The 20 Most Awkward Moments in Sports

By (Correspondent) on April 15, 2010

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For as long as there is sport, there will be moments where we just feel uncomfortable and simply have no words for a response.

So, which moments were the most awkward?

From a grown man literally crying over his teammate to a basketball coach topless and painted in team colors, let's count down the 20 most awkward moments in sports.

No. 20: Dennis Green

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The most memorable moment of this coach's career wasn't on the field.

After a loss to the Chicago Bears, Coach Green gave all of us that awkward feeling with his infamous quote, "They are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!"

No. 19: Jason Richardson Misses Dunk to Tie Game

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Maybe this one is just me, but when the former slam dunk champion missed a game-tying dunk against the Spurs with 40 seconds to go in the game, the situation felt awkward.

I know if no one else, Jason Richardson had to feel awkward about it.

No. 18: Serena Williams Gets Graphic

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Serena Williams added a few censored moments to her career when she had an outburst of anger towards a woman at the US Open.

It kinda had that "Please don't hurt mommy!" feel to it.

Except daddy would be the one scared of mommy here, which is what makes it even more awkward than normal.

No. 17: Oklahoma St. Coach Mike Gundy is 40

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"I'm a man! I'm 40!"

All right, all right! You're 40! What do you want me to say?!

The Oklahoma State football coach had good intentions in defending one of his players, but boy, did he make it awkward to be in that press room.

No. 16: Steve Francis to the Grizzlies After All

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When Steve Francis initially came out of college from Maryland, he was drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1999. Immediately, he forced a draft-day trade.

So, how is this awkward?

Nearly 10 years later, he ended up getting traded from Houston to the Grizzlies he originally refused to play for. I bet that was an interesting conversation between Francis and the Grizzlies organization.

No. 15: Sammy Sosa Is Corked

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Sammy Sosa never really got in trouble for steroids in baseball.

That's because he used corked bats instead.

When his bat broke in a game, the umpires noticed the inside of the bat was corked.

The situation was awkward (and outrageous) enough that Sosa was ejected from the game, and the once great man of home run royalty didn't do much else for the rest of his career.

I wonder why.

No. 14: Pistons/Pacers Brawl

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Children in the stands were crying.

Other fans were covering their mouth with that "Oh my God" look going on.

When Ron Artest and other Pacers players ended up in the stands beating down fans and Pistons players didn't really help the matter...well...let's just say it was on SportsCenter the next few days.

No. 13: Fan Man Flies into Boxing Match

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On Nov. 6, 1993, Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield were fighting for the Heavyweight championship.

Then out of nowhere flies this man on a parachute contraption into the arena, and he lands right in the ring.

How awkward would it have felt to look up and say, "Umm, there is a man flying a parachute in the building..."

No. 12: Drunk Joe Namath Puts the Moves on Suzy Kolber

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Say it ain't so, Joe!

After saying in an interview, "I couldn't care less about the team struggling," Namath continues slurring his words by saying he wants to kiss Suzy Kolber.

Uh, Joe? Awkward!

No. 11: Bruce Pearl Topless at UT Lady Vols Game

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The coach of the Tennessee men's basketball team was just trying to show some school spirit by cheering on the Lady Vols as they played Duke.

Regardless, this image is not only awkward, it's plain weird too.

No. 10: Brett Favre in a Vikings Jersey at Lambeau

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Does anyone else feel like this just doesn't look right?

When Favre became a Viking, that was one thing.

Then when the day came and he actually walked into Lambeau Field wearing purple, the awkwardness went to a whole new level.

No. 9: Terrell Owens Cries for Tony Romo

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Really, T.O.?

I mean really?

When the media began criticizing Tony Romo after a Cowboys loss, the man who is always in the media as a loudmouth tough guy not only backed up Romo, but showed us he has a sensitive emotional side as well.

That alone is pretty awkward.

No. 8: Michael Jordan in a Wizards Uniform in Chicago

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Blue just doesn't look right on his royal airness.

When Jordan came back, it was more or less as a leader for the team to learn from.

But when it was time to go to Chicago and play, where a statue of him is outside the arena, I know I wasn't the only one asking, "Does anyone else feel awkward about this right now?"

No. 7: Super Bowl XXXVIII: Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson

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The Super Bowl is the most watched television program every single year.

So, add the thousands of people at the game to the millions watching all over the nation, and that gives quite a few awkward feelings for children and parents at home wanting to know what a "wardrobe malfunction" is.

No. 6: Don Zimmer Attacks Pedro Martinez

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It's always awkward when an old man gets thrown to the ground by someone half his age.

In this case it wasn't any different when Pedro Martinez threw down Yankees coach Don Zimmer. I can hear the conversations now...

"Did Pedro just throw that old man to the ground?"

"Yes...he sure did..."

Awkward.

No. 5: Bob Huggins and Da'Sean Butler Share a Moment

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In this year's Final Four matchup between West Virginia and Duke, Mountaineers player Da'Sean Butler went down after a knee injury.

A few moments later his coach was on the court holding him and wiping his tears away...literally.

"Hold me coach..."

No. 4: Post-Trade Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal

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We all know they had their good times and their bad.

We also know they had some awkward times as well. How about when Shaq did a freestyle rap about Kobe tasting his booty?

Yeah, I'd say that was an awkward moment...

No. 3: Carmelo Anthony—Master of Playing Possum

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Carmelo Anthony deserved an Oscar for this acting performance.

Still, for the fans and for the other players, it had to be awkward for the refs to continue the game with Anthony just lying there on the court.

No. 2: Eli Manning Holding Chargers Jersey

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Everyone knew Eli didn't want to play for San Diego. Hence why a trade was practically demanded that day.

So, how awkward must it have been for Eli to walk up the stairs and hold the Chargers jersey anyway?

Just look at that smile and all the fake happiness behind it.

No. 1: Mike Tyson Bites Off Evander Holyfield's Ear

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Poor Holyfield.

This is the second time he was involved in an awkward moment on this list.

But think about it. You don't get much more awkward than someone actually biting off another person's ear.

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