15 Biggest Boss Moves in Sports

Jose Bautista's bat flip was a boss move. So was Marc-Andre ter Stegen's sweeper-keeper performance.

Right, but what is a boss move exactly? Assuming "you know it when you see it" isn't a sufficient explanation, it can actually be a lot of things. In this case, a boss move is something an athlete does (mostly on the field, but sometimes off) that screams, "I am the man (or woman)," without any words necessary. Boss moves show who is in charge.

An honorable mention goes to slam dunks. A ferocious dunk could certainly be described as a boss move, but today we're focusing on things that are a little less common and therefore a lot more mind-blowing.

Don't worry, Arizona Cardinals fans. We'll get to that Larry Fitzgerald stiff arm in due time.

A 'Circus' Catch

Any catch that can be described as "acrobatic" or "circus-like" is boss because of the immense skill involved and total domination over the defense.

Look at what Stanford wide receiver Francis Owusu did against UCLA. This, you have to see to believe. He caught a touchdown pass behind the back of his defender—literally. Or check out Tre'Quan Smith of UCF—he grabbed a pass while flying over his defender in midair.

These defenders didn't stand a chance.

Shutdown Comments

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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has always been skilled at verbally and digitally shutting down, well, everyone. From inquisitive reporters to Twitter users and Spike Lee himself, no one is safe.

Kobe's Lakers played at Madison Square Garden in early November, and courtesy of Twitter user @tbarbs13, the Internet was thereafter treated to Bryant's opinion of the New York Knicks' offensive scheme. (Warning: Video contains NSFW language.)

In the video, Bryant can be heard telling Lee, "That ain't no f---ing triangle, that's a square."

Don't mess with Kobe. He is in charge of every conversation he's in.

Breaking Ankles

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When an offensive player, particularly in soccer or basketball, jukes a defender so ruthlessly as to inspire the term "breaking ankles," it's a boss move. It's like saying, "I can get past you no problem, and I can embarrass you while I'm at it."  

No one breaks ankles like Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi, but remember NBA MVP Steph Curry's absolute assault on Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul in May? More recently, take a look at Manchester City midfielder Raheem Sterling destroying defenders in October, breaking ankles all the way to a first-half hat trick against Bournemouth.

A Monster Block

LeBron James is usually the one doling out boss moves, but check out this block by Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls. Not only was it a superb rejection, but it saved the game for Chicago. 

Any big-time block is a power move, but doing it to one of the game's greatest players puts it on another level. Check out this rejection doled out to New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis by Dallas Mavericks forward Jeremy Evans. The blocker becomes the blockee.

A Lethal Stiff Arm

Nothing exerts domination over a defender like a powerful stiff arm. In a recent win over the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald unleashed an epic, prolonged stiff arm on Browns second-year defensive back Pierre Desir. Fitzgerald, a few years Desir's senior, basically said, "Welcome to the NFL," with that one.

The Cardinals Twitter account called it "the most disrespectful stiff arm in the history of stiff arms." That just might be true.  

A Bicycle Kick Goal

How hard would it be to volley a corner into the back of the net using a bicycle kick? It seems nearly impossible.

Not for Sergio Ramos. Check out this unreal goal from the Real Madrid defender. It is dirty. (Unfortunate note: Ramos aggravated an injury on the play and will require surgery, but best wishes for his quick recovery.)

Goalscoring is not even Ramos' primary duty, though the defender is quite good at it. Ramos proved that even as a defender, he can take charge of a game offensively when he so chooses.

An Inside-the-Park Home Run

OK, this is pretty specific, but Alcides Escobar took control of a baseball game recently in such dominating fashion that it must be mentioned. 

On the first pitch of his team's first at-bat in Game 1 of this year's World Series, the Kansas City Royals shortstop tapped New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey for an inside-the-park home run.

It is one of only 10 inside-the-park home runs in World Series history and, according to Ted Berg of For the Win, Escobar's was the first leadoff inside-the-park home run in a World Series since 1903.

Any Game-Winner

Walk-off home runs, buzzer-beaters, Hail Marys, deciding shootout goals—all are boss moves because the architect came through when it counted most. 

Derrick Rose hit an incredible buzzer-beater to win Game 3 of last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals for his Chicago Bulls. Eric Hosmer won Game 1 of the World Series for the Kansas City Royals with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 14th inning. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomas Mejias saved a deciding penalty kick to eliminate Manchester United from the Capital One Cup. 

Moments like these prove an athlete's ability to take a game into his or her own hands. Pretty much all game-winners are boss moves in that way. 

Refusing to Leave a Game

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When New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey insisted upon staying in the deciding World Series game, it was not a boss move. Why? He didn't back it up. He went back in, gave up a walk and a double and his team lost the World Series. That was the opposite of a boss move.

Now, when Max Scherzer refused to come out of a game in September, it was a different story. Tied 2-2 in the seventh with a runner on, then-Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams strolled to the mound to chat with Scherzer, who had thrown over 100 pitches at the time.

Not to condone yelling at one's manager, but that's what Scherzer did. He stayed in the game, got the inning-ending out and his team went on to win. In that situation, Williams was not the boss, Scherzer was.

Accomplishing a Feat for the First Time

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U.S. women' national team captain Carli Lloyd was the first woman to score a hat trick in a World Cup final, and she accomplished the feat in just 16 minutes, the fastest ever. Danica Patrick was the first female driver to ever lead a lap at the Daytona 500. Jason Day won the PGA Championship while becoming the first golfer in history to complete a major at 20-under.

If you're the first to ever accomplish something in sports, you're a boss, taking control of uncharted territory. 

Taking a Walk Before It's Called

Players often make a move to first base before the umpire calls ball four, but they are often wrong. That's not a boss move, that's just baseball strategy failing to work.

In 2014, however, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was not wrong. Chicago Cubs pitcher Neil Ramirez had pitched around him to get to a 3-0 count, per Anna Fogel of NESN. Ortiz started his trot to first before the next pitch even left Ramirez's hand. 

An athlete has to be a big deal to pull off a move like that. There are few other than Big Papi that could do it.

Toughing It Out

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Important note: The following is not meant to glorify injuries. Still, remember when a high stick cost Kevin Klein of the New York Rangers part of his ear during a game in December 2014? He briefly left the ice to have it reattached with 13 stitches and later returned to score the game-winning goal. What? 

Hockey players are notorious for playing through injuries. And while health and safety should be concerns, their dedication to remain on the ice speaks to an insistence upon being in charge—being in charge of their own bodies and actions. 

Gregory Campbell, then with the Boston Bruins, played on a broken leg in 2013, for crying out loud.

Pulling a Sweeper-Keeper

Anytime a goalkeeper leaves the box, it's dangerous. However, Marc-Andre ter Stegen says, "Ha! I laugh in the face of danger," (metaphorically, of course). 

In a Champions League win over FC BATE Borisov, the FC Barcelona keeper went way out of the normal comfort zone to handle a loose ball in his end. Instead of simply kicking the ball out of bounds, ter Stegen shielded off a BATE attacker and calmly completed a pass upfield.  

Like a boss.

Jose Bautista's Bat Flip

Yes, Jose Bautista's bat flip gets its own category.

Here's the set up: The Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers were tied 2-2 in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series. In the seventh, Toronto catcher Russell Martin hit Shin-Soo Choo's bat with a routine throw to the mound. The ball deflected, and Rangers infielder Rougned Odor scored from third. Fans were upset, trash was thrown onto the field. It was bizarre.

Later in the inning, Blue Jays slugger and complete boss Bautista jacked a three-run home run. He capped it off with the most epic bat flip anyone will ever see. One fan actually got a tattoo to commemorate the moment.

Acting Like a General Manager

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Only LeBron James (and a few like him) could provide such a literal interpretation of "boss move." It's no secret James is influential in roster moves made by his Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin recently reported James and general manager David Griffin work together closely on personnel decisions.

Not long after, Griffin told Bleacher Report NBA Senior Writer Ric Bucher:

"

He's going to have the biggest voice, he's the most important, accomplished player in the league and he's an absolute basketball savant. He has the most thorough understanding of X's and O's on the floor and best mind for the game off the floor of any human being I've ever known. Coach, front-office person, anything. It would be crazy for me not to consult with him on what we want to do.

"

So James isn't fully in charge, but he is as in charge as any active player is going to get.