Classic Sports Meltdowns
Who: Mike Singletary
When: Oct. 26, 2008 following San Francisco's loss to Seattle.
Singletary produced fireworks in his first postgame press conference as a head coach, laying into Niners tight end Vernon Davis - whom Singletary sent to the locker room for a second half penalty. Watch the video.
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Who: Jim Zorn
When: Oct. 26, 2008 during a press conference after the Redskins win over the Lions.
Apparently annoyed by a reporter's actions during one of his answers, Zorn snapped at the journalist, shouting "You keep rolling your eyes and I'm getting ticked off!" Watch the video.
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Who: Terrell Owens
When: Jan. 13, 2008 after Dallas' playoff loss to the Giants.
T.O. could not keep his emotions in check following the Cowboys early playoff exit last year, launching into a tear-filled defense of quarterback Tony Romo. Watch the video.
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Who: Kevin Borseth
When: Feb. 28, 2008, moments after the Michigan women's basketball team lost to Wisconsin.
Borseth opened his press conference by slamming the game's stat sheet onto the podium, yelling "That's how I feel! I'm damn sick and tired of getting outrebounded!" Watch the video.
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Who: Mike Gundy
When: Sept. 24, 2007 during a postgame press conference.
Angered by a newspaper reporter's column criticizing quarterback Bobby Reid, Gundy unleashed a fiery rant that included the soon-to-be-famous words: "I'm a man! I'm 40!" Watch the video.
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Who: Avery Johnson
When: June 18, 2006 after Johnson's Mavericks lost an NBA Finals game to Miami.
Following a question about a foul against the Mavs, Johnson refused to answer, instead repeatedly - and increasingly angrily - asking the reporter for his thoughts on the play in question. Watch the video.
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Who: Dennis Green
When: Oct. 16, 2006 following an Arizona loss to Chicago.
Another press conference meltdown that instantly tagged a one-liner: "They are who we thought they were!" Green shouted that gem in the midst of a rant about the Bears. Watch the video.
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Who: John L. Smith
When: Oct. 15, 2005 as ABC's Jack Arute interviewed Smith at halftime.
Smith, who also gained fame by slapping himself repeatedly in a press conference, answered a question by screaming about how the Spartans' coaches were blowing their game at Ohio State. Watch the video.
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Who: Allen Iverson
When: May 7, 2002.
"Practice. We talking about practice." And with that sentence - and the many that followed in this press conference - Allen Iverson let known his feelings about needing to attend the 76ers' workouts. Watch the video.
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Who: Jim Mora
When: Nov. 25, 2001 after Mora's Colts lost to San Francisco by 19.
Arguably the most well-known meltdown in recent memory, Mora responded to a question about the postseason by muttering, "Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs? You kiddin' me? Playoffs?" Watch the video.
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Crazy stuff, all of it. None of it, however, comes close to the insanity of Singletary's half time pep talks.
Most coaches find it suitable to throw chairs at the wall, pound the chalk board with X's and O's, or simply make the needed adjustments in a calm, orderly fashion. Whatever they do, I'm guessing they do it with their pants on. Mike Singletary, however, does not. Hey, as Bart Simpson once said: "Free and easy, there's nothing like an unfurnished basement for maximum comfort!" And how!
From Dan Bickley of azcentral.com:
At halftime of that game, Singletary called for the attention of his players. He then dropped his pants, turned around and pointed to his backside. He used this occasion and that visual to describe what happened to his team in the first half.And this went on for three-to-four minutes! Just so he keeps this exercise limited to the locker room and not, you know, the sidelines, it's probably not a big deal. Though, I imagine there's a few fans that would like to share a similar message to their team if they keep getting blown out by Seattle.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2008 @ 3:54PM
kris said...
its about time that the 49ers made a move in there coaching staff next for them is to get a QB that can hold onto the ball and know when to through the ball away. they should go out and talk to some QB free agents do they can bring back a winning team back to san fran
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10-30-2008 @ 4:28PM
Deanna said...
I think Mike is a good coach. I hope they beat Arizona 36to 3.
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10-30-2008 @ 6:16PM
SkinsinLV said...
What will his "visual" be when he thinks the refs "screwed" them? "Let me show you guys what I mean: O'Sullivan, come up here..." Yikes! Are his meds current?
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10-30-2008 @ 6:16PM
SkinsinLV said...
What will Iron Mike's visual be when he believes the team is "getting screwed" by the refs? "Let me show you guys what I mean: O'Sullivan come up here..." Yikes! Are his meds current?
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10-31-2008 @ 8:52AM
Dave C said...
Hes been hanging with Ditka too long
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10-30-2008 @ 10:01PM
Skippy said...
I like Singletary, but come on...get a grip, Samurai. I think most guys got it and didn't need the visual to explain what, "getting your butt kicked" meant.
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10-30-2008 @ 11:44PM
Ethan said...
Singletary should have taken a crap in front of them to demonstrate to them how they have been playing for the last 5 years!
10-31-2008 @ 9:39AM
giant fan since 57 said...
Thanks Ethan...I think you have accurately described the situation....LOL
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10-31-2008 @ 10:20AM
jamie said...
i agree as well.
10-31-2008 @ 12:19PM
Cookie said...
The 9ers have needed a good wakeup call for years. I hope Mike's butt demonstration works to get the players off their collective butts and playing the game with the passion and heart that have been missing for the last several seasons. Do these babies even realize how much fans have to sacrifice in the current economy in order to go out and support the team?
Personally, I couldn't justify paying the increased price of my season tickets this year when I considered the pathetic games I have been paying to see in recent years. I hope Big Mike can kick some butt and turn this team around!!!!
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11-01-2008 @ 12:27AM
Mike Barer said...
I saw this story morning, I wanted to see if the story had any legs. The Niners had already become the butt of a lot of jokes.
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10-31-2008 @ 1:38PM
Bonnie said...
I think it is great, players get paid way too much money to not perform on the field. I think Mike will be a great coach if he is given a chance to continue. These players are babied too much and paid too much not to be able to take hits or be yelled at. Referees are calling too many calls that are taking away from the game. These players are trained to hit in practice and then being told to hold back on the field? If it is obivious intent to hurt them, throw the flag, otherwise let them play. I much rather prefer the coaching and playing style of the 1970's to now. At least coaching was coaching and players could and would play and hit. Now it is becoming close to flag football with over priced ego players..
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10-31-2008 @ 1:52PM
jdelsav said...
Singletary was a very good player but it seems like he hasn't a cluea about being a coach. Childish move and i doubt he impressed any of his players!
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10-31-2008 @ 1:59PM
Judy said...
Mike Singletary is one heck of an individual. His personal credentials are impeccable, as well as his coaching philoso-phies. When he played linebacker(#50) for the Chicago Bears,
I believe he was THE captain or ONE the team captains. Every
time the Bears went on the field, there was Mike inspiring and leading the team onward and upward. They respected him, because he IS a man to be respected. He took his job very seriously. They didn't call him "Samurai Mike" for nothing!! He looked the opponent straight in the eye and then did his job. As the opponent, you'd just now seen the grass for the upteenth time!! Mike's no-nonsense approach to the game is his philosophy. Mike still continues to take his coaching job very seriously, so watch out if you don't perform to your potential, you "49ers." Fire Vernon Davis. Mike only gave him what he deserved. Hope the shower water was at least warm! Go Mike!! Go Mike!!
I now live 40 miles from Green Bay, but still follow and cheer for the "Da Bears" first and then follow and cheer for Arron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Can't help it!!
...Judy from Manitowoc, WI
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10-31-2008 @ 2:16PM
bill said...
Mike was a force with the Bears, he is from the old school, I don't think he will get through to his players, they just don't have the drive to play, just the big bucks...think he was right in sending they guy to the locker room, if they don't want to put 100% in to the game, bye, bye baby....
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10-31-2008 @ 3:03PM
FRED said...
MIKE SINGLETARY WAS A HECK OF A PLAYER IN HIS DAY. TIMES CHANGE THOUGH. THE 49ERS NEED A KICK IN THE ASS. BUT MIKE HAS TO REMEMBER THESE ARE A NEW BREED OF PLAYERS SOME OF WHOM WILL NOT BE TREATED AS KIDS. I AM GLAD HE DOESN'T HAVE A T.O. OR A PACMAN JONES TO DEAL WITH. DITKA WAS A FOOL HE'S LUCKY NO ONE BUSTED HIS HEAD IN. COME ON MIKE S. LIGHTEN UP DON'T BE SO ILLUSTRATIVE!!!!WISH YOU LUCK.
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10-31-2008 @ 3:04PM
Rick said...
I've never been so ashamed to say i'm a 49ers fan. Plain and simple. Atleast we're not the Detroit Lions or the Bengals. FIRE vernon davis? LMAO, he's the only non injured, CATCHING tight end we have at this point. Ethan, I was thinking the same thing.
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11-01-2008 @ 10:49PM
Tom Ragan Sr. said...
Bill Walsh didn't believe in stupid theatrics. He coached the game's
greatest qb, Joe Montana, and he made sure all of his coaches and players were on the same page, offensively and defensively. That is why the 49ers were the most dominating team in NFL history from 1981 to 1995. The 49ers need a change in ownership. Bring back Eddie D. He wasn't the brightest owner but at elast he had enough sense to allow Walsh to run the show for most of those years.
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