8 Most Memorable Sports Press Conference Incidents

Sports fans are always there for a good game, but they never really pay attention to what happened before or after the show. We’re talking about the most boring part of any game—the press conferences. Then again, there are times when something wild happens, and everyone’s either confused or laughing.

Let’s look at some of the most memorable sports press conference incidents where things went south in the most unexpected ways.

1. Kevin Borseth’s Clipboard Rage

The University of Michigan’s women’s basketball coach, Kevin Borseth, couldn’t contain his frustration after a close loss in 2008. This guy essentially threw open the door, slammed his clipboard, and delivered an intense rant about his team’s unfortunate collapse, particularly their inability to secure rebound shots. After cooling down a bit, Borseth apologized and exited the conference room, leaving the press with quite the impression.

2. Tiger Woods’ Awkward Hug-a-Thon

After the cheating scandals went public, Tiger Woods felt the need to apologize to his fans, sponsors, and his mother for some reason. While his public statement started on a serious note, things took a strange turn when Woods began hugging his mom and then several other people afterward. Intended as a formal apology, it ended up feeling oddly celebratory, leaving the audience a bit perplexed.

3. Dirk Nowitzki vs. the Bug

During a press conference in 2006, Dirk Nowitzki saw his opponent and slapped him in the face! That is, of course, if you could consider a tiny bug to be his opponent. Without hesitation, Dirk squashed the bug mid-interview, flicking it away while reporters chuckled at the interruption before resuming their questions.