Best Late Night Sports Skits: Conan, Fallon or Kimmel?

From Bill Swerski's Super Fans to prayer with Tim Tebow and Jesus, sports have always occupied a special spot in the world of comedy.  

And, in more recent years, late-night stars such Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have graciously accepted and carried the sports comedy torch.

With bits featuring Matt Harvey walking the streets, hate-filled Twitter assaults, and Mortal Kombat sessions courtesy of Marshawn Lynch and Rob Gronkowski, the three comedic savants have more than held their own.

With, then, their very best sports-themed skits in mind, we've compiled a commemorative list, specifically highlighting The Best Late Night Sports Bits: Featuring Conan, Fallon and Kimmel.

Some of our selected bits include athletes themselves while others simply mock our country's modern day gladiators. Either way, though, the end result's the very same: Viewers laughing hysterically, with three comedians to blame!

Which host does sports skits the best?

Booing Cano

Despite starring in New York for nine years and winning a World Series with the Yankees in 2009, Robinson Cano departed the Big Apple in 2013 to join the Mariners in Seattle. 

Shockingly, unforgiving Yankee fans took the decision personally, and have not yet forgiven the second baseman. 

Of course, in a classic comedy bit, Jimmy Fallon made great use said bitterness, giving fans the chance to taunt and boo Cano as passionately and for as long as their hearts desired. 

But, in a single revealing moment—with the target of hate waiting in the "weeds" ready to emerge and expose—fans hysterically transformed from bold antagonists to bashful apologists. 

In the end, the skit perfectly measured and communicated the powerful correlation between bravery and distance from target. 

Lie Witness News

People love to pretend they know things, even when they clearly don't. For whatever reason, many of us seem to struggle admitting we're clueless. 

And leave it to Jimmy Kimmel to expose this aspect of human nature, which he and his team so effectively did prior to Miami's showdown with San Antonio in the 2014 NBA Finals. 

More specifically, Kimmel and company humorously quizzed unsuspecting fans on fictional basketball concepts like San Antonio's "man-to-man grinder app" as well as their "Baratheon defense" and "Targaryen offense."

Oh, and we'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the fan who was asked about new Heat center "Cream Myjeens." 

At every turn, those who were interviewed lied through their teeth—just as they did in this World Cup edition—providing viewers with plenty of laughs while faking knowledge.  

Matt Harvey Hits the Streets

For this classic bit, Jimmy Fallon sent New York Mets star pitcher Matt Harvey to the streets, where he interviewed Mets "fans" who embarrassingly failed to recognize the celebrity with whom they were chatting. 

The awkward moments included a man unwittingly referencing Harvey's "naked" spread in ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue—the same man, by the way, failed to connect the identity dots until the 2013 All-Star produced a copy of the photo—as well as a self proclaimed passionate Harvey fan—clothed in a Harvey jersey and all—failing to recognize his "favorite player" even as the two stood toe-to-toe. 

The only thing better than the skit's genius premise are the fans' shocked reactions upon discovering the massive elephant in the room. 

Sports Tweets

Sports fans/critics/Tweeters can, at times, be truly ruthless, especially when a computer and hundreds of miles separates them from their targets of vitriol. 

It's a habit that Jimmy Kimmel has exposed and used brilliantly for comedic purposes, specifically when he features superstar athletes publicly reading the most extreme and inflammatory tweets directed their way.

In the NFL Edition—we should note, the NBA and college football editions are laugh-out-loud funny as well— Keyshawn Johnson is ridiculed for his weight gain, Dez Bryant is referred to as a "baby back B*tch" and Michael Strahan is mocked for the noticeable and unfortunate gap between his two front teeth, while a host of other stars recount their very own hate-charged Twitter tirades.

The ridicule alone is over the top enough to be considered funny, but watching the actual targets of hate read their very own tweets aloud brings the entire bit to a whole new comedic level. 

Conan's Dream Team

With his very own online college up and running, Conan's next step was to put together a basketball Dream Team. 

His goal: To assemble a Final-Four worthy basketball team. 

And even though it didn't work out exactly how the comedian anticipated—the NCAA does have some rules, after all—his group of misfits, plus seven-time NBA All-Star James Worthy, managed to find their way into the East San Fernando Valley Rented Gym Invitational Tournament.

Of course, the comedy that ensued was plentiful to say the least. 

Guillermo Hits the Streets

On May 2nd, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will go head-to-head in the biggest fight of the century.

So when the two fighters recently held a pre-fight press conference, Jimmy Kimmel naturally sent parking lot security guard Guillermo to get some sound (It's worth noting, he got some memorable sound here too).

Somehow, Guillermo managed to get time with both fighters, which included a hug and birthday song from Pacquiao and a shot of spinach-filled alcohol with Mayweather. 

But as memorable as Guillermo's interaction with the boxers was, the bit's best moment came when he caught up with Top Rank Boxing's friendly "ambassador". 

Conan and Curling

In honor of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Conan sent Andy Richter into the field to honor "some sports that we don't have to care about for another four years." 

The particular sport of focus: Curling! 

While working with a few experts of the sport, Richter's perfectly timed sarcasm and condescending disregard are undeniably funny, while his lack of athleticism is just as humorous to witness.

Meanwhile, giving a listen to Richter's curling-themed remake of Eye of the Tiger is worth your time too.   

Actors Against Acting Athletes

Actors like Jack Nicholson, Spike Lee and Bill Murray are famous for their love and commitment to sports. And while they never try to play their favorite sports professionally, they are around to watch their favorite teams on the regular. 

On the flip side, athletes are notorious for attempting to cross over, with guys like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Dan Marino and many others making big-screen appearances. 

But somewhat predictably, many of the less athletic entertainers—like new sport creator Gary Oldman—have grown to seriously resent the one-sided street to dual-threat glory.

Jeter Jams

Unlike football, for example, baseball often allows for considerable individuality. Even before one gets to show off their very own batting stance, players have the opportunity to express themselves via their unique pre-bat walkout music. 

So with the baseball ritual in mind, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots teamed up in an effort to create a collection of walkout options for former Yankee and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. 

As expected, the three musical offerings were a combination of horrible and impressive, comical and enticing. 

We just wonder who wrote what...

Mortal Kombat with Lynch and Gronk

Forget sports-specific work, no comedy skit this year has been funnier than Conan's pre-Super Bowl bit with Marshawn Lynch and Rob Gronkowski. 

Mostly organic and ad-libbed, the routine included nothing more than the three entertainers getting together for a gruesome session of Mortal Kombat.

And, believe it or not, Lynch steals the show; simply put, the dude's absolutely hilarious, and in a surprisingly intentional sort of way.

Of course, Gronk and Conana have their comedic moments too, while the casual back-and-forth between the three is truly priceless. 

Now if only Mortal Kombat with friends could be so much fun.