15 Sports Figures with the Quickest Smackdowns
Insulting tweets and poorly-thought-out reporter questions are par for the course in sports, but these sports figures will be quick to smack that down.
You know what they say about sticks and stones. Sometimes a comeback happens so fast, it just completely takes out the poor sucker at the losing end of it.
It could be digital—a Twitter feud perhaps—or it could be a witty retort in response to an incredibly un-witty question from a reporter.
Be warned. Don’t mess with Richard Sherman on Twitter, and don’t ask Kobe Bryant a question with an obvious answer.
Wesley Woodyard
1 of 15Reporters are brave people sometimes—to bait an NFL linebacker into saying, “I’m pissed off!” doesn’t seem like a great idea.
Following a 29-28 loss to the Cleveland Browns, one reporter wanted to know why the Tennessee Titans didn’t seem more upset—especially since they had led 28-3 at one point.
Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard tried to let him off the hook, but the guy kept pressing him. So Woodyard turned to him and said, “I’m pissed off,” in a way that would terrify small children.
(h/t Deadspin)
Erik Spoelstra
2 of 15
Remember Bobby Ramos? You know, that reporter who directed a litany of idiotic questions at the Miami Heat during the 2014 NBA Finals?
Head coach Erik Spoelstra had the simplest, yet best response to one of these “questions.” Ramos basically just tore the Heat apart, accusing them of getting beat to the ball and not being in the right mental frame of mind.
Spoelstra took it all in and just said, “Clearly.”
All LeBron James could do was laugh.
Golden Tate
3 of 15You may have heard of an Internet meme involving Kermit the Frog and the phrase, “that’s none of my business.”
Golden Tate certainly has, and he used the meme as a clever response to all that Percy Harvin trade talk. Rumor has it that Harvin was traded from the Seattle Seahawks in part because of an altercation he and Tate got into.
Tate retweeted an image of Kermit drinking tea, and then he posted a homemade version on Instagram.
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Bill Belichick
4 of 15
Sometimes a look can be worth a thousand words.
Back in September, the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely owned the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, 41-14.
It wasn’t Tom Brady’s best performance—he was intercepted twice and went just 14-of-23 for 159 yards and one touchdown.
After the game, a reporter actually asked Bill Belichick if the quarterback position would be “evaluated.”
Belichick responded the only way one really could in that situation—with a laugh and a shrug that seemed to say, “You’re an idiot.”
Kobe Bryant
5 of 15People should know by now not to mess with Kobe Bryant.
A rather not-in-the-know reporter asked the ultra-competitive Bryant if the Los Angeles Lakers’ 0-4 start bothered him.
Kobe replied with thick sarcasm, “No it doesn’t bother me. I’m festively jovial about it.” Skip to the 2:20 mark to hear the smackdown.
Sean Payton
6 of 15No one is happy to lose a game, but New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was really unhappy when his team lost to the Detroit Lions.
During the postgame press conference, Payton was responding to questions about some offensive decisions in the fourth quarter. He was speaking pretty calmly when a reporter apparently interrupted him.
He replied, “Be quiet, I’m answering the question.”
Steelers Twitter
7 of 15
Wow, the Pittsburgh Steelers Twitter account is really on top of things.
It’s unclear how they even spotted this erroneous tweet from an obscure sports account, but the Steelers were quick to right a wrong.
OMG Facts SPORTS tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys are tied for the most Super Bowl wins, each with five titles.
@Steelers said, “Umm, hello?” Pittsburgh has six Super Bowl titles.
Mark Dantonio
8 of 15The head football coach at Michigan State might seem like a quiet guy, but not when it comes to in-state rival Michigan.
Prior to their most recent matchup, a Michigan player drove a stake into the Spartans’ field. MSU proceeded to win the game 35-11, tacking on a touchdown in the final seconds.
When asked why he would run up the score, Dantonio basically told Michigan where they could shove their stake, saying in part, “We’ve tried to handle ourself with composure,” and, “That doesn’t come from the coach. It comes from the program.”
Timbers Army
9 of 15
The Portland Timbers have a devoted fanbase—and that fanbase sometimes expresses its collective opinions through the @timbersarmy Twitter account. Recently, the opinions involved some frustrations with the team’s failure to provide sufficient defensive reinforcements.
The team’s owner, Merritt Paulson, responded with a little narrative about ignoring advice regarding his Twitter use and telling the @timbersarmy to “stfu.”
He deleted the tweet at some point, but not before the people who support his team could deftly respond, “Cool story, bro.”
(h/t Deadspin)
Kevin Durant
10 of 15
Prior to Kevin Durant’s foot injury, ESPN ranked him as the second-best player in the NBA. After the injury, his ranking dropped to eighth.
Royce Webb of ESPN.com explained the drop in rank and also said, “Instead of shooting jumpers, he's shooting selfies.”
Durant responded with a tweet (that has since been deleted) that said, “My selfie game been on point and my Jumper ain’t never goin nowhere, it’s here for life. I’m shooting both at the moment.”
Kobe Bryant Again
11 of 15
Speaking of dropped rankings, Kobe Bryant responded to his No. 40 ranking by calling ESPN “a bunch of idiots.”
Richard Sherman
12 of 15
Richard Sherman has proven he’s not someone to be messed with—in postgame sideline interviews or on Twitter.
Case in point. When fellow cornerback Patrick Peterson signed an extension with the Arizona Cardinals making him the league’s highest-paid corner, an old Twitter feud was rekindled.
Peterson tweeted, “Yu mad bro!!!!” with a bunch of crying/laughing emojis.
Sherman responded with a photo that needed no caption (although he did provide one)—a shot of his big fat Super Bowl ring.
Steve Smith
13 of 15
The Carolina Panthers’ 2013-14 postseason ended with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Following that game, a reporter asked then-Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith who he’d be rooting for in the NFC Championship Game.
His response was glorious.
Smith said (via NFL.com):
"You really want me to thump you upside the head? That was the dumbest question, and that's the second dumbest question you've asked. I only cheer for one team. Actually, two teams. My team and my kid's team. Other than that I can give a bleep.
"
Gregg Popovich
14 of 15The San Antonio Spurs head coach has a reputation by now for his curt responses to reporters’ questions. It must be terrifying to interview Gregg Popovich.
This most recent example of his wit occurred during the very first game of the 2014 NBA season.
Sideline reporter David Aldridge asked Pop where he sees his team coming up with a stop to win the game. Pop, naturally, ate him alive, responding, “Where do I see it? I see it right here on the floor.”
Michael Jordan
15 of 15
In October, Michael Jordan took over the Charlotte Hornets Twitter account, and #MJTakeover was everything we thought and hoped it would be.
One highlight includes PGA golfer Keegan Bradley thinking it was a good idea to smack talk the great MJ.
Bradley tweeted, “@hornets MJ how does it feel to get beat by me everyday at bears club?! #GoHornets.”
To which Jordan responded, “@Keegan_Bradley Last time I looked, you were wearing MY shoes. You don't see me wearing Air Keegans...”
Like a boss.
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