Most Memorable Press Conference Moments in Sports

Lights, camera, action: Talk to me. 

When an athlete, coach, manager or any sports figure sits down for a chat with reporters you better believe that fans will be watching. 

We’ve seen tears, yelling, swearing, shameless plugs, woeful apologies, big announcements and morose retirements. In the heat of the moment, sometimes sports' biggest names can lose their filter. The result can be shocking. It can be downright crazy. It can even be heart wrenching. 

Take a look back at some of the most memorable sports press conference moments of all time. 

20. Michael Vick Apologizes

Michael Vick spoke to the media concerning his recent arrest for heavy involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring in 2007. 

Holding back tears, Michael Vick delivers an apology to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, his family, teammates, former coaches and the entire Atlanta Falcons organization that he left behind. 

Vick admits that what he did was a, “terrible thing.” By going to jail Michael Vick ruined his hero and role model status, and he tries to address that point in a pointed manner. Whether you buy his sincerity or not, this press conference remains one of the most memorable in NFL history. 

19. Derek Anderson Explodes

Former Arizona Cardinals’ QB Derek Anderson spoke to reporters in a post-game press conference at the University of Phoenix Stadium. 

When a reporter asked about Anderson being caught on camera laughing on the sidelines while the Cards were down by 18 points, things get interesting.

That’s when the quarterback explodes. Anderson yells at the reporter telling him that he takes the game seriously and puts his heart into playing. 

“I don’t like going out there and getting embarrassed,” Anderson tells the reporter. 

Mission failed.

18. Mike Singletary Freaks on Vernon Davis

“I will not tolerate players thinking it’s about them when it’s about the team,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary laments to a reporter about his TE Vernon Davis. 

Singletary proceeds to go off on a rant about how he and players who don’t want to contribute cannot coexist on his team. 

Singletary yells under the duress of extreme frustration, “I wanna win!” 

Easier said than done.

17. Rumble in the Jungle

Muhammed Ali appeared in a press conference about a week before his famed “Rumble in the Jungle” fight against George Foreman. 

No one will contest that Ali will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers to ever step foot in the ring. 

With his blazing self-confidence and witty one-liners, Ali gives it his best Dr. Suess attempt and gives us another memorable press conference moment.

16. Jim Mora Wants Some Clarification

Jim Mora talks about how his Indianapolis Colts fared in this post-game press conference. 

He then goes on to talk about how the Colts threw the game away and played absolutely miserably. 

That’s when a reporter asks Mora about the likelihood that his team would make the playoffs. 

The rest is history. Mora responds, “I just hope we can win a game!”

15. Kevin Borseth Is Angry

Michigan Wolverine’s Womens College Basketball coach Kevin Borseth makes good first impressions. 

He starts off the press conference, as is recommended for most coaches, by slamming his fists down on the podium in anger. 

Borseth then goes on to rant about how a lack of offensive rebounds cost his Wolverines the game and will bring their season to a halt. 

What ensues is a rant cemented as one of the craziest reactions in any press conference. 

You can look up the transcript of this rant online. Fair warning, it’s all in caps. 

14. Lebron: The Decision

Lebron James was ready to leave his longtime team the Cleveland Cavaliers. As King James is one of the most talked about athletes in the game, he felt it only right to walk America through his thought process and drag them through one of the most boring and unnecessary press conferences in the history of sports. 

If anyone watched this live on television, you’d know exactly how long and drawn out the actual announcement was. 

If Lebron had his way, we’d still be waiting for the announcement. 

13. A-Rod Admits

On February 2^nd, 2009 Alex Rodriguez addressed the world media concerning his involvement in steroids and using banned supplements in his workout routines. 

Rodriguez begins his press conference by saying he would divulge, “What I can remember.” 

What happened in the next months is MLB history. Baseball entered a new era and one of its biggest stars took a fall from grace.

12. Terrell Owens Loves His QB

After being knocked out of the NFL playoffs by the New York Giants, media swarmed about how the blame should be placed on Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo. 

Owens, in an unusual display of teammate solidarity, defends Romo. He sobs his way through telling the media to lay off the blame game on his quarterback. 

Watch the typically boisterous wide receiver’s tiny heart grow three sizes during this memorable moment. 

11. Herm Edwards Breaks Down the Game

When asked about how New York Jets coach Herm Edwards thinks his team is doing, he goes on a tirade about why he’s there in the first place. 

“You play to win the game!” Edwards screams at reporters. 

While technically true, Edwards over the top frustration bubbles up to make this moment truly unforgettable.

10. John Chaney Will Kill You

Temple University basketball coach John Chaney goes on an absolutely insane rant on a reporter in this post-game press conference. 

Chaney was so upset he even ran over to the reporter and repeatedly tried to hit him. When he felt like he had gotten his point across, Chaney has some choice words for the man. 

“I’ll kill you! You remember that. When I see you, I’m going to kick your ass!” Chaney screams at the top of his lungs.

9. Randy Moss: Straight Cash, Homie

Not technically a press conference, but this is still great.

Randy Moss pretended to pull his pants down during a touchdown celebration and the NFL responded by slapping him with a $10,000 fine. 

When asked about how he planned to pay the fine, Moss let us know that rich people don’t write checks. 

Hopefully his retirement benefits are in straight cash.

8. Magic Johnson Retires

On Nov. 7, 1991 NBA legend Magic Johnson announced to the world that he would be retiring from the game of basketball. The reason? Johnson had recently been diagnosed with AIDS. 

It was shocking. It was heart wrenching. 

No one was happy to see Magic go, but he gave us an emotional and memorable moment in this press conference.

7. Bobby Knight Sees the Future

It’s no secret that Bobby Knight is one of the most eccentric coaches in the history of sports. His short fuse and crazy antics have landed him this reputation. 

In this press conference, Knight responds to a reporter about the future of his team. 

Knight snaps and pretends to try to see the future in a drinking glass in front of him, finally revealing to the audience, “What a sh*t question!.”

6. Mike Grundy Hates Yellow Journalism

Oklahoma State coach Mike Grundy addresses the media after a win over Texas Tech. 

Instead of gushing over his team’s success, Grundy takes the opportunity to respond to an article  that he felt unfairly attacked one of his players.

Grundy takes the offensive by making sweeping metaphors and yelling at the top of his lungs about his masculinity. 

“I’m a man. I’m 40!” Grundy screams. 

We know. 

5. Nadal Knows How to Ace a Press Conference

Rafael Nadal really knows how to ace a press conference. 

In a recent interview after a match at the US Open, Nadal addressed his future in the tournament. 

That’s when out of nowhere Nadal grimaces and slides slowly under the table. 

The room goes quiet. 

Thankfully he was okay and was apparently suffering from the extreme pain of cramps. 

4. Iverson Hates Practice

No one was questioning whether or not Philadelphia 76ers superstar Allen Iverson was one of the most talented players in the league. 

Reporters were, however, questioning his commitment to the team and getting better. A man asks AI about missing a recent practice. 

Iverson goes on a rant downplaying the importance of practice versus his performance in an actual game. 

Repetitive doesn’t even begin to describe this tirade. Iverson repeats the word practice over twenty times. 

You’re talking about what?

3. Tiger Woods Is Sorry for Partying

Tiger Woods isn’t the most intimidating figure in sports. With his neat polo shirts and perfect diction, no one expected the talented but timid golfer to be a serial adulterer and all-around Casanova. 

One of the most respected and celebrated figures in sports, Woods only just began his downward spiral and fall from grace with this highly publicized apology. 

With the way he’s playing lately, it looks as if it will take Woods much more than a sorry to get back to his elite status.

2. Dennis Green Seeing Red

When the Arizona Cardinals were beating the Chicago Bears 23-3 in the 4^th quarter, coach Dennis Green thought it was in the bag. 

He was wrong. 

When the Cardinals ended up losing the game, Green took it to heart. He screamed at reporters that he generally expected it to happen. 

Green’s dismal record in Arizona and antics like this may keep him out of a head coaching position for the rest of his life. 

Good luck in the UFL, Dennis.

1. Mike Tyson Will Eat You

“You can’t last two minutes in my world,” Mike Tyson rants at an unhinged press conference promoting his fight with Lennox Lewis. 

Mike was just being Mike and proceeded to go on a rant about murdering and raping audience members. 

When you take into account Mike Tyson’s illustrious career of flipping out during press conferences, it’s about a par for the course for the former heavy-weight champion.