiot kicker" who "got liquored up and ran his mouth."
We won't waste any more of your time with it Peyton. We will end it on one more quote however, because this is freaking hilarious.
"The sad thing is, he's a good kicker -- but he's an idiot."
And we never saw or heard from Vanderjagt again.
Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard get cuddly for the press
Or not.
The will-they-or-won't-they saga of the Orlando Magic and star center/team cancer Dwight Howard was so well documented that towards the end no one wanted to watch it anymore.
However, one portion of Howard's tumultuous final year in Orlando proved to be pure TV gold.
Reports and rumors were swirling that Howard has gone to the team's front office in order to specifically ask for the firing of coach Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy met with reporters following a shoot-around, hours before the team was scheduled to take on the Knicks. No one wanted to talk about the Knicks, of course, as all the conversation centered around Van Gundy's center.
The coach, surprisingly, was up front and honest about the situation, basically confirming the fact that he was a dead man walking as the team's head coach. Only a minute or two later, Howard himself came over and slung a gigantic arm around his coach, acting like absolutely nothing in the world was wrong with his actions or with the overall feel of the team.
There was -- and now Howard is an embarrassment on the Lakers and Van Gundy is co-host of a radio show in Miami. Ouch.
Joe Namath couldn't care less about the team struggling ...
The former New York Jets legend just wants to kiss Suzy Kolber.
Before there was 50 Cent and Erin Andrews, Twitter, GIFs and a zillion blogs ripping the kiss that wasn't at the Daytona 500, there was Broadway Joe and Ms. Kolber.
With the world watching in analog format, Namath proved that he's still got it -- well, sort of.
An obviously drunk Namath was put in front of the camera (first mistake) and then asked to talk about Chad Pennington as if he was the next 'great' Jets passer (second mistake, for a multitude of reasons).
Namath took the questions of Pennington's talent about as seriously as could be expected, which means not even a little bit. Instead, he told Monday Night Football sideline reporter Suzy Kolber that he "just wants to kiss" her.
Ummm, yeah, maybe just a little awkward, right?
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