The Weirdest Athlete Interviews of All Time

You know, as much as it would be incredible to be a pro athlete, making tons of money, playing a sport for a living and, potentially, building a legacy through winning, there's one thing that must get really annoying—answering questions.

While we probably all like to give our opinions to friends and family members, when someone slams a camera just inches from your face, we probably all get a little bit agitated.

And whether it was because they just didn't want to be there, didn't know what to say or because they had too much they wanted to get off their chest, these are the weirdest athlete interviews of all time.

Remember not to rant, kids.

Arian Foster

Is it too soon to put Houston Texans running back Arian Foster's interview from this past training camp on the list of all-time weird ones?

Seeing how he is on here, I guess not.

While players are told to give the most politically correct answer in the book while answering a reporter's question—especially one of Foster's stature—his repetitive answer 11 times in 90 seconds is a little much, don't you think?

Bart Scott

Following his team's playoff win over the rival New England Patriots a couple of seasons ago, former New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott was just a little bit emphatic about his opinions on any of the haters in the building.

Starting the interview with an awkward celebration dance, he walked right up to the microphone held by ESPN's Sal Paolantonio and uttered the words, "To all the nonbelievers," which, as Scott continued, wasn't even the weirdest part.

Scott would go on to call out studio analysts who picked against the Jets and then, in response to playing the Pittsburgh Steelers the next game, the player simply said, "Can't wait."

Mic dropped, exit left.

Metta World Peace I

Man, you know who I really miss playing American pro sports? Metta World Peace.

Sure, the guy was a little bit wild if you got on his bad side—umm, does the Malice in the Palace ring a bell?—but when he was in front of a microphone, he often gave solid gold.

This just happened to be one of those moments, as MWP began the interview by spraying the reporter with some cologne before giving some backhanded compliments to players like Nazr Mohammed and Kwame Brown.

Ah, yes, Metta World Peace might have been a lunatic on the court, but he was a comedian when off of it.

Shawne Merriman

In the years that I have either watched or covered sports, I honestly can't recall a time when a subject just blatantly cut things short and walked off-screen.

Until I saw the interview that former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman did last year.

With hosts Bomani Jones and Dan Le Batard really harping on the fact that Merriman was homeless while growing up due to some unfortunate circumstances, the topic really seemed to hit Merriman, as he just got fed up and ended the interview—which, as one can tell by the faces of Jones and Le Batard, was pretty shocking.

Brian Wilson

For all you bros out there, Brian Wilson epitomizes everything right when in front of a camera.

That's because the dude never takes things too seriously, acting more like a comedian than a professional athlete should, saying exactly what's on his mind.

No more did Wilson prove that than following his San Francisco Giants winning the World Series back in 2010, when he stepped up to the mic and knocked his interview out of the park.

How did Wilson feel following the biggest victory in his baseball career? Well, as he said, "Like he wanted to rage, right now."

Viewers could almost see the Giants PR director just cringing with each word that came out of the pitcher's mouth.

Rob Gronkowski

As fantastic as the aforementioned Brian Wilson is when being interviewed, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is just as good, if not actually better.

Look, Gronk isn't a moron, as he knows that his image of being a partying dude needs to be upheld anytime he gets attention, which is why he often does things that might cause a stir from media members.

But when he answered a reporter's question with a simple, "Yo soy fiesta," during Super Bowl week a couple of year's ago, he proved two things—that he's really bad at Spanish and that he knows how to lighten the mood a bit.

It might have been the strangest thing that could have possibly come out of his mouth, yet, somehow, it was the most appropriate too.

Richard Sherman

Do I have a problem with the passion and emphasis that Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman answered questions following his team's NFC title last season? Not at all.

Still, some people thought he overstepped certain boundaries by not only yelling into the mic, but also calling out San Francisco 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree.

You know who probably felt the most awkward, though? Reporter Erin Andrews, who had to try and keep her composure during the whole thing.

I guess that's why Fox pays her the big bucks, huh?

Metta World Peace II

Remember earlier how I said I really missed seeing former NBA All-Star Metta World Peace on the basketball court? Well, here's just another reason why.

I can do without the antics that MWP played with while in the league, but, as mentioned before, he knew how to give an amazing soundbite.

In response to a reporter asking Metta how he was able to come back from an injury in just 12 days, the player paused, thought for a second, and replied, "I'm just too sexy for my cat."

Huh?

Yeah, it made absolutely no sense at all, got a couple chuckles from surrounding reporters and proved that Right Said Fred's song, "I'm Too Sexy," could be used in any instance possible.

Terrell Owens

Throughout his playing days, there weren't too many times when outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens found himself at a loss for words, often boasting about himself while putting down others—typically, his quarterbacks.

That all changed during a press conference following the Dallas Cowboys' playoff loss a few years ago, when, in defense of signal-caller Tony Romo, T.O. broke down to tears in an attempt to show how much love and support he has for Romo.

It's not that a player cried during an interview—that has happened before—but it's that this player cried during an interview, acting as if he was a middle-schooler whose girlfriend just broke up with him on the playground during recess.

Bobby Bonilla

Talking to a reporter after a loss has to be one of the most difficult things an athlete has to do.

After pouring their blood, sweat and tears into a game, the athlete is then expected to take a shower and gather his thoughts to help ease his mind.

Sometimes, though, that doesn't do the trick.

In former MLB outfielder Bobby Bonilla's case, he probably needed a full week away before talking to anyone, let alone a guy with a microphone.

Telling a reporter to, "shove that mic up as far as you can stick it," Bonilla went off on a dude in the New York Mets locker room, even asking the reporter to "make your move."

Yikes. It's a good thing Bobby Bo's teammates stepped in to prevent things from actually getting physical.

Joe Namath

Awkward, weird, uncomfortable, hilarious—are there any other words I should use to describe the interview that former New York Jets great Joe Namath had with Suzy Kolber during a preseason game back in 2003?

Known as a flamboyant playboy during his time in the Big Apple while with the Jets in his playing days, it wasn't too shocking to see Broadway Joe actually hit on Kolber, but when he muttered the words, "I wanna kiss you" to her—while blitzed off booze—it was definitely unexpected.

We all have those drunk, creepy moments in bars while trying to hit on a girl, but, unfortunately, for Namath, his was seen in front of millions on live TV, making for one memorable interview.

David Schultz

Just as I mentioned earlier with Bobby Bonilla, sometimes, reporters just push an athlete's buttons enough that they want to actually fight them.

In the case of former wrestler David Schultz, he took things to another level, though.

While being interviewed by John Stossel about the validity of pro wrestling, Schultz gave an intense answer—as expected by a wrestler.

But he didn't stop there, and he then knocked the mustachioed Stossel twice with a couple open-fisted punches, sending the reporter to the ground and, abruptly, ending the interview.

Jim Everett

It's one of the most classic interviews ever seen in sports, so of course Jim Rome calling former NFL quarterback Jim Everett, "Chris Everett" was going to make this list.

Although some might be afraid of mocking an athlete in front of his face, Rome showed no mercy, continuing to poke at Everett even after the player called the host out.

What happened next was hilarious, as Everett went at Rome like a hurricane, knocking the table over and pushing his instigator to the ground before interns and producers could break things up.

Weird or not, this was pretty damn funny.

Shannon Sharpe

Super Bowl media day always gives us some memorable moments—remember when that lady showed up in a wedding dress and asked Tom Brady if he would marry her?

While that was bizarre as hell, the exchange of words between former players Shannon Sharpe and Ray Buchanan might have been even more strange.

As one of the biggest trash-talkers in the history of sports, Sharpe was usually on-point with his insults, but when he went on a rant about how he wouldn't pick Buchanan up if his truck was broken down on the side of the road, well, that was just weird.

All of this because Buchanan said that Shannon looked like a horse—which, come on, is just funny, right?

Allen Iverson

Ah, yes, the timeless Allen Iverson practice rant.

Rather than talk too much about why this is one of the weirdest athlete interviews ever, I'll just say this—Iverson said the word "practice" more than 20 times during the entire video, making sure he got his point across to reporters that, he was just "talking 'bout practice."

Needless to say, A.I. wasn't a believer in the whole "practice makes perfect" theory.

Mike Tyson

How could I possibly put together a piece like this and not include one of the strangest athlete interviewers known to man—Mike Tyson.

With a bevy of bizarre quotes, Iron Mike has never held back saying it like it is—even if it makes him look absolutely insane—as he has argued and cursed out a host during an interview, given weird analogies and, of course, once told an opponent that he would, "rip out his heart and feed it to him."

Tyson might have lightened up a little bit lately, but, because he's so intimidating and prone to snapping at any moment, he still gives the most awkward interviews.