The Top 20 Victory Celebrations of All Time

Victory brings individuals, teams, and fans together.

It helps mold athletes into superstars and superstars into legends.

With victory, not only comes greatness, but also celebrations.

Big celebrations.

Some are deemed worthy due to the magnitude of the game, some are just ridiculous.

Some are in low-key games, others, in their respective championship games.

But they are all victory celebrations because with victory comes satisfaction.

20. Theo Fleury's Slide in '91 Division Semis

One of the most decorated celebrations in the entire history of the NHL, happened after Calgary Flames RW Theo Fleury scored the deciding in OT in their Game Six win over the Oilers.

After his goal, Fleury slid across the ice and ran into the boards celebrating his first goal of the series.

It will be embedded into NHL fans' minds for years to come, but the Oilers would have the last laugh.

The Oilers would take Game Seven and they slid Fleury and the Flames straight out of the playoffs.

19. 2010 Duke Blue Devils

After defeating Butler 61-59 and narrowly escaping one of the biggest upsets in sports history in the NCAA Tournament Final, Duke hosted up the NCAA Championship for the first time in nine years.

Duke also advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2004.

At Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke and 9,000 of its die-hard fans partook in a long celebration that lasted the entire afternoon.

Thousands of students gathered around a bonfire and celebrated before putting up a banner that read "Welcome Home NCAA Champs!!!"

Duke proved to the world they are still dominant in the world of college hoops.

18. Nick Saban's Gatorade Bath

The Alabama Crimson Tide rolled to their first national championship since 1992 with a 37-21 win over the Texas Longhorns in the BCS National Championship Game.

They harassed freshman QB Garrett Gilbert who entered after starting QB Colt McCoy suffered a shoulder injury.

Alabama's performance was capped off by spectacular running from backs Trent Richardson and the Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram.

Alabama heavily celebrated their hard-fought victory but that was not the only performance that was recognized during the game.

Two of Alabama's players gave head coach Nick Saban a Gatorade shower he would never forget as the players hit Saban unintentionally in the head with the bucket leading to plenty of publicity from the media.

With their national championship victory before his post-game bath, Saban does not have to look crimson all the time.

17. Mark Madsen's Victory Parade Dance

When you hear the name Mark Madsen, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not NBA superstar.

It is his infamous dance that he performed during their 2001 NBA Championship parade after which they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games to claim their second NBA title in as many years.

With then Laker Shaquille O'Neal rapping onstage, Madsen took it upon himself to steal thunder from the Big Diesel.

Madsen began flailing his arms and swaying his hips that generated plenty of laughs from his NBA Champion teammates as well as the fans attending the championship celebration.

He is now an assistant head coach for the Utah Flash in the NBA's Developmental League.

16. Maurice Greene: Shoes Are On Fire

Before Usain Bolt showed off at the '08 Olympics, Maurice Greene gave us a memory we will not soon forget.

At the 2004 Home Depot Invitational, Greene showed everyone that his shoes were on fire.

After winning the 100-meter race with a 9.87 time, he took his shoes off and had someone put out the shoes with a fire extinguisher, making the illusion that his shoes were on fire.

This got cheers from the fans and announcers as Greene, who had G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time) tattooed on his arm, announced his retirement before the Olympics in Beijing.

Many wonder if Bolt would have still showboated had Greene ran in Beijing.

Nevertheless, Greene provided with a truly memorable celebration.

15. Derek Fisher In '04 Western Conference Semifinals

With their Western Conference Semifinal series with the Spurs tied 2-2, L.A. struck once again with an untimely hero.

With Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant both covered, and with only 0.4 seconds remaining in the game, Derek Fisher made a miraculous shot over the outstretched arms of Manu Ginobili to give the Lakers a 74-73 Game Five win.

After Bryant and Tim Duncan each made clutch shots to put their team ahead, the ball came to Fisher whose last shot was undoubtedly, the biggest.

The celebration, or lack of, was on as the Lakers ran off the court at the SBC Center in San Antonio, and straight into the locker room to head to the nearest exit before a review of the shot.

Lakers fans celebrated as they reached the NBA Finals once again but were unceremoniously dethroned by the Detroit Pistons.

14. Robert Horry Helps Lakers Sink Kings In '02 Playoffs

In the Lakers' quest for a third straight NBA Championship, L.A. had a hero not named Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal for at least one game.

With the Kings winning the series 2-1 in their Western Conference Finals Series, Robert Horry finished a historic 24-point comeback by sinking a three-pointer as time expired to help L.A. even the series with a 100-99 win.

As the crowd erupted and the celebration ensued, Horry put his hands behind his back and revealed a big smirk

One that helped give L.A the confidence it needed to not only win the series, but win their third straight NBA Championship.

It was a classic Hollywood ending.

13. Women's Hockey Party

The Canadian women's hockey team celebrated on the ice after their 2-0 win over the United States in the gold medal game.

They not only celebrated, but drank beer and smoked cigars while on the ice.

One problem.

Some of them were underage.

In British Columbia, the legal drinking is 19, while some of the players that were participating were only 18.

The International Olympic Committee looked in the matter but in the team later apologized.

What a way to celebrate.

12. Adebayor Taunts Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor sent shockwaves and infuriated many Arsenal fans, as Adebayor, helped Manchester City defeat Arsenal 4-2.

But that was the least of Arsenal fans' worries.

Adebayor, formerly of Arsenal but who now plays for Manchester City, scored a goal and ran up the pitch to taunt the Arsenal fans.

The fans began throwing objects onto the field in retaliation and had to be restrained by pitchside stewards.

Adebayor had one of the best celebrations to his standards, but to many could be one of the most controversial celebrations.

11. Carl Edwards Back Flip

In his rookie season, the Rookie of the Year, Carl Edwards did the unthinkable.

After winning a race, Edwards climbed to the top of his car, turned around, and launched himself into a back flip off his car.

The move was made famous by Tyler Walker a decade before, but he had never won a race.

Edwards is now one of the best drivers in NASCAR but he also provided sports fans with one of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history.

10. Usain Bolt Dominates '08 Olympics

Usain Bolt dominated the rest of the field at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing running a 9.69 100 M, setting a new world record.

But that was just the beginning of Bolt's antics.

Not even having completed the race, he lifted his arms to his sides and showboated to the crowd for the last portion of the race.

His world-record time would have been even faster had he not eased up at the conclusion of the race.

But his greatness can come without question as he ran, perhaps, one of the most amazing races in Olympic history.

9. Brandi Chastain Takes Off Jersey

The United States Women's Soccer team was in the championship game of the 1999 World Cup against China.

The game was a 0-0 draw after regulation and needed to go to penalty kicks to decide the champion.

Brandi Chastain was the last player to kick for the United States.

She converted on her penalty kick and gave the United States the 0-0 (5-4) win, and the the World Cup.

She celebrated by taking her jersey off revealing a black sports bra, and showed her emotion for giving her team the hard fought win, finishing undefeated in the entire World Cup.

8. Kirk Gibson's Fist Pump in '88 World Series

A battered and bruised Kirk Gibson made his presence felt in Game One of the 1988 World Series.

The Dodgers outfielder hit a home run giving L.A. a 5-4 win over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics, eventually winning the World Series.

On his bad leg, Gibson gave multiple celebratory fist pumps while rounding the bases and finally meeting his teammates to begin the official celebration.

More than 20 years later, this scene is still remembered by baseball fans and sports fans alike.

Thanks, Major League Baseball, for keeping us from showing this incredible moment. We've found a link for you:

http://www.in.com/videos/watchvideo-kirk-gibsons-homerun-5150509.html

7. Jimmy V leads NC State to '83 NCAA Championship

The legend of Jim Valvano was cemented with NC State's 54-52 upset of Houston in the 1983 NCAA Championship Game.

After Lorenzo Charles' dunk off a missed shot gave the Wolfpack the win and the NCAA Title, Valvano stormed the court in disbelief looking for someone to celebrate with.

He found his team who all celebrated as they should, with Valvano leading the pack and cutting the nets down.

Valvano unfortunately passed away at the age of 47 after a yearlong battle with cancer, but his accomplishments as well as this championship victory, will never be forgotten.

6. Reggie Miller Taunts Spike Lee

The New York Knicks had a 105-99 lead on the Indiana Pacers with 18.7 seconds left in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

A game with a lead that big with so little time left is usually considered over.

But not to Reggie Miller.

After hitting a three pointer, Miller steals the inbound pass and hits another three to tie the game at 105. After John Starks misses two free throws for the Knicks, Miller gets the ball again and is fouled, sinking both free throws.

The Knicks final attempt to avoid a monumental collapse falls short, and Indiana steals Game One 107-105.

What is remembered even more than Miller's effort, is the choking sign Miller gave to Spike Lee and the Knick fans during the game.

This was a celebration for all Pacer fans and Reggie Miller most of all.

Maybe Spike should stick to directing.

5. Ali Shuffle

He is The World's Greatest.

His entire fight with former WBA and WBC Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston seemed like a big celebration to Muhammad Ali as he danced and shuffled his way to a dominating 7th round TKO win.

Ali evaded punches and connected with most of his to solidify himself as the cream of the Heavyweight division crop.

Throughout his historic career, Ali definitely proved that he is The World's Greatest.

4. Joe Carter wins World Series

Only one time before 1993 had a World Series ended in walk-off fashion.

Until the 1993 World Series and Joe Carter.

Carter led his Toronto Blue Jays to an improbable 8-6 Game Six victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to clinch the World Series title.

Carter began running the bases, jumping up and down in jubilation while his teammates ran to home plate to greet the hero of the World Series.

Carter and his teammates met at home plate and began celebrating this moment that will be forever remembered in sports history.

3. Dale Sr. Wins Daytona 500

Three years before his untimely death, NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt won his first Daytona 500 in 1998.

After holding off many drivers such as Jeff Gordon who had a great race, Earnhardt finally crossed the finish line a winner in the Daytona.

Five hours after his historic win, Earnhardt was still in his fire suit celebrating.

This exemplifies how bad he wanted to win it and how bad the fans wanted to see it happen.

Earnhardt was, and still is, one of the most storied individuals in NASCAR.

Thank you, Dale.

2. Michael Jordan Over Ehlo

In the 1988-89 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were poised and ready to win their first NBA Title.

With a 57-25 record, the powerful Cavs were met by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan, who broke many hearts everywhere with his unbelievable ability to make big shots, did so once again.

In the fifth and final game of their 1989 First Round series, and with Craig Ehlo sprawled over him, Jordan hit a jumper over his Cleveland counterpart and jumped and pumped his fists in victory.

Ehlo fell to the ground after his contest of Jordan's shot and this could have been a crossroads for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers still have not won an NBA Championship and the one time they advanced to the Finals, they were swept.

1. Miracle on Ice

In the 1980 Winter Olympics, a miracle truly happened.

During the game between the United States and, perhaps the best team in the world, The Soviet Union, the Americans overcame the large experience gap and shocked the Soviets and the world, winning 4-3.

The win gave the United States a chance to play for the gold medal, which they defeated Finland 4-2.

After their win over the Soviets, all of the USA fans who packed into the Field House celebrated with the USA hockey team and this game showed everyone, miracles happen.