'Serious' Sports People Saying Really Funny Stuff

Even Nick Saban cracks jokes every once in a while. (Or at least, Lane Kiffin claims he does.)

Some of the most serious folks in sports have been documented saying really funny stuff. It might not happen often, but when it does, it's especially delightful. Rob Gronkowski is always doing hilarious things, but Cristiano Ronaldo joking around about Lionel Messi? That's a diamond in the rough.

Honorable mention to Tiger Woods for trying—but unfortunately failing—to land a joke at a press conference in 2015:

Not even a courtesy laugh? Come on people.

Bobby Knight and the Game Face

Let's kick things off with an oldie but a goodie. Notoriously serious former Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight is not generally remembered for his niceties in the press. And yet, one instance stands out where he was (gasp!) hilarious. Back in his Indiana days, a reporter asked Knight, "We just wanted you to respond to … the overall attitude of your team coming out with a game face on," per ESPN.com. He responded:

Gregg Popovich, 'We Almost Got 'Em' 

It's not that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich doesn't have a sense of humor—it's that his is so very dry. Pop's deadpan delivery and matter-of-fact responses to media questions have become legendary. For instance, here he is on whether or not Tim Duncan talked to him about retirement:

But what's this? An actual joke? Here's Pop on a 30-point loss to the Golden State Warriors in January:

Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's Running Skills

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a little like Popovich—dry, sarcastic. And yet, Belichick actually said something funny about his beloved quarterback Tom Brady in May. Can you believe it?

During an interview with Paul Carcaterra of Lacrosse Magazine (via Henry McKenna of Boston.com), Belichick talked about the lacrosse position best suited for Brady: "Put him in the goal. He can't run. I mean, he can't run. He can't dodge."

Tom Brady and his 'Spirit Animal'

Speaking of Brady, it appears the hilarious antics of his teammates might be rubbing off on the typically serious QB. It's actually possible he's always been funny, but either way, his recent Facebook Photoshop escapades have certainly brought a sense of humor to light:

As James Parziale of Fox Sports pointed out, Brady might be funnier than people realize.

Cristiano Ronaldo on Lionel Messi

Tracking down a time Cristiano Ronaldo told a joke is um, a challenge. And yet, it exists!

Lionel Messi beat out Ronaldo for the 2015 Ballon d'Or. At one point during the ceremony, Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar all occupied the stage.

Per Daniel Edwards of Goal.com, Ronaldo later said, "When we were up there on the stage neither Messi nor Neymar speaks English, and I was their translator. I spoke with them later and told them not to forget to pay me later for the translation!"

OK—not the most hilarious joke ever, but it was a joke.

Patrick Roy, 'Rings Plugged in My Ears'

Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy was a great goaltender with the franchise, a Hall of Famer actually. He also gained a reputation for his temper over the years. Not exactly your happy-go-lucky, Gronk type of guy. So it's actually quite fitting his hilarious joke came in the midst of a back-and-forth, trash-talking session with Jeremy Roenick in 1996.

During the Western Conference Finals, Roy and the Chicago Blackhawks center traded jabs in the media. At one point, Roy said, "I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup rings plugged in my ears," per Adrian Dater of the Denver Post.

Tony La Russa on Moneyball 'Bulls--t'

There are a lot of coaches on this list—sensing a theme? Anyway, Tommy Craggs of Deaspin reported on a joke St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa made back in 2011. La Russa, upon being asked about how he determines who plays left and right field, said:

"

It's my tribute to Moneyball. I'm not a big Moneyball fan. I have this little place, don't have a big place. So what we do is we take the square footage between the right field line and center field and the square footage and from left field to center field, divide that by pi and we multiply it by bulls--t, and then we pick the dugout. The field that's closest to the dugout and that's where Lance plays. 

"

Kobe Bryant on 'Ellen'

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was as serious as they come during his playing days—competitive, driven, ice cold. Turns out he's funny in retirement. Who knew?

Bryant didn't just tell a joke—he performed an entire hidden-camera prank during an appearance on Ellen. Essentially, Bryant fooled an aesthetician into thinking he had a serious sweating problem. To be fair, Ellen came up with the jokes and fed them to Bryant through an earpiece, but his delivery was on point:

Jonathan Toews Calls Phil Kessel 'Coachable'

Jonathan Toews had a reputation for being serious—really, his nickname is "Captain Serious"—but he's actually quite funny. Exhibit A: This 1990s-themed all-star campaign video.

The Chicago Blackhawks center also joked about another notoriously serious player at the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft. Toews selected then-Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Phil Kessel—who was under fire at the time for being allegedly "uncoachable"—first for his team. Take it away, Toews:

Nick Saban Told a Joke Once

Alabama football coach Nick Saban is on the short list for "Most Serious Guy in Sports." He actually danced when Bama took down Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, and it was practically earth-shattering. According to his offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Saban even told a joke once.

Kiffin said, per Laken Litman of For the Win, "He's funnier than you guys think. He made a joke one time: How did I get higher on the most hated list than he did? He might have been mad about that." 

Again, not the funniest stuff ever, but let's give these guys credit for trying, eh?