15 Most Awkward Sports Celebrations Ever

I hate to be the one to break the news, but not everyone looks cool when they celebrate—regardless of what's being celebrated. If every toast was captivating and poetic, or a hilarious and fitting tribute, then no one would ever talk about that "great toast" because great would be average.

And when someone celebrates a touchdown, buzzer-beater, championship or any of the countless things worth celebrating as an athlete or fan, the whole spontaneous nature of it all makes the threat of awkward behavior all too real.

Do you hug or go all in on a high-five? And if you commit to a high-five, how do you manage the imminent threat of going high when your counterpart goes low, or vice versa? The worst part? You can prepare for all the contingencies and still find yourself left hanging when the other person goes for the dap (and this scenario doesn't even take into account the effect of other revelers.) 

This doesn't mean that celebrating isn't totally worth any potential awkwardness, and considering how easy it is for failures of celebration chemistry to be captured on video, now the rest of us get to be entertained at the expense of athletes trying to be cool. 

These are the 15 of the most awkward sports celebrations ever. 

Peter Crouch Ruins "The Robot"

Then-Liverpool FC striker Peter Crouch is 6'7" and listed at 165 pounds. Crouch is built more like an emaciated NBA forward than Premier League forward. So, as solid as Crouch has been in his career, he's still inherently awkward as a human being on the pitch.

Before media coverage made him painfully self-aware (and rightfully so), Peter Crouch was known for his signature goal celebration: "The Robot." And, as you can see, it's not, The Robot as you and I traditionally know. Crouch somehow does The Robot in a way that makes a mockery of the fact it's the staple of terrible dancers.

Crouch does something to celebrate his goals, and it's not The Robot as the rest of the world knows it. His rendition is so awesomely awkward and spastic that it calls into question what The Robot is supposed to be the first place.

Loucheiz Purifoy Gets Leveled by Fellow Gator

In October 2012, Florida cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy made a big defensive play in the first series of a game against SEC opponent LSU, tackling Tigers punt returner Odell Beckham Jr. Energized by the rowdy home crowd in Gainesville, Florida, Purifoy quickly made his way to the sideline for a quick celebration.

He didn’t get much time to revel in the moment, however, because Gator teammate Matt Elam decided to crash the party. Like literally crash. Elam trucked Purifoy, crashing into him from behind and completely leveling him. Clearly, Elam didn’t think the whole thing through—either that or he’s the most socially awkward dude in football.

Jerry Jones and Chris Christie Festively Grope

In December 2014, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a lifelong resident of the Garden State who was born in Newark, generated more than a few headlines when he copped to being a lifelong Cowboys fan, via The Dallas Morning News. Apparently, his father was a Giants fan, but Christie liked that the Cowboys were “really good.”

That was awkward enough on its own, but a few weeks later in early January, we saw awkward taken to a whole new level. Clad once again in unmistakable orange, Christie was in Dallas for the team's playoff game against Detroit, perched alongside Jerry Jones in the owner’s box. After clinching a big comeback win, Christie tried to pull off the elusive double-high-five-group-hug combo. It did not go well.

Bloomberg's Ali Elkin called it the “Hug That Launched A Thousand Vines.” Yep! And every last one of them was awkward.

UCLA Fan High-Five Fail, Followed by Freak-out

In September 2010, unranked UCLA went on the road to face off with No. 7 Texas. In 1997, the Longhorns suffered their worst home loss ever against the Bruins, getting blown out 66-3. It wasn’t nearly as bad this time around, but losing 34-12 certainly isn’t good.

Suffice it to say, the UCLA fans on hand in Austin were pretty enthused about the day’s events. Most of them expressed their jubilation in reasonable and unremarkable ways. Basically, they did the exact opposite of what the man featured in this video did, which was completely fail on his high-five form and then completely spazz out in the wake of his own failure.

Chris Bosh's Champagne Shower

In June 2012, the Heat won their first of two NBA championships in the LeBron James era. LeBron may have been named the MVP, but it was teammate Chris Bosh who really stole the show in the immediate aftermath of the series-clinching Game 5 win.

Champagne is always flowing in and around locker rooms during the postseason; it just doesn't usually flow in quite the same way as it did over Bosh that night. His self-shower is legendary, with the surprisingly graphic scene having aired live on SportsCenter after the game.

San Antonio Screamer

In May 2013, the Spurs won a very dramatic postseason game against the Grizzlies after San Antonio somehow managed to force overtime with a 14-2 run to end the fourth quarter. All in all, it was an impressive performance.

However, it wasn’t quite as impressive as at least one Spurs fan deemed it to be. From the intensity of the guy screaming, “WE DID IT!!!” in this video, you’d think they had just won a championship. It’s way too intense for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, though.

Nate Robinson Gives Paul Pierce the Crotch

In December 2010, Paul Pierce scored a buzzer-beater to secure victory for his Celtics after a particularly hard-fought battle against Boston's longtime Atlantic Division foes, the New York Knicks. 

Nobody on the court was more excited than teammate Nate Robinson, who celebrated by scaling Pierce like Mt. Everest and fittingly falling off, landing head first on the court. Robinson was lucky he wasn't seriously injured. 

Kirk Cousins' Wild Ride

In August 2013, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins was in his sophomore season in Washington and getting set for his start against the Titans in a preseason game. He didn’t get much of a chance to shine as a rookie, having been drafted two rounds behind Robert Griffin III, who had been named Offensive Rookie of the Year the previous season.

That’s probably why he was so ridiculously excited after throwing a first-quarter touchdown on the road at Tennessee. It was just a three-yard completion to tight end Fred Davis for a score in a meaningless game, but Cousins and offensive tackle Tom Compton celebrated in their own special way.

The video doesn’t do the whole scene nearly as much justice as the animated GIF, which can be seen in all its glorious glory here.

Chris Bruton Bumbles the Trophy

For hockey players in Canada and the northwestern portion of the United States, second to the Stanley Cup is the Memorial Cup—the "Stanley Cup" of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Former WHL player Chris Bruton made headlines in 2008 when his Spokane Chiefs won the Memorial Cup and in his attempt to just...well...do the normal thing and hand the trophy to someone else.

Then the Memorial Trophy stopped cooperating and crumbled into pieces. It was no fault of Bruton, but it never happened under the care and control of anyone else.

MMA Backflip Fail

Despite devoting a fair bit of time to trying to find the names of the fighters in this video and/or the event at which they were competing, I was unable to find any relevant details. But it’s just too amazingly awkward a celebration to omit.

At an MMA event that took place at an unknown time with unidentified fighters, one emerged victorious and decided to celebrate his victory by triumphantly climbing the cage fence and doing a backflip—which actually would’ve been very cool.

If only it had played out that way! Instead, the winner climbs the cage fence and then falls backward, landing squarely on his back. The whole thing is so weird and awkward, though, that it almost looks like he’s trying to fall on his back.

Pantless Seahawks Fan Is Pantless

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

For a while there, it looked like the Seahawks were absolutely destined to lose to the Packers in the 2015 NFC Championship Game. They had done absolutely nothing for three quarters while facing Green Bay at home in Seattle before suddenly turning on the proverbial jets.

Though there were at least a few terrible fair-weather fans who bailed before the game was over, most Seahawks fans stayed and were treated to one of the most dramatic comebacks in championship Sunday history. At least one guy was a little too delighted with the Hawks' 28-22 victory.

Rashard Mendenhall

In January 2011, when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game and secured the right to face the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl, Steelers Nation was thrilled. Steelers fans, after all, are a pretty excitable bunch.

But Steelers Nation, as a whole, wasn't nearly as thrilled as running back Rashard Mendenhall, who gave quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a celebratory dry hump right there on the field at Heinz Field. 

Pete Weber's Confusing Declaration

Pete Weber has been a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) since 1979. Over that period, he’s won a total of 37 titles, earning upward of $4 million for his troubles.

In February 2012, after more than 30 years in the professional bowling biz, Weber finally had his breakout moment, at least in terms of recognition by the general public. Tragically, the PBA is underappreciated.

Weber was just one strike away from defeating (foe?) Mike Fagan at the (bowling) U.S. Open. And guess what? He nailed it! At which point Weber shouted his famous and perhaps career-defining phrase: “Who do you think you are? I am!”

As Awkward as the phrasing may have been, there's no doubt Weber sure can deliver a line with gusto. 

Mark Wahlberg Leaves Robert Kraft Hanging

In September 2014, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was hanging in the owner’s box at Gillette Stadium with novelty rapper-turned-actor Mark “Marky Mark” Wahlberg, a lifelong Pats fan.

As you would probably imagine, New England won the game—as New England tends to do. After Tom Brady threw a six-yard touchdown to Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter, Kraft tried to get a high-five from the funkiest of the Funky Bunch.

Sadly, he was not met with “Good Vibrations.” Wahlberg didn’t even notice Kraft’s attempt to give him some skin, leaving the latter hanging for what seemed to be an eternity.

Robert Kraft Gets Dissed Again

Not again!

Poor Robert Kraft. Dude just can’t catch a break in the high-five department. In December 2011, he was done dirty in just the same way by another friend hanging with him in his box.