The Best Moments from Recent Sports Celebrations

The Chicago Cubs threw a mammoth victory parade after winning the 2016 World Series. Odell Beckham Jr. proposed to a kicking net. Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost kung fu kicked his teammate after snapping a month-long scoring drought.

Sports celebrations are the best, aren't they?

The Cubs, their fans and the city of Chicago celebrated in many ways, enough to fill this whole list. But fear not, folks. This is not an all-Cubs love-fest. Instead, it is meant to show some of the best, most memorable celebratory moments from across sports in recent weeks. It is meant to display the joy, emotion and (sometimes) hilarity that emerges in moments of triumph. 

Dances, tweets, television appearances—all are represented in this ode to sports celebrations. Enjoy.

Golden Tate's Pompoms

It wasn't until Week 6 that Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate caught his first touchdown pass of the 2016 season, and he sure made up for lost time with the celebration.

After a 23-yard TD grab in a 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Tate joined the Lions cheerleaders in a victory dance and even commandeered a set of pompoms.

Jacob Price of SB Nation wrote, "If this whole football thing doesn't end up working out long term, Tate clearly has a career in cheer waiting for him if he wants it. He also managed to avoid getting flagged because he was on the sideline."

Ireland Defeats All Blacks

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Sometimes, it's the moment that makes the celebration.

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team is nearly impossible to beat. Really—prior to their matchup with Ireland in Chicago in early November, the All Blacks were riding a record 18-Test win streak.

Not only did the Irish side end that streak with a 40-29 victory, but they also secured their first win over New Zealand—ever.

Any celebration would have been jubilant, but the Irish players carrying their country's flag around Chicago's Soldier Field was predictably special.

Ireland's Rob Kearney said, "After the Cubs at the weekend, there was something in the air in Chicago," per Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent.

Rickie Fowler, Ryder Cup

In early October, the U.S. team defeated Europe in the Ryder Cup for the first time in eight years. Not surprisingly, the celebrations were memorable.

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods sprayed champagne, Dustin Johnson popped a bottle at a press conference and Paulina Gretzky was there.

Yet, perhaps the best moment of all came courtesy of Rickie Fowler. The 27-year-old stood smack in the middle of a group photo as teammates all around embraced their significant others.

The Associated Press' Doug Ferguson (via CBS Detroit) called Fowler "the awkward ninth wheel," but really, that facial expression is perfection.

Zlatan's Kung Fu Kick

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's performance against Swansea City in early November was special.

Not only did the Manchester United striker score two goals in the 3-1 victory, and not only was one of those goals No. 25,000 in Premier League history, but he also snapped a six-match scoreless drought.  

So it was only appropriate he celebrated in style—with a kung fu kick a la Eric Cantona. With celebrations like that, let's hope the Swede doesn't have too many more goal droughts in his future.

Cavaliers Ring Ceremony

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

The World Series didn't work out perfectly for Cleveland, but it sure opened with a sweet celebration.

On the same night the Indians hosted Game 1 against the Chicago Cubs, the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers received their rings and raised their banner in Quicken Loans Arena.

During the ring ceremony—which took place about an hour before the baseball game next door—LeBron James said, per Scott Patsko of Cleveland.com:

"

None of us will ever forget. None of us. Anybody in this building, anybody in this community, anybody in this state, anybody that has any ties to Cleveland.

At this point, if you're not from here, live here, play here, dedicate yourself to Cleveland, then it makes no sense to even live at this point. Cleveland against the world.

"

Powerful stuff. 

Patrik Laine's 'Stick Twirl'

Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine has not had a lot of NHL experience just yet, but his goal celebrations are already on point.

Mary Clarke of SB Nation wrote, "The No. 2 overall pick from this year already has a hat trick to his name, and now he's nailing his celebrations like a bona fide professional."

Clarke pointed to a recent stick spin against the Dallas Stars as an example.

Sportsnet's Dimitri Filipovic tweeted the video and captioned it, "Everything about Patrik Laine is cool."

The Jets faithful provided a pretty boss Laine-related celebration as well when they chanted, "Laine's better!" during a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs (home of the No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews).

Ty Detmer Does the 'Macarena'

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Who doesn't love a little throwback in their sports celebrations?

The BYU Cougars football team has you covered. Following their 31-14 victory over Michigan State in October, BYU players celebrated with a little "Macarena" action in the visitors' locker room at Spartan Stadium.

Offensive coordinator (and Heisman Trophy winner) Ty Detmer was in the middle of the fun, and to add to the delightful quality of the celebration, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake got into a full-on dance-off with director of alumni relations Jack Damuni.

Check out Detmer here.

China Arena Football League

As the NFL continues to crack down on touchdown dances, fear not. The China Arena Football League has fans covered for creative and entertaining scoring celebrations.

For example, check out the sword-fight action from a Shanghai Skywalkers vs. Shenzhen Naja game in October.

Bleacher Report's David McCracken wrote, "Better than Antonio Brown twerking or Victor Cruz's salsa dance, members of the Chinese Arena Football League know how to impress in front of the cameras."

Here's another hilariously corny fishing-related scene. 

Robot Touchdown Dance

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Speaking of the crackdown on touchdown dances, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins made a statement of his own in Week 5.

After catching an 11-yard TD pass against the New England Patriots, Hawkins placed the football on the ground and did an about-face, robot-style.

He later admitted his robot "celebration" was meant to troll the NFL for its stringent rules on scoring celebrations.

He said, per Dan Labbe of cleveland.com, "I thought about it and then when I scored I'm like, alright, I'm just going to do it. I was glad everyone on the internet interpreted it the right way because I wasn't sure if they were going to get the joke."

Yep, they got it. 

San Marino's Twitter Account

AFP/Getty Images

The small European country of San Marino scored its first World Cup qualifying away goal in 15 years during an October match against Norway.

Mattia Stefanelli notched the monumental goal in what would become a 4-1 loss for his side.

The reaction of Norwegian television broadcasters was one of utter dismay. Conversely, the San Marino Twitter account nailed the celebratory tweets. Behold:

Tweet 1: "GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL"

Tweet 2: "GAOLGFAOGAOALGOALGOALGOAGLAGOALGIAAAAAAAAAAAAL"

And Tweet 3 is, well—it's totally, unabashedly NSFW.

Odell Beckham Proposes

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has had quite the relationship with the kicking net during this 2016 NFL season.

First, Beckham hit said net in frustration during a loss to Washington in September. Two weeks later, he scored his first touchdown of the season against the Green Bay Packers and celebrated by hugging the net on the sidelines.

And the hilarity didn't stop there. One week later against the Baltimore Ravens, Beckham tallied 222 receiving yards and two TDs and reveled in his success by proposing to his beloved net. He explained, per Sean Gentille of Sporting News, "Our relationship is growing. I thought we might as well make it serious."

Happy endings do exist.

Parker Honors Summitt

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Sparks won their third WNBA title in October by defeating the Minnesota Lynx in five games.

It was an incredible series capped with a game-winner by league MVP Nneka Ogwumike.

The postgame had all the hallmarks of a championship celebration—photos with the trophy, champagne—but it had something else, too.

Sparks veteran and Finals MVP Candace Parker dedicated the win to her college coach, Tennessee's legendary Pat Summitt, who died in June. Parker told ESPN's Holly Rowe (via Bleacher Report's Thomas Duffy), "This is for Pat."

Marquette King's Post-Punt Dances

Wide receivers, running backs, Rob Gronkowski—these are the football players one would generally expect to see performing celebration dances.

That's why Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King is so unique (and awesome). King busted out his moves after pinning the Denver Broncos deep in their own territory with two third-quarter punts on Sunday Night Football in Week 9.

King told the Associated Press (via David Caraccio of the Sacramento Bee), "Just having a little fun."

Meanwhile, Dan Hanzus of NFL.com called King "the punter America deserves" and wrote, "I have no idea how Marquette King is pulling this off, but it is not our responsibility to understand why. It is our job to sit back and enjoy the revolution."

Cubs on 'SNL'

If you've been paying attention to sports news recently, you know this entire list could be dedicated to Chicago Cubs World Series celebrations. In lieu of that, however, let's just talk about two of the best.

First up, a late-night television appearance. Three members of the Chicago Cubs, along with superfan Bill Murray, showed up on Saturday Night Live just days after the Cubs clinched their first title in 108 years.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Dexter Fowler and retiring catcher David Ross played male strippers in a hilarious skit and also sung a rendition of "Go Cubs Go!" with Murray who, as SNL cast member Colin Jost put it, "used to work here."

Cubs Parade

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Then, there was the parade. Obviously.

Nic Flosi of Fox 32 Chicago reported an estimated five million people attended the celebration. According to Flosi, that made the Cubs parade "the seventh largest gathering in human history."

The city dyed the Chicago River Cubbie blue, first baseman Anthony Rizzo teared up and manager Joe Maddon wore a T-shirt that said, "We didn't suck."

It was a celebration worthy of the achievement.

Honorable mention to the fan trust fall, (do not try this at home), Bill Murray's tears of joy and "Go Cubs Go!" echoing throughout Wrigleyville a mile away from the stadium.