25 Most Hilarious Celebration Fails in Sports

There's nothing wrong with athletes, or anyone else for that matter, celebrating their achievements. Just remember that an overzealous celebration can turn your moment of glory into a lifetime of regret unless you know the following:

1. It ain't over till it's over: I know you're excited, but have you already crossed the finish line? That three-point shot that gave you the lead was amazing, but did you actually hear a buzzer? Do not get ahead of yourself. 

2. Your limits: Were you able to a backflip from a standing position this morning? If the answer is no, there's not much chance the touchdown you just scored will change that.  

3. The value of a proportional response: I know you just laid out the quarterback, but examine your surroundings. Is this a vital play in an important game with potential to influence the outcome or is this a garbage play late in a game that your team is down three or more scores? Those should be two very different celebrations. 

4. What goes around comes around: You can have fun, but be respectful. If you celebrate success by enthusiastically disrespecting people, then people will celebrate your failures by enthusiastically disrespecting you. 

Here are 25 Hilarious Sports Celebration Fails that could have been avoided had they had the benefit of my vast wisdom. 

25. Mets Fan: Put It in the Books...Yankees Fan: Gladly

The Mets fan in this video can already taste victory over the Yankees. Sweet, sweet victory made even sweeter by the fact that it will come at Yankee Stadium, which is filled with 50,000 sad Yankees fans to harass on the way out. 

"Put it in the books," he screams. 

Then somehow the Mets lose. Welcome to the world of a Mets fan. 

24. DeSean Jackson's Showboating Costs Him

Remember back when DeSean Jackson was so enthusiastic about scoring touchdowns that he couldn't even wait until he got into the end zone to celebrate. 

Bet you never thought you'd miss that DeSean Jackson. 

23. Dominic Moore: Dude, You Missed

The Penguins and Lightning met in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and nobody was more excited than Tampa Bay's Dominic Moore. 

Moore was so excited that early in Game 1, he wasn't even seeing straight; as evidenced by this ridiculous celebration on a goal that wasn't. 

This was about the only thing that went right for the Penguins in the series. 

22. Gus Frerotte's Headbutt Celebration

I don't want to be hard on former Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte, but this boneheaded touchdown celebration is pretty much the highlight of his career. 

Frerotte sprained his neck performing this inspired celebration in a MNF game against the Giants.

The best part? He was celebrating a 7-7 tie. 

21. Clemson Tom

I was first introduced to Clemson Tom in the wake of Clemson's embarrassing loss to rival South Carolina in late November, 2011.

In the video posted on Deadspin.com, Tom, can of Miller Lite in hand, was lamenting his Tigers' loss to the Gamecocks but remained confident about their chances in the ACC Championship.

He also admitted that he'd eat a squirrel, surprising nobody. 

Well, Clemson did beat Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship and Clemson Tom was pleased. Although as it turns out, a pleased Clemson Tom behaves pretty much the same way as displeased Clemson Tom.

Incoherent yelling, prank calls and a pair of stolen shoes are generally involved.  

20. Soccer Teens Fail at Being Cool

These kids are failing at so many things. 

They're playing junior high soccer. 

They're showing a shocking lack of sportsmanship. 

Their elaborate celebration, which required a prop, obviously took hours of planning and practice…and the end result was lame as hell. 

19. Stevie Johnson's Celebration Was an Eventual Fail

Bills receiver Stevie Johnson sure knows how to entertain the crowd. When the Bills played the Jets in late November 2011, Johnson celebrated a late-game touchdown by reenacting Plaxico Burress' infamous leg shooting.

Then he pretended to crash land...like a Jet...get it? Guess it would have been funnier if the Bills had managed to win the game. 

Johnson's antics cost the Bills 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff, and the Jets marched down the field and scored. The Bills had time for one final drive, but they failed to score thanks to three key drops by Johnson.  

Johnson's antics cost him $10,000 and most of his remaining likability. 

18. Pittsburgh Pirates Forgot How to Win

It's no surprise that the Pittsburgh Pirates have no idea how to celebrate a win. 

Sure, it's kinda sad, but it's not a surprise. 

This 2010 celebration of a walk-off win is more embarrassing than inspiring. 

17. Tim Tebow Wins Championship, Fans Tear Down Trees

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow sure inspires an emotional response from people, doesn't he?

Students at the University of Florida loved Tebow so much that when he won them a national championship, they had no idea how to deal with their overwhelming emotions and adoration. 

Naturally, they tore down trees with their bare hands. 

16. Cyclist Snatches Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

This cyclist is so excited about his impending success that he cannot resist the urge to raise to raise his arms and proudly proclaim victory before reaching the finish line. 

Hopefully he cherished that moment before losing control of his bike and eating pavement and watching helplessly as a non-idiot coasts to victory. 

15. Piggyback Victory Lap Ends Poorly

Here's what I don't know: Why the 2009 Track & Field Championships in Berlin need a creepy bear mascot and why that mascot has free reign to to menace the athletes on the track. 

Here's what I do know: After the age of 10, there is absolutely no excuse for yielding to a grown man in a bear suit who is desperate to provide a piggyback ride. 

14. Rashard Mendenhall Is Excited. VERY Excited.

In January 2011, when the Steelers beat the Jets in the AFC Championship, securing the right to get beat by the Packers in the Super Bowl, Steeler Nation was thrilled. 

But not nearly as thrilled as running back Rashard Mendenhall, who gave quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a celebratory dry hump right on the field. 

13. High School Basketball Players Can't Jump

Nothing says "we rule" like a couple of high school "jocks" celebrating by awkwardly crashing into each other before pathetically falling to the ground. 

I bet these dudes get all the ladies. 

12. Marshall Chooses Style Points over Actual Points

In September 2010, things started off well for Marshall in a game against in-state rival WVU. Receiver Aaron Dobson caught a 96-yard bomb in the second quarter to put Marshall up 14-3 and the home crowd was loving life…

For about 30 seconds, until they figured out that Dobson threw up his hands to celebrate, dropping the ball in the process, just short of the end zone. 

It was ruled a fumble and a touchback. West Virginia got the ball and eventually went on to hand Marshall one of the most excruciating losses in their program's history. 

11. Terrell Owens Pushes His Luck

What's the old saying?

I think it goes something like: T.O. disrespects us in our own house once, shame on him. T.O. disrespects us in our own house twice, shame on me. 

At least I'm pretty sure that's how former Cowboy George Teague remembers it. 

10. Paul Pierce & Nate Robinson Should've Practiced That

In December 2010, Paul Pierce scored a buzzer-beater to secure a victory for his Celtics after a particularly hard-fought battle with the Knicks. 

Nobody on the court was more excited than teammate Nate Robinson, who celebrated by scaling Pierce like a mountain and promptly falling off, landing head first on the court. 

Thankfully he was uninjured.

9. Tennessee Wins a Game, Loses Dignity

Remember back when Peyton Manning was the quarterback at the University of Tennessee and they were awesome? 

Well, let just say that the Volunteers' standards have declined a tad since Manning left in 1997. 

This year, Tennessee finished 1-7 in the SEC East with their only win coming in overtime against Vanderbilt, the perennial division caboose. Certainly nothing to celebrate, right?

Wrong. This game was their Super Bowl, which is too depressing for words. 

8. Matt Ryan Chest Bump Fail

Let's be honest, the NFL preseason is generally a boring waste of time for most fans. It would be like watching Fight Club starring E from Entourage and one of those stupid kids from Twilight. 

At least that's how I used to feel before Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan decided to celebrate the start of the 2011 NFL Preseason with an epic chest bump fail; hence legitimizing the preseason for all eternity and providing a lifetime of laughter.

7. Dude Scores Goal, Refuses to Share the Moment

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who like to share their successes with everyone around them, and those who like to hog every bit of the glory for themselves. 

The dude in the video is the latter. 

6. This NY Giant Is the D*ck of the Week

In a September 2011 game against the Rams, Giant linebacker Michael Boley scored a touchdown. 

He celebrated by drilling some dude wearing a backpack in the face with the football.

Classy move. 

5. Finish...WHO?

This unhinged MMA fighter is so excited about knocking out the guy he just fought that he wants to knock himself out to celebrate the victory. 

I'm sure the audience appreciated the encore. 

4. Phillies Win World Series: Fans Run into Traffic

Anytime a team with a passionate, unhinged fan base wins a championship, a night of bedlam usually follows. When the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, fans took to the streets for an all-night celebratory riot. 

Most fans stuck to riot fundamentals like breaking windows and setting small fires, but a few "outside the box" types decided to celebrate in oncoming traffic. 

Kids today...always trying to be different. 

3. Bill Gramatica Doesn't Help Kicker Cred

In December 2001, Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica engaged in conduct unbecoming a football player and set kickers as a whole back decades. 

Gramatica kicked a successful field goal and the enthusiasm of the moment drove him to jump wildly into the air.

Dude went up with the thrill of victory and came down with a torn ACL. 

2. Wait, the Game Wasn't over Yet? Srsly?

It must have been really exciting for the team in white to score the game-winning basket and then rush the court with coaches and fans to celebrate their victory.

Although, probably not as exciting as it was for the team in black to to score the actual game-winning basket a few seconds later, because the team in white didn't realize there was still time on the clock. 

1. Marion Barber Backflip Fail

Maybe this was an early warning sign of what was to come for the Bears down the road this season. 

In a game against the Panthers in early October 2011, running back Marion Barber actually managed to score a touchdown. Since TDs are few and far between for Barber, he tried to make the most of it by emulating (good player) Devin Hester's backflip celebration from earlier in the game. 

Barber's backflip was about as impressive as his fantasy stats.