No matter the sport, when you’re in the heat of the moment, sometimes things just don’t go as planned. This can result in some pretty hilarious and sometimes unbelievable moments for spectators to witness. We’ve rounded up some of the craziest, funniest, and most downright absurd moments across sports history below.
Rory McIlroy’s Ball Lands in Spectator’s Lap (2023, DP World Tour)
During the 2023 DP World Tour, Rory McIlroy‘s golf ball landed in a rather tricky spot: a spectator’s lap! The woman was sitting on the ground with her legs out in front of her when the ball dropped right between her knees. McIlroy, in disbelief of what happened, came up to the woman and jokingly mimed as though he was going to hit the ball right out of her lap while he, the woman, and the other spectators laughed. Eventually, the referee came and marked the spot, allowing the woman to get up and McIlroy to continue playing.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s One-Handed Catch (2014, NFL)
In a 2014 game against the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made a catch so remarkable it’s been talked about time and time again over the past decade. Almost as if by magic, Beckham Jr. reached his arm up into the air and caught the ball in one hand. He then fell backwards onto the turf, somehow without ever losing grip on the ball or falling outside the lines of the field.
Mark Sanchez’s “Butt Fumble” (2012, NFL)
On Thanksgiving Day in 2012, most NFL fans were at home eating turkey with the game on TV. But a lucky 79,000 fans at MetLife Stadium got to see what would hilariously become known as the “butt fumble” in real time. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had an unfortunate collision with the behind of his teammate, offensive lineman Brandon Moore, causing a fumble. To add insult to injury, the ball was then recovered by the Patriots’ safety Steve Gregory and returned for a touchdown. It’s hard to live that one down!
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LeBron James Loses Shoe, Still Plays Defense (2022, NBA)
During a 2022 Lakers game vs. the Hornets, LeBron James‘ shoe slipped off in a flurry of activity as he played on the court. But did the Lakers legend let this stop him? Of course not! James continued to play defense with only one shoe before quickly slipping the other one back on, getting possession of the ball, and charging down the court to make a slam dunk in a series of moves so fast that the fans and commentators were stunned.
NFL Ref Knocked Over by Green Bay Packers Player, Still Makes Call (2018, NFL)
In a 2018 Giants vs. Packers game, Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb ran a touchdown into the end zone but lost his footing and found himself rolling backwards into the sidelines, straight into the referee standing there! Though the referee was fully knocked to the ground, he quickly jumped up again before anyone could even come to his aid and, without missing a beat, made the call officially counting the play as a touchdown. Talk about commitment to the job!
Jose Canseco Header Home Run (1993, MLB)
One strange occurrence during a 1993 game between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Indians quickly become a major moment to remember in MLB history. Carlos Martinez was up to bat and hit a fly ball out into right field. Naturally, Jose Canseco started backing up towards the wall with his gloved hand reaching upward to catch the ball. Strangely, the ball did not end up in his glove as expected, and instead hit the top of his head before bouncing over the wall, making it a home run for Martinez. Canseco stared at his empty glove in confusion as the rest of the team, the fans, and the announcers all laughed at what they just witnessed and replayed the footage in complete disbelief.
Hideki Matsuyama’s Golf Ball Stuck in Player’s Shirt (2021, The Northern Trust)
At the 2021 Northern Trust, golfer Hideki Matsuyama hit a drive into the spectator section that ricocheted and somehow ended up lodged all the way inside a spectator’s shirt. Realizing what happened, the spectator froze in place and waited for Matsuyama and the referees to come over. After the officials successfully marked the spot so play could continue, Matsuyama signed the ball and let the spectator take it home as a keepsake from the unforgettable moment.
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David Tyree’s “Helmet Catch” (2008, NFL)
In an iconic Super Bowl XLII moment, David Tyree of the New York Giants caught the ball and, refusing to let it slip out of his possession, pinned it against his helmet with one hand as he was knocked to the ground by opposing players. This crazy moment was a key part of the Giants’ major upset of the previously undefeated Patriots in this Super Bowl game.
Manu Ginóbili Swats Bat Mid-Game (2009, NBA)
During a fittingly-timed Kings vs. Spurs game on Halloween night, a bat made its way into the arena and took to flying around the court as players and refs scrambled to shoo it away. Manu Ginóbili of the Spurs took a different approach, and with surprising swiftness and ease smacked the creature out of the air with one hand. He then carried the stunned bat off to the sidelines, and later had to receive a rabies vaccine due to coming in contact with a wild animal.
Bo Jackson Runs Towards the Locker Room (1987, NFL)
In a 1987 Raiders game, Bo Jackson made an iconic 91-yard touchdown against the Seahawks. In all the excitement, Jackson ran right through the end zone and up into the tunnel that led to the locker rooms with full momentum. A few of his teammates then ran into the tunnel to join him, cheering with excitement over the unbelievable play.
Lakers Fans Tell Russell Westbrook Not To Shoot (2022, NBA)
During his less-than-stellar time with the Lakers in 2022, tensions had risen so much between Russell Westbrook and the team’s fans that they began yelling at him when he would gain possession of the ball. During one particular game against the Knicks, fans could be heard yelling “don’t shoot!” at him from the crowd, followed by Westbrook ignoring them, shooting, and ultimately missing the basket, much to the crowd’s frustration.
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“Sucks Eat CFootball” Fan Sign (2022, NCAA)
Signs from fans in the crowd can certainly be an encouraging sight for athletes on the field–or, at times, a confusing one. In the crowd at a college football game, one fan held up a sign mean to read “SEC Sucks at Football,” reusing the “s” from “SEC” for the word “sucks.” Instead of the intended effect, the sign appeared to read “Sucks Eat CFootball” in a confusing and hilarious moment.
