The 15 Best Athlete Taunts
It’s kind of baffling that more hasn’t been made of welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s plan to host several short concerts in Las Vegas immediately following is May 7 fight against Shane Mosley. Ali may have been the brashest, baddest dude boxing has ever seen, but he didn’t ever do anything like this.
It’s the worst kind of taunt because it’s preplanned and writ-large. Hell, we’re a month away from the fight and we’re already talking about Pacquiao’s victory lap around Vegas. Yeah, Pacquiao might just be fueling Mosley’s fire, giving him all the motivation he needs to knock enough chicklets loose that Pac man won’t be able chew after the fight, much less sing. It takes guts to plan public events hours and days after a potential whuppin’ could take place. Perhaps Pacquiao feels that no matter the outcome of the fight he’ll sound the same, which frankly doesn’t speak well for his abilities, though I’ve never heard him.
He’s either going to sound like a drunk Bing Crosby or his voice will be affected by a loss to Mosley. Either way, helluva taunt.
Click the pictures below for video of the other 14 best taunts in sports history:
(Note: these are taunts by players. Fans would need a much longer list)
15. Iverson walks all over Lue
I feel like Tyronn Lue was probably taunted a minimum of twice a game, sometimes even by teammates. Also, what the hell was Lue doing guarding the Sixers’ best player during an NBA Finals game. Also²: Bride of Also, do you suppose Lue is pissed that one of his 15 minutes of fame occurred on the floor of the Staples Center?
11. Avery mocks Talbot’s punches
The only thing more humiliating for a hockey player than having your fighting style taunted is having the amount of teeth left in your head complimented.
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13. Roy Jones Jr.’s arms-behind-back
Easily Jones’ second-most entertaining five seconds next to his “Matrix” cameo.
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12. Dikembe Mutombo’s finger wag
Loses a few points because it became gimmicky after a while. But it only became gimmicky, because it was beloved long enough for it to turn into a gimmick.
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11. Michael Jordan wags a finger at Dikembe
… And there’s nothing better than turning a guy’s gimmick against him. You taunt the Bull, you get the horns. If this happened today, Jordan would have been given a technical before he turned to run back up the court.
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10. Terrell Owens mocks Ray Lewis
Look, someone had to mock that stupid-ass dance and most everyone else was too scared of Ray Lewis to do it.
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9. Soccer cartwheel goalie
Awesome mostly because a) goalie’s never get in on the obnoxious soccer action, b) it’s almost deranged in its randomness and c) the first two were good enough, don’t get greedy.
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8. Kicker cartwheel rebuttle
One good turn, literally deserves another. This is why you taunt after, not before.
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7. “Get up and fight, sucker!”
The great grandfather of “pwnd” I believe.
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6. Bullfighter gets gored
I know, I know. The bull wasn’t taunting the bullfighter. But like I said earlier, you taunt the bull, you get the horns. Literal translations take precedence.
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5. Reggie Miller mocks Spike, New York
Spike Lee was involved in two of the five best in-game taunts of all-time. Does that make him good for New York sports or bad for it?
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4. Terrell Owens
I’ll say this for T.O., he gets my vote for best taunt over the longest distance.
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3. Babe Ruth called shot
Probably didn’t happen. Doesn’t really matter.
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2. Pippen dunks on Ewing, taunts Spike
Pacquiao’s singing is something completely different, but as spontaneous moments go, I won’t hear of anything beating this. Nothing. Not only does Ewing stare at nuts for a second, but Spike Lee, again, gets put in his place.
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1. Pacquiao plans mini concerts after a fight.
It’s so eleaborate. And profitable. “I’m gonna sell tickets to the evidence proving that you didn’t hurt me. I’m going to win, then I’m going to make an event out of my not losing.” Cold.
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