Strange and Clumsy Sports Moments

Instances of clumsiness are usually pretty hilarious—especially in sports, when the offenders are generally paid to be coordinated.

I think of “clumsy” as encompassing something accidental and funny—klutzy, if you will. However, the word is actually defined as “moving or doing things in a very awkward way and tending to drop or break things” by Merriam-Webster. So we’ll go with that.

Here, we present to you some funny sports moments in which elite athletes don’t look so much like elite athletes. We’ve got ridiculous injuries, particularly egregious errors and even a spill off a Segway.

The order is based simply upon how much I laughed when looking at each of these. Hopefully you get a good laugh too—if you enjoy watching other people make fools of themselves, that is.

Honorable Mention: Beer Spillage

This one gets the old honorable mention because it didn’t happen to an athlete.

One Chicago Cubs fan decided to take part in a Wrigley Field tradition—throwing back a home run ball hit by the opposing team.

The problem here was that this fan somehow doused his entire section with beer in the process.  

James Harden Falls off a Segway

This accident isn’t as hilarious as I had hoped by the title of the video, but it's funny all the same.

James Harden, while in Spain for the FIBA World Cup with USA Basketball, apparently wanted to take in some Mediterranean sights on a Segway tour. 

Last I checked, Segways aren’t that challenging to operate.

Looks like they are for Harden.

FIBA World Cup gold medal? No problem. Segway? No thank you.

Jason Kidd Spillage

Was this an accident? According to Jason Kidd it was.

The former athlete (now coach) spilled his Coke on one of his own players during a 2013 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

He appeared to say, “Hit me,” right before the spillage, so it’s possible (and/or likely) this was intentional.

Regardless, this was either authentically clumsy or some very good clumsy acting.

Brian Griese Trips over Dog

JACK DEMPSEY/Associated Press

The problem with being a professional athlete is that when you do something clumsy (that probably a lot of readers have also done a version of), it gets plastered all over the news.

Take former NFL quarterback Brian Griese, for example.

In 2002, he claimed to be walking down his stairs, minding his own business. All the sudden, his dog came running down behind him, the two got tied up and Griese sprained his ankle.

Quarterbacks sort of need their ankles for, you know, their livelihood. Got to be more careful!

Thomas Levet Breaks Leg

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

In 2011, Thomas Levet won the French Open. To celebrate, he jumped into a nearby pond and broke his leg.

The funny part is, in 2012, he said he’d do it again, according to Sky Sports (h/t Golf Channel).

Levet missed several weeks and the British Open as a result of his awkward celebration.

Tony Parker: Worst Free Throw Ever?

Remember that part of the definition of clumsy is “doing things in a very awkward way.” In this case, Tony Parker is attempting a free throw in a very awkward way.

Taken out of context, this kind of looks like one of those miss-on-purpose scenarios. 

Nope. Parker was chosen to take the free throws after a technical foul was called on Joakim Noah. 

It looks like the basketball version of a checked swing.

Carlos Boozer Breaks Hand

Glenn James/Getty Images

In 2010, Carlos Boozer (then a member of the Chicago Bulls) broke his hand.

The public came to find out that the break was the result of some clumsiness at home. According to Boozer, he tripped over a gym bag on the way to answer his doorbell.

The big man missed several weeks early in his first season with Chicago.

Gordon Beckham and Conor Gillaspie Collide

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

In 2013, two Chicago White Sox infielders collided rather ridiculously as they both attempted to catch a pop fly.

Neither Gordon Beckham nor Conor Gillaspie ended up making the play—Beckham, Gillaspie and the ball all ended up on the ground.

Luckily for them, the White Sox still won the game against the struggling New York Mets.

Miggy Trips over Third Base

Even Triple Crown winners have their clumsy moments.

Miguel Cabrera, during a 2013 game against the Cleveland Indians, tripped over third base after a grounder by teammate Don Kelly.

The best part was that he wasn’t even trying to round third. He was simply attempting to stop at the bag. 

He didn’t seem to find it quite as funny as his teammates did.

Hunter Pence and the Glass Door

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Have you ever walked into a closed glass door?

Hunter Pence did.

In 2008, he missed the first several weeks of spring training after smashing through a sliding glass door as he made his way out to his hot tub.

At the time, Pence told Alyson Footer of MLB.com, “It's embarrassing, but I'm not one to get embarrassed. I made a mistake, something silly happened and hopefully it'll just kind of heal up and we'll move on.”

Javale McGee's Piggyback Ride

I don’t know how a piggyback ride is a good defensive tactic.

Well, it wasn’t—it was just another awkward, clumsy moment in the NBA.

This one comes to us courtesy of Shaquille O’Neal and Shaqtin’ a Fool.

JaVale McGee of the Denver Nuggets literally just jumped on the back of an Oklahoma City opponent and stayed there for 2.5 very uncomfortable seconds.

Awkward.

Wade Boggs and His Cowboy Boots

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

We’re going back a ways for this one, but anyone who suffers an injury taking off his shoes deserves a mention.

In 1986, in a hotel room in Toronto, Wade Boggs attempted to remove one of his cowboy boots with his other foot. He must have gotten off-balance, because he ended up falling into a couch, bruising his ribs and missing a few games.

Probably worse than his ribs was his bruised ego.

Three Errors, One Play

USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers are not a bad baseball team, not by a long shot.

They sure looked pretty horrendous defensively during a September game against the San Diego Padres, though.

Clayton Kershaw’s defense somehow made three errors on one play. Go ahead, check out the horror show. 

Josh Blanchard Bowling Flop

Josh Blanchard is a professional bowler who joined the PBA in 2011. During a PBA world championship qualifier in 2012, he sure didn’t look like one.

Young Blanchard was bowling a dismal 129 late in the game leading into this horrific klutz move.

While attempting a throw, his fingers got stuck in the ball, and he toppled over right there on the lane.

That’s not exactly the way for a new guy to prove he belongs.

Butt Fumble

Obviously, this made the cut.

As if former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez wasn’t getting made fun of enough back in 2012, he had to go and run into his own lineman’s backside and fumble the ball.

Worse yet? This happened during a Thanksgiving game, and, oh yeah, the opposing defense recovered and returned the fumble for six.

Devin Setoguchi's Penalty Shot Fail

The worst is when not only do you screw up in front of thousands of fans and television cameras, but you do it while no one is defending you.

Devin Setoguchi knows what I’m talking about.

In 2012, Setoguchi attempted a penalty shot that would’ve won the game for the Minnesota Wild. Instead of being the hero, he lost the puck and fell over in what has to be the most embarrassing hockey moment I’ve ever seen.