Most Embarrassing Sports Announcing Gaffes Ever

While dictating a game to a throng of excited listeners takes discipline and patience, announcers often experience a gap in judgement and release words that are unplanned and sometimes comically inappropriate.

They may be consistent voices during a wide array of sporting events, but these announcers are human and can't avoid imperfection.

The seemingly unavoidable aspect of these gaffes that viewers love most is the controversy and borderline eccentricity that is often involved.

With more controversy comes more attention and fame, even if it ruins their reputation. 

Here are the most embarrassing live announcing gaffes ever.

Enjoy.

Honorable Mention: Bill O'Reilly Starts a Trend

While this is clearly not a sports broadcast, Bill O'Reilly's freakout, which went viral, has led to a collective enjoyment of this man's egocentric tendencies.

The host of The O'Reilly Factor, this political commentator never hesitates in spilling his true feelings, regardless of the negativity.

This collection of reactions never gets old, and will be a nice appetizer for the meal to come.

Save room for the rest.

Honorable Mention: Rick Majerus Fighting the Stereotype

At least we got that out of the way.

The men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University, Rick Majerus doesn't seem to realize what just came out of his mouth. 

Steve Lavin can't exactly contain himself.

Honorable Mention: Golf Is Officially Extreme

As the 2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship, Slate V found the perfect way to boost television ratings.

While it may not be embarrassing, it's slightly odd to hear the colorful explosions of the basketball announcers on top of the classy, yet mundane speaking of the golf announcers.

They have no regard for human life.

Honorable Mention: Cutting Edge Broadcast

This may be an entertaining illustration of whatever is taking place, but we still learned nothing from his colorful inability to speak.

On the other hand, we'll take his commentating over Cris Collinsworth's half-hearted attempts at jokes anytime. 

Well done sir.

Honorable Mention: This Explanation Gets Interesting Quickly

During a Northern Illinois game against Iowa, a dropped pass leads to a strange sequence of comments from one of the announcers.

Evidently, it's best to use your hands to catch the ball because your hands are tender, and can move and caress the ball, while the shoulder pads are hard and stiff.

As his speech slows down and his tone lightens, it becomes clear this is heading in a comical direction.

Honorable Mention: Best Horse Race Announcing of All Time

"And I am outta here!"

This may be the most entertaining, provocative and iconic announcing of all time in any sport.

Horse racing has gained a significant amount of respect with the colorful announcing it has experienced over the years.

25. They're Called Strikes and Balls

For those who ever wondered what it would sound like to hear a clueless announcer call a baseball game, this should more than suffice.

Not only is he clueless as to Dustin Pedroia's name, but he doesn't know strikes or balls, as evidenced by his mediocre understanding of baseball.

In the end, he's still more enjoyable to listen to than Joe Buck.

24. A Lapse in Commentary

Local hockey announcers Bob Kaser and Larry Figurski have quite the tedious conversation and pause before realizing they are actually live.

While their oblivious expressions are comical, it's their questioning of the conversation that makes viewers smile.

Kaser's face says it all.

23. Jaws' Mouth Causes Trouble

Watching Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne miss open receivers can often be frustrating, so we can condone Ron Jaworski's slip on national television considering he was himself a quarterback.

Not the first time a Jaws has gotten in trouble with his mouth.

22. Plymouth Whalers Become Relevant

As a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, the Plymouth Whalers don't expect to garner much attention in the hockey world, but this announcer makes sure they are remembered on this strange night.

He states that despite the lack of coverage by the Detroit media, these guys have it covered like a bloody blanket, or "any blanket for that matter" as he corrects himself.

We'd rather not delve any further into the mind of a hockey announcer.

21. Her Announcing Is Like Christmas Wrapping Without the Tape

This female announcer has quite the unique metaphors for various plays, none of which make listeners nod their heads in approval.

While it's not quite clear as to what she is heading for with her baffling commentating, we will listen with respect for her attempts at separation from the tedious and soft-spoken commentating often heard in other sports.

She just wants to be remembered.

20. The Worst Moment to Discuss Britney Spears

Apparently ESPN announcer Mike Patrick felt that the waning moments in an overtime college football game between Georgia and Alabama was the ideal time to discuss the life of Britney Spears.

While we don't disagree that her life decisions have been baffling, we can't possibly fathom the importance of the pop singer in this announcer's mind.

Clearly her overly-dramatic lifestyle takes precedence over Matt Stafford leading the Bulldogs to a score.

19. Harry Caray Is Slightly Behind the Bleachers

An American baseball broadcaster on radio and television, Harry Caray was quite the unique individual, particularly with his lack of rhythm.

After a long tenure calling St. Louis Cardinals games, Caray then announced games for the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago White Sox, before finishing his career off with the Chicago Cubs.

The fans loved him because he was willing to throw back a few cold ones in the bleachers, while trailing them in "Take me out to the Ball Game."

Real old school.

18. We Need Some Soap for This Announcer's Mouth

This game between Richmond and Villanova may have been tedious and draining for the announcers, but this commentator's boredom certainly doesn't help keep fans engaged.

He won't exactly move up the ranks with this level of announcing, especially with his lack of proper vocabulary.

He'll be running sprints for this slip.

17. Jason Giambi Causes This Announcer to Make Up Words

While we commend this announcer for attempting to spice up a seemingly mundane collection of homeruns, we are baffled by his creation of words.

Perhaps he was trying a rendition of Chris Berman's "Whoop!" with his own spin on it, or he just combined all his expressions into these curious statements, if they can even be called that. 

That doesn't seem like English, but in sports it doesn't have to.

16. Plenty of Love in Real Madrid

This announcer feels it's necessary to excite fans with the prospect of a mass amount of loving in Madrid on this night.

His partner agrees, entertaining the possibility that in nine months there may be quite a few more mothers.

We can't help but love the emotional passion behind the announcing.

15. Pam Ward Seems to Lack Respect

During an injury timeout between college football programs Marshall and Ohio, with defensive end Vinny Curry in clear pain on the field, ESPN's Pam Ward is unaware that the studio hasn't gone to commercial.

Curry's family couldn't possibly be pleased with the comments that followed.

While Ward became the first woman to announce a NCAA football nationally-televised game, she shows fans that she needs a bit more training before she lets loose again.

14. This Joke Is Slaughtered

This is the real definition of a slaughter.

While his partner says "Yes Indeed," it's the awkward pause following the failed joke that leads us to believe they both knew it was mediocre.

Keep your day job, unless it's comedy.

13. Lou Holtz Is Like Hard Wood

A retired American football coach, active sportscaster, author and motivational speaker, Lou Holtz has no problem giving listeners a piece of his knowledge. 

It's not surprising that his name means hard wood.

On the other hand, we appreciate the neat fact Lou.

Touche.

12. No Moss from Cris Collinsworth Please

While it's fair to say that most fans despise Cris Collinsworth's obvious commentating, this attempt to be comical is so bad that it's painful.

His fumbling and hesitation leads us to believe that he wasn't ready to fail this horribly.

"Randy Moss is turning this one into... no Moss."

Al Michaels' lack of a response tells the whole story.

11. ESPN We Have a Problem

Hired by ESPN in 2004 to work on their ESPNews channel, Danyelle Sargent was seemingly on the cusp of stardom.

In 2006, while co-anchoring a live broadcast, she believed her microphone was cut during a series of technical difficulties and stated some unappreciated profanity.

When her contract expired in the fall of that year, it was not renewed.

They're not playing around.

10. This Is What Watching Jimmy Clausen Causes

Apparently this announcer forgot how to pronounce flag.

We can forgive him considering he was watching the other member of Jersey Shore, Jimmy Clausen, play football.

That can be frustrating.

9. Doug Gottlieb Earns a Timeout

At least his ringtone wasn't "Get Low" by Lil Jon, or this could have been a real disaster.

During his Bracket Breakdown, ESPN's Doug Gottlieb finds himself in a peculiar moment.

Just as when students are in class, a cell phone that goes off must be picked up by the parents at the end of the day.

Gottlieb's parents won't be pleased.

8. ESPN Doesn't Think Highly of the New Mets Field

It was common knowledge that Shea Stadium was a collapsing stadium, as aesthetically pleasing as a garbage dump, but there are few who dislike the look of Citi Field.

This one commentator doesn't seem to agree and essentially states that the new stadium is full of excrement.

He's probably a Yankees fan.

7. Mike Ditka Tightens Up

In arguably the most epic performance of all time, Hall-of-Fame tight end Mike Ditka adjusts his package during a Monday Night football game in 2007.

Considering announcers rarely have to deal with being on the camera, but rather just being heard, we can let this one slide.

It's safe to assume he got ridiculed by his oblivious peers after this one.

6. Not Much Time on the What?

The best slips are revealed when the announcer attempts to ignore the occurrence and move on.

This game between Slovenia and Australia featured routine commentators, until one decided to take things a bit further, albeit by accident.

Just pretend it didn't happen and carry on, well done.

5. Quit Your Day Job Now

This guy should probably just turn in his microphone immediately.

Not that he isn't good enough or lacks the confidence, well yeah all of that, but it's his comical fumbling of every word coming out of his mouth that makes us shake our heads.

This is just uncomfortable.

4. They Funked This One Up

American professional golfer Fred Funk may be an accomplished athlete, with eight PGA Tour wins and six Champions Tour victories, but he surely deals with daily jokes about his funky last name.

This commentator isn't flustered, easily stating Fred Funk's name as he believes it should be written.

He quickly corrects himself. Good move.

We saw this coming.

3. An Enormous Save

If we've learned anything, it's that hockey announcers rarely keep calm, and rarely hold back.

But this time, something slips out of this commentator's mouth that causes listeners to press pause, rewind and listen closely.

Yes, that's exactly what he said.

2. Christine Nubla Tells Us Her Real Thoughts

Oh boy, she'll never live this one down. 

Instead of discussing the Los Angeles Clippers' inability to pick up the Portland Trailblazers' dribble penetration, she slips a different term in there.

Classy.

1. Jimmy Jacques Can't Get Through This

A horse race has never been more exciting, and more exhausting for the listeners.

As announcer Jimmy Jacques loses his voice at Globe Derby Park in South Australia, he clings to his last breathe, fighting epically to keep going.

"No, I don't think I'll get through this."

But we need you.