The Most Iconic Expressions in Sports

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Sports are defined by the memorable images they leave behind and iconic expressions represent a huge part of that legacy.

When you think of great athletes, coaches, and sports figures, what comes to mind?  More often than not, it isn't the statistics or records, it is the one expression that you most closely identify with them.

So, here are some of the most iconic expressions in sports.  

No. 20: Andy Roddick

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Roddick's "official face" will always be remembered for his trademark shoulder shrug after any terrible official's call.

No. 19: Dikembe Mutombo

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Do you remember the finger wag?

Mutombo's "no, no" face became synonymous with NBA defense in the 1990s.

No. 18: Shaquille O'Neal

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When Shaq became determined to go to the rim and score, every NBA player knew to get out of the way.  The "attack face" is iconic.

No. 17: Drew Gooden

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Drew Gooden's "dunk face" is pretty cool. He may not be a superstar, but he sure makes his dunks look good.  

No. 16: Ray Lewis

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We'll just call it "the business face" because when Ray Lewis looks like that, he is about to go knock somebody out.  

No. 15: Nick Saban

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Not a hint of a smiley face.

This is what 13-0 looks like in Nick Saban's world.  

No. 14: Floyd Mayweather

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The "money face."

Enough said.  

No. 13: Lovie Smith

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Smith's "smirk poker face" never changes, whether it is 17-17 or 45-3.

No. 12: Larry Brown

Larry Brown

Nearly every NBA team (and half of the college ones) has seen this "angry face" on its sideline.  

No. 11: Peyton Manning

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The "Manning face" personified Peyton's commitment to near perfection on the field throughout most of the early 2000s.  

No. 10: Mike Shanahan

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Shanahan's "red face" positively glows with anger when things just are not going his way on the field.  

No. 9: Jim Harbaugh

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Harbaugh's "intensity face" never seems to have an off switch.

Calm is just not one of his personality traits.  But winning certainly is.  

No. 8: Tim Duncan

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"No, I didn't foul anyone!"

No. 7: Cristiano Ronaldo

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The "I'm just awesome and I know it" face has personified Ronaldo's whole career.  

No. 6: Philip Rivers

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Rivers' "pissed off face" makes an appearance weekly in the AFC West.

And nothing makes Rivers more pissed off than seeing No. 5 on this list.  

No. 5: Jay Cutler

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Cutler's "disgruntled face" is known to Bears fans everywhere. Those fans who want to love him but don't feel much love in return.  

No. 4: Tom Brady

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Brady's "sideline face" while he waits to ice a touchdown-winning drive is still feared around the NFL.  

No. 3: Charles Barkley

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Have you ever seen a picture of Sir Charles with his mouth closed?

No. 2: Kobe Bryant

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The "Kobe face" shows you Bryant at his most ruthless.

It's the closest thing we have left to His Airness' legendary game face in the NBA.  

No. 1: Michael Jordan

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You could call it "the determined face," the expression Jordan wore when he decided that, no matter what, he simply was not going to lose.

It was the face that made him the greatest basketball player of all time.