DeSean Jackson and The 25 Best Taunts In Sports History

DeSean Jackson turned in one of the greatest regular-season plays in the history of the NFL on Sunday afternoon.

To cap an incredible comeback, one that may have clinched the NFC East division, Jackson returned a punt on the final play 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

And as much as he is known for the big, game-changing play, his end-zone celebrations border on taunts. See last week against the Cowboys.

For that reason, when he danced along the end-zone line at the end of yesterday's game, some people thought he was taunting the Giants and their fans. It probably was just a great "football play," running out the clock, but since it was Jackson, he doesn't necessarily get the benefit of the doubt.

That has us thinking about other great moments in sports-taunting history.

We tried to limit this list to selections with video, so several are left off the list for that reason. And since there's a fine line between "taunt" and "celebration," some of your suggestions might not make the cut either.

Here's a top 25:

Honorable Mention: DeSean Jackson

When: December 12, 2010

DeSean Jackson flirting with the end zone last Sunday wasn't taunting, even if some people believe it was.

Still, a week earlier, his flop into the end zone against Dallas was.

The flop alone would have been just a regular, old end-zone celebration, but holding out the ball right in Terence Newman's direction turns it into a taunt.

It's a bit surprising no flag was thrown.

No. 25: Roy Jones Jr. Toys With Glen Kelly

When: February 2, 2002

Roy Jones Jr. was 45-1 when he fought Australia's Glen Kelly at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Jones toyed with his opponent for six rounds, knocking him down twice.

Then he had enough and decided to end it. But not without some entertainment.

Jones put both hands behind his back, dodged a punch, then leveled Kelly, knocking him out.

No. 24: Byron Hout Misjudges LeGarrette Blount's Right Jab

When: September 3, 2009

You might say this is a great example of the tauntee having the last laugh.

When Boise State had just about wrapped up a surprising win over Oregon, defensive lineman Byron Hout decided to celebrate by tugging on running back LeGarrette Blount's shoulder pads and yelling in his face.

(Blount wasn't entirely innocent in the situation: he had sort of taunted the Broncos in a Sports Illustrated article prior to the game).

Blount did not take kindly to that taunt so he decked him in the face. He was promptly suspended for almost all of his senior season, but he just had a great rookie season in the NFL.

No. 23: San Diego Chargers Waive Bye Bye To Jay Cutler

When: December 24, 2007

After the Broncos—behind 23-3—failed to convert on a fourth down late in a game against their AFC West rival, Chargers Antonio Gates, Matt Wilhelm, and especially Phillip Rivers had a few words for young Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

For whatever reason, Cutler and Rivers don't really like each other. And when Gates, Wilhelm and Rivers wave "bye bye" to Cutler, that's pretty clear.

No. 22: Trent Green Meets Travis Johnson

When: October 7, 2007

This isn't exactly a case of one of the "best" taunts of all time. Nevertheless it warrants mention.

Trent Green's career was ruined by injury. Without one of those injuries, you might have never heard the name Kurt Warner.

So Green probably shouldn't have went for a side-swiping block of a defensive lineman during a Ted Ginn run.

And Travis Johnson, the man who Green hit, didn't like that. So when he saw Green on the ground, he let him have it.

It's hard to believe that Johnson knew Green was severely injured and endured a season-ending concussion.

No. 21: Allen Iverson Steps Over Tyronn Lue

When: 2001 NBA Finals

You'd think Allen Iverson would have a little more sympathy for an undersized shooting guard.

Nevertheless he crossed over the Lakers Tyronn Lue in the 2001 Finals, drained a 16-footer, then stepped over Lue, glaring at him the entire way.

Lue at least had the last laugh: the Lakers won the Finals, giving him a second championship ring, while Iverson went home empty handed.

No. 20: Sean Avery Laughs At Maxime Talbot

When: March 4, 2010

The Rangers Sean Avery is no stranger to controversy and fights. And against Pittsburgh last spring, Avery got into another altercation, this time with the Penguins' Maxime Talbot.

Watch the video and see if you agree with Avery's mockery of Talbot's fighting style.

No. 19: Albert Belle Lets Kevin Kennedy Have It

When: 1995 American League Divisional Series

Eight years before Sammy Sosa's infamous corked bat incident, there was the case of Albert Belle.

In 1995, Belle became just the second player in 17 years to hit 50 or more home runs and he probably should have been the AL MVP, given that he led the once dormant Cleveland Indians to a 100-44 record and a division title.

But Belle was no stranger to controversy, quarreling with fans as soon as he reached the major leagues. And in Cleveland's first postseason game in 41 years, controversy again found Belle.

He hit a home run in the 11th inning and Boston manager Kevin Kennedy ordered the umpires to check the bat for cork: a year earlier, there were rumors of Belle using a corked bat. 

Once absolved, Belle famously flashed his bicep to Kennedy, allegedly shouting: "There's your f---ing cork!"

No. 18: Reggie Bush Taunts Half The Bears Defense

When: 2006 NFC Championship Game

Reggie Bush had a pretty good rookie season for the New Orleans Saints in 2006.

But it wasn't until the Saints trailed the Chicago Bears 16-7 in the second quarter of the NFC Championship that he flashed the same electricity that won him the Heisman Trophy at USC.

Bush caught a pass from Drew Brees out of the backfield and outran the entire Bears defense (with a Secretariat-like burst).

The dance at the end of the play is a classic celebration, but the pointing at Bears defenders during the last 15 yards: pure taunt.

No. 17: Brandon Marshall Has A Present For Former Teammate Jay Cutler

When: November 18, 2010

According to the reports that followed, there isn't animosity between former Denver Broncos Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler.

After all, the two were a great passing duo for Denver back in 2007.

Still, you wouldn't know it by watching this incident a few weeks back.

No. 16: Owner Donald Sterling Taunts His Own Player

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When: December 12, 2010

It's common place for fans to taunt or heckle players, but an owner?

If you think about it, however, it makes sense: when a player doesn't perform, it's literally their money being wasted.

That must be how Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling felt watching Baron Davis score four points in 33 minutes during a 94-85 loss to Orlando.

Sterling probably expects a little more out of a player who he's paying $13 million per year.

No. 15: Michael Jordan Sort Of Taunts The Trail Blazers

When: 1992 NBA Finals

Michael Jordan lit up the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the 1992 NBA Finals, scoring 35 points in the first half.

He drained six three-pointers during that stretch and on the last one shrugged to the hometown crowd and television camera.

This was a pretty inadvertent taunt, but a taunt nonetheless: He was essentially saying "I can't believe I'm this good......and you can't stop me."

No. 14: Bill Cowher And Joey Porter Savor Steelers Win Over Cincinnati

When: 2005 AFC Wild Card

After going 15 years without a playoff appearance, the Cincinnati Bengals were thrilled to be hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 Wild Card game.

But they weren't thrilled when Carson Palmer was knocked out of the game on the first play from scrimmage, and they were even less thrilled when the Steelers silenced the Cincinnati crowd with a 31-17 win.

For Bill Cowher and the Steelers, it was a sweet win: they had to sneak into the postseason as a No. 6 seed, mainly because the Bengals had defeated them a month earlier at Heinz Field.

In the locker room following the upset, Cowher (with an assist from Joey Porter) chanted the Bengals famous "Who Dey!" rallying cry.

No. 13: Shannon Sharpe And The Broncos Invade Foxboro

When: November 17, 1996

In the game of the week, the 7-3 Patriots (who would go on to win the AFC Championship) hosted the 10-1 Denver Broncos.

But it wasn't much of a contest, as the Broncos jumped out to a 24-0 lead en route to a 34-8 thumping of the home team.

That led Shannon Sharpe to do something completely out of character: run his mouth and deliver one of NFL Films all-time great soundbites.

No. 12: Robbie Fowler Taunts Everton Fans

When: April 1999

Liverpool's Robbie Fowler had an answer for the Everton fans who had trashed him for alleged cocaine use.

There isn't much more to say.

No. 11: New York Fans Taunt Pedro Martinez

When: Several times, most recently 2009 World Series

Taunting is a two-way street. If players can taunt the hometown fans, then the hometown fans can taunt players.

Case in point: Pedro Martinez.

Martinez famous quote about the Yankees—"They beat me. They're that good right now. They're that hot. I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy"—gave New Yorkers a ready-made taunt:

"Who's your daddy?! Who's your daddy?!"

No. 10: Scottie Pippen Stares Down Patrick Ewing

When: 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals

This one sort of speaks for itself.

Not only did Pippen posterize Ewing, he threw him to the ground than walked all over him.

Where could Pippen have ever learned such behavior.........?

No. 9: Michael Jordan Stares Down Patrick Ewing

When: 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Two years before Scottie Pippen would dunk over Patrick Ewing and taunt the huge center, Pippen's teammate Michael Jordan did the same....and just for good measure, he scored over both Xavier McDaniel and Ewing.

Jordan didn't exactly hide his emotions, but this might be the most anger he ever showed on one single play.

No. 8: The Cartwheeling Goalie

When: 2009

For a play from a Stony Brook versus Hartford soccer game to became an internet sensation, it would have to feature something pretty unbelievable, unique or  hilarious.

This clip has all three.

Was he trying to psyche out his opponent? If so, it didn't seem to work.

No. 7: Randy Moss Sort Of Moons Green Bay Fans

When: 2004 NFL Wild Card Game

The back story to this one was that Green Bay fans had a history of mooning opposing players as they entered the stadium.

True or not, it provided us with a nice rebuttal from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss when he scored a touchdown in the 2004 playoffs.

Moss was fined for this play (thanks partly to Joe Buck's indignation at Moss during the Fox broadcast), giving us one of the great quips of all-time: "Straight cash homey!"

No. 6: Terrell Owens Mocks Ray Lewis

When: October 31, 2004

Terrell Owens nearly landed with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2004 offseason, following his departure from San Francisco.

But somewhere along the lines a trade between the two teams fell through and Owens ended up with Philadelphia: You know the rest.

By chance, the Ravens played the Eagles that season and in the fourth quarter Owens scored the game's first touchdown en route to a 15-10 win.

When he scored (on the Ray Lewis led Ravens defense) T.O. did his impression of Ray Lewis' famous pre-game dance.

Is it really wise to taunt Ray Lewis?

No. 5: Michael Jordan Gets Revenge On Dikembe Mutombo

When: 1997

Dikembe Mutombo loved to wag his finger at a player whose shot he had just blocked. It became his signature during a long productive career in the NBA.

Michael Jordan didn't like it when Mutombo wagged his finger at the game's greatest player.

So when Jordan dunked on Mutombo, he returned the favor.

No. 4: Muhammad Ali Tells Sonny Liston To Keep Fighting

When: May 25, 1965

Muhammad Ali knocked Sonny Liston down in the first round of their much anticipated fight in May 1965.

Standing over Liston, Ali allegedly shouted "get up and fight sucker!"

One of the earliest and greatest taunts ever uttered.

No. 3: Red Sox Fans Tease Darryl Strawberry

When: 1986 World Series

Long before Bart and Lisa Simpson taunted Darryl Strawberry from the stands of the annual Shelbyville-Springfield softball game, Boston Red Sox fans tried to psyche out "The Straw" during the 1986 World Series.

We couldn't find video of the original Fenway Park taunting, but you'll get the idea with the Simpsons re-creation.....although Strawberry probably didn't shed tears of sadness in the real life incident. 

No. 2: Reggie Miller Tells Spike Lee The Knicks Are Choking

When: 1994 Eastern Conference Finals

Players so close to fans is naturally going to lead to great interactions. And great taunts.

Reggie Miller delivered basketball's biggest taunt at the same time that he delivered one of the most incredible performances in playoff history.

Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of a win over New York and let famous Knicks fan/director Spike Lee know what he thought about the Knicks clutch abilities.

No. 1: Terrell Owens Disrespects The Star

When: September 24, 2000

Terrell Owens would go on to deliver some great (horrible?) taunts during his career. But there was none worse (better?) than the game in which he twice raced to the middle of the field at Texas Stadium to showboat on the Cowboys star.

And in typical T.O. fashion, he totally outshone his teammates: few people remember that game as a decisive 41-24 victory for the 49ers.