Best-ever sports rants? [Archive]

wilson

08-27-2007, 06:42 PM

An unrelated comment about Allen Iverson got me thinking: what are the best sports rants ever? My three favorites, in order, are:

1. Jim Mora, Sr.: "PLAYOFFS?!?!"
2. Allen Iverson: "We talkin' 'bout practice."
3. Hal McRae: "...stupid I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this.I'm a real wanker for saying this. questions..." [throwing office telephone at reporters, etc.]

Special lifetime achievement award for Lou Piniella.

There are oh so many more, and criteria could vary widely. Whether for memorable physical outbursts, sheer vitriol, or simple ridiculous hilarity, what are everyone's all-time favorite sports rants?

hurleyfor3

08-27-2007, 07:13 PM

coach k vs. the chronicle
lee elia vs. cubs fans

DevilAlumna

08-27-2007, 07:18 PM

coach k vs. the chronicle

Do tell. (Not familiar with this story.)

captmojo

08-27-2007, 07:24 PM

Anytime Earl Weaver left the dugout to the field. He was a wonder to behold.

hurleyfor3

08-27-2007, 07:25 PM

Whoa boy. Week of the @UNC game in 1990. I was up in the Chronicle office when it all went down. I'll let someone else tell the story, but I will reiterate that (1) the person with the tape recorder was NOT Seth (2) it wasn't me either and (3) NO, I am not Seth, although I have been accused of being him on these boards.

VaDukie

08-27-2007, 07:36 PM

I was 4 at the time of the rant, but the story goes that the Chronicle gave the team a midseason grade on performance. I beleive it was around the B/B+ range (good, but with room for improvement) which Coach K did not take kindly. "We should be getting A's" was said in some form using some very colorful language.

jimsumner

08-27-2007, 07:43 PM

The Chronicle "graded" the Duke players.

The Duke coach was unhappy with either the grades and/or the concept.

The Duke coach informed the Chronicle staff that he was unhappy. He used strong language. Folks were not happy.

By tirade, do we mean simply verbiage or do physical actions add to the fun? There have been some explosions by minor league managers in recent years that simply defy comprehension.

Moving a bit higher up the visibility scale, Kansas football coach Mark Mangini had a memorable tirade a few years ago when a controversial call cost his team a game. Mangini accused Big-12 officials of conspiring against his team in a post-game press conference that was truly frightening, especially considering Mangini's weight problems.

Then there's Billy Martin. And Knight throwing the chair across the court.

wilson

08-27-2007, 08:13 PM

By tirade, do we mean simply verbiage or do physical actions add to the fun? There have been some explosions by minor league managers in recent years that simply defy comprehension.

Part of the point of my original post was that I wanted this discussion to be subjective (what can I say...I deal in the humanities for a living). Personally, my definition of a great rant is very nebulous. Iverson's "practice" rant, for example, scored a zero for the physical component, whereas McRae's depended heavily upon its physical component for inclusion in my top three.

Good call on the minor league rants...the Asheville Tourists' manager had one of the great rants of all time in '05 or '06, I can't remember which.

pfrduke

08-27-2007, 09:24 PM

Tommy Lasorda's Dave Kingman tirade (http://tommykingman.ytmnd.com/). (warning, link contains adult language)

VaDukie

08-27-2007, 09:51 PM

I stumbled upon this Bob Knight beauty one day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7KijRfU-c

STRONG LANGUAGE

DevilWolf

08-27-2007, 10:38 PM

"Have another donut!" - best coach-to-referee line on national TV ever

Lord Ash

08-27-2007, 11:59 PM

I am one of the few who actually reads the articles in Playboy, and holy cow, if you can ever read Bob Knights interview from a few years back; WOW. He attacks the interviewer at least twice, tries to take away his tape recorders, almost drives off the road scuffling with him... it is AMAZING. I did feel somewhat bad for him, because they did ask a lot of negative leaning questions, but holy cow it is unreal. He is basically crazy.

JBDuke

08-28-2007, 12:23 AM

How about John Cheney going after John Calipari after one of their games?

The Bob Knight chair toss comes to mind...

Does Jim Everett beating up on Jim Rome count?

TampaDuke

08-28-2007, 12:25 AM

In the spirit of the ongoing US Open, I'll nominate John McEnroe. I've always enjoyed his outbursts. Several are posted over on Youtube.

Uncle Drew

08-28-2007, 02:59 AM

The Bobby Knight posts along with the Lasorda post (Go Dodgers) were awesome and thanks for posting them. But as a guy with no kids who uses profanity MUCH more often than I should would it bother you parents to have a coach curse that much in front of your kid? We have heard rumours over the years some ex Duke players (S. Randolph, C. Burgess etc.) and their parents had a problem with Coach K cursing at a player. Honestly I'd rather here a coach drop the F bomb 20 times over using some whitetrash term like "dadgum" like Roy Williams. And I've never believed in coaxing positive reinforcment when it comes to sports. When Indiana wasn't playing well in my opinion Bobby Knight gave them what they needed to hear. I'm not talking 5 year olds, but high school and up is profanity from a coach that big a deal?

dukeENG2003

08-28-2007, 07:48 AM

what about the minor league game where the manager went totally crazy, ended up doing the military crawl, and threw the rosin bag like it was a grenade? Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNSK0nOV4ho

mr. synellinden

08-28-2007, 08:00 AM

Chris Russo on WFAN in New York has had many memorable rants over the years. However his most recent one about Pacman Jones may be the best. This is sports radio at its best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy6ShZYlj68

blazindw

08-29-2007, 01:35 PM

Russo, in my mind, doesn't hold a candle to Mike Valenti's rant after last year's Michigan State-Notre Dame game. Valenti works for AM1270 WXYT in Detroit, and is a former State graduate. He completely goes berserk for 15 minutes nonstop about the "outright chokejob" that Michigan State put on the night before (this is the game where ND came back from down 16 points in the 4th quarter to win). Check it out. One of the funniest rants I've ever heard in my life.

http://deadspin.com/sports/college-football/pucker-pucker-pucker-204391.php

wilson

08-29-2007, 07:52 PM

Valenti works for AM1270 WXYT in Detroit, and is a former State graduate.

As chief of DBR grammar/syntax police, I feel compelled to point out that it's not possible to be a "former graduate" of any place.

DevilAlumna

08-29-2007, 08:24 PM

As chief of DBR grammar/syntax police, I feel compelled to point out that it's not possible to be a "former graduate" of any place.

I think the UVA graduates who had their degrees and diplomas yanked for cheating (http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/South/11/25/virginia.plagarism/index.html) could be considered "former graduates." So it is possible....

dukehoopsgirl

08-29-2007, 09:24 PM

We have heard rumours over the years some ex Duke players (S. Randolph, C. Burgess etc.) and their parents had a problem with Coach K cursing at a player.

Right or wrong, my frustration with these players' documented complaints ( I read of Randolph's in "To Hate Like This is to Love Forever")...they had to have known what they were getting into! Just watching every televised Duke game, I can clearly see Coach K using profanity most any night. So...if one doesn't like the use of profanity, and it's anyone's right...why choose to be coached by somone who uses it on a regular basis?

hondoheel

08-30-2007, 12:47 AM

Surprised none of you have mentioned the KU coach's response after losing to Cuse in the finals.

EarlJam

08-30-2007, 01:23 PM

Can any rants top these two in baseball? Makes sweet Lou look like Gentle Lou in comparison. The Cubs rant is funny considering how much the Cubby fans pride themselves among being baseball's greatest:

1) Cubs manager goes off in press conference in 1983, calling the day game Cubs fans losers and xxxxxxxxxxxxsuckers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv23pqH9iG0

2) Earl Weaver doing what he did best (God I miss him):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or1_1Cktdvs

-EarlJam

TillyGalore

08-30-2007, 01:52 PM

2) Earl Weaver doing what he did best (God I miss him):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or1_1Cktdvs

-EarlJam

Tickets to O's game in the 70's ~ $15
O's pennant ~ $2
Earl Weaver as Manager for the O's = priceless.

EarlJam, thanks for posting this video. I laughed so hard watching it. :D :D :D

Indoor66

08-30-2007, 02:12 PM

captmojo

08-30-2007, 10:43 PM

Anytime Earl Weaver left the dugout to the field. He was a wonder to behold.

I repeat myself. He'd never give up. You always thought it would take the cops to get him off the field.

Buckeye Devil

08-31-2007, 08:28 AM

Hal McRae is right up there in my book. But as a midwest boy, I have to say that Bobby Knight and his chair throwing incident has to be the best I have ever seen (or worst). Plus, his interview last year (I think it was last year) with Jeremy Schaap was a classic as well. I couldn't figure out which one was the bigger idiot in that one. It even caused Dick Schaap to publicly criticize Knight-and Dick typically has had a friendly relationship with Bobby.

wilson

08-31-2007, 09:28 AM

Plus, his interview last year (I think it was last year) with Jeremy Schaap was a classic as well. I couldn't figure out which one was the bigger idiot in that one. It even caused Dick Schaap to publicly criticize Knight-and Dick typically has had a friendly relationship with Bobby.

I don't think an interview from last year caused Dick Schaap to criticize anyone. He died in 2001.

throatybeard

08-31-2007, 12:25 PM

Surprised none of you have mentioned the KU coach's response after losing to Cuse in the finals.

That was strangely subdued. It was so subdued it almost looked premeditated.

throatybeard

08-31-2007, 12:28 PM

As chief of DBR grammar/syntax police, I feel compelled to point out that it's not possible to be a "former graduate" of any place.

That has very little to do with syntax and everything to do with compositional semantics.

EarlJam

08-31-2007, 12:35 PM

I think the UVA graduates who had their degrees and diplomas yanked for cheating (http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/South/11/25/virginia.plagarism/index.html) could be considered "former graduates." So it is possible....

Anything is possible if you believe in who you are!............and show courage, determination, sacrifice.................and have lots of money.................and are in the right place at the right time....................and have God on your side.

-EarlJam

EarlJam

08-31-2007, 12:37 PM

That has very little to do with syntax and everything to do with compositional semantics.

You former Duke graduates is smart. Ceariously.

-EarlJam

DukieInKansas

08-31-2007, 02:25 PM

Jim Valvano asked a ref, during a game, if he could be given a technical for what he thinks. When the ref told him no, he couldn't be given a technical for what he thought, Jim Valvano's response was "I think you suck!" .

I did like that man! His speech at the ESPY's was great - especially when he was ignoring the signal for him to leave the stage.

mkirsh

08-31-2007, 04:57 PM

Any list of rants needs the General (game face is my personal favorite, although the steady stream of profanity with Alford is a close second):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ukj6Qi5W_k

Also, this from Denny Green is a new classic, bonus points for the fact that it makes no sense whatsoever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDAq5tyfk9E

Lastly, here is a great NFL medley:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyzTzwTFgcs&NR=1

wilson

08-31-2007, 07:23 PM

That has very little to do with syntax and everything to do with compositional semantics.

Whatever, nerd. ;)

Buckeye Devil

08-31-2007, 08:48 PM

I don't think an interview from last year caused Dick Schaap to criticize anyone. He died in 2001.

My bad-I saw a replay of it last year. The interview was actually in 2000. But Dick did come out and rebuke Knight which is the main point. He was ticked that Bobby went after his son like that for repeatedly interrupting him. Plus Knight told Jeremy that he had a long way to go before he was as good as his father.

wilson

08-31-2007, 09:04 PM

My bad-I saw a replay of it last year. The interview was actually in 2000. But Dick did come out and rebuke Knight which is the main point. He was ticked that Bobby went after his son like that for repeatedly interrupting him. Plus Knight told Jeremy that he had a long way to go before he was as good as his father.

Right. I just can't resist any reason--any at all--to parse others' prose. Sorry.

Cameron

09-04-2007, 01:18 PM

My all-time favorite pro, Reggie Miller, has to be put into the discussion. Game Five of the '94 Eastern Conference Finals. Reggie's 28 foot dagger right in front of Spike Lee's courtside seat, which he followed with a 30 second lash out of profranities towards the film director and his wife, and then, of course, the infamous choke sign. Man, Reggie really did hate the Knicks.

I remember his post game interview with Jim Gray, which was basically just Reggie yelling "Chokers" ten or eleven times. Great stuff. Reggie was THE man.

captmojo

09-04-2007, 05:24 PM

The angriest person I've ever seen on the field of play, in any sport, was George Brett. Charging the plate after the "pine tar" incident decision, I thought he was going to have a stroke.:mad:

Lavabe

09-04-2007, 08:23 PM

Ferocious?
Impenetrable?
Impregnable?
I want to eat his children.
Praise be to Allah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Ilv2Aax8o
Now THAT'S a classic Tyson rant.

But no one tops Ali's "Rumble, young man, rumble" and "I am the greatest ... of ALL TIME!" The Liston, Foreman, and Cosell rants are priceless.

Cheers,
Lavabe

Cameron

09-04-2007, 09:27 PM

Stephen Jackson or Ron Artest, anyone? I think they may lay some claim to this argument.

RelativeWays

09-05-2007, 08:36 AM

How about Jim Boeheims rant against the Syracuse student paper when they criticized McNamara's playing? He dropped a couple of F bombs in that press conference. I can't help but admire a coach that will stick up for his players even if it is a bit vitriolic. Thats something Jim Calhoun could stand to learn. McNamara also helped ' Cuse win the Big East tournament that same year.

Cameron

09-05-2007, 12:31 PM

^^Cheer to that one. Jimmy B was insane during the post game interview after McNamara hit that game winning three at Madison Square Garden.

I have never seen a coach more passionate (or psychotic) in the defense of a player before in my life. That was unreal.

Cameron

09-05-2007, 12:51 PM

I also seem to remember a few Rasheed Wallace (pre-Detroit years) having a few monumental rants of his own while playing in the Pacific Northwest. He, alongside the great Dennis Rodman and firery John Starks, has to be considered as one of the all-time great NBA hot heads. Actually, the entire Portland Trail Blazer franchise from around 1999 through 2004 could be considered one of the most violent and volatile pro sports teams of all-time, to be quite honest.

Anyone remember Portland's tirade against Golden State a few years back? Actually, I believe the incident (which later turned into an all-out brawl) started with Warriors' forward Chris Mills punching Bonzi Wells after a tangle-up. Then, being the NBA's greatest Human Technical, Rasheed intervened with a few shoves, pushes, and profanities of his own. And then, when he was finished with Mills, Rasheed nearly knocked then Portland Trail Blazer head coach Mo Cheeks to the floor after he had tried to subdue the Blazing star (terrible pun, I know).

Then, completely unexpectedly, Scottie Pippen was hit with a glass of beer thrown by an idiotic fan, in which he then, rationally of course, ran up into the stands after, trying to choke him. This was followed by about nine or ten security guards reigning Scottie in from his rage.

The best part of the whole incident though certainly had to be when Chris Mills, sporting a black trench coat (that was "supposedly" covering a nine mm pistol, according to fellow Golden State teammates), stepped in front of the Blazers' team bus an hour after the original brawl had ended, asking for anyone or anything to come off and challenge him one on one.

Gotta love the NBA:)

DukeDawg

09-06-2007, 01:59 AM

http://houserockbuilt.blogspot.com/2006/09/msu-radio-host-melts-http://www.dukebasketballreport.comhttp://www.dukebasketballreport.comhttp://www.dukebasketballreport.comhttp://www.dukebasketballreport.coming-down-on.html

Best...Rant....EVER

I worked with both of these men as well. Love them both :D

wilson

09-06-2007, 09:36 AM