Buzz
It's fascinating how, despite the immense power of our minds, we often turn inward and end up harming ourselves. Be honest, have you never had that moment when you're drifting off to sleep, only to have your brain jolt you awake with the recollection of some deeply embarrassing thing you've done in the past? If you haven't, you're the first. We cope with these cringe-worthy memories by convincing ourselves that we were young and naïve, and that no one remembers it as vividly as we do. These are fair points, but what happens when you're a professional and you make a mistake so fundamental that it ends up defining your entire career?
Before we dive into the list, two quick clarifications. First, this is a lighthearted list, so I'm excluding any incidents where people were hurt or lost their lives due to these blunders. Second, my criteria for determining how infamous these mistakes are is based on Google's autocomplete feature. If the person's name along with their mistake appears in the top three search results, it counts. With that said, let's look at 10 athletes who are known more for their blunders than for their accomplishments.
10. Bill Gramatica's Injury from a Celebration
Bill Gramatica, a former NFL kicker drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2001, had a standout rookie season, making 16 of 20 field goals and hitting all 25 of his extra points, setting a rookie franchise record with 73 points scored. However, his career took an unfortunate turn on December 15, 2001, when he got injured in a bizarre way. After successfully making a field goal, Gramatica celebrated by taking a running leap, only to land awkwardly and tear his ACL. The kicker? The injury happened in the first quarter, following a routine 42-yard kick — not exactly a high-stakes moment deserving such an extravagant celebration.
Gramatica made a recovery and played a few more years in the NFL, but his injury remains the most notable part of his legacy. To his credit, he’s able to look back at it with humor. In 2010, he corrected an interviewer who mistakenly said he got injured from jumping. "My jump was excellent. It was my landing I needed to work on." I can't argue with that. If you pause the video at the moment he lands, it does look like a pretty good celebration. A special note: Following his injury, the late, great Pat Tillman stepped in to handle the kickoff duties for the remainder of the game.
9. Lindsey Jacobellis
The most decorated female snowboard cross athlete of all time is more famous for a last-minute celebration that cost her the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics than for her five world championships. With nearly a 150-foot (46-meter) lead over her competition, which translates to about a 3-second advantage, Jacobellis attempted a method grab on the second-to-last jump to add some flair to her victory. Unfortunately, that extra flair caused her to fall, allowing Tanja Frieden to pass her, earning Jacobellis one of the most heartbreaking silver medals in history. Initially, Jacobellis claimed the method grab was intended to stabilize her board, but later admitted she was just excited and wanted to hype the crowd.
Despite dominating at the X-Games and world championships, Jacobellis struggled in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, constantly wondering if her 2006 fall would be the one thing she’d be remembered for. Eventually, she teamed up with a mental skills coach named Denise Shull, who helped her analyze, normalize, and embrace that defining moment from 2006. Whatever they worked on together paid off, as Jacobellis finally secured the Olympic gold she had been chasing for years in 2022. While she might still be remembered for that fall, it's now part of a greater redemption story.
8. Alexander Semin's Fight
At the most basic level, there are two types of hockey players: the bruisers who will punish anyone who dares touch the puck, and the finesse players who score goals as easily as I devour cookies. If you’ve never heard of Alexander Semin, his fight with New York Ranger Marc Staal in 2009 will certainly show you what kind of player he is.
In an attempt to defend his goalie, who had been knocked down by Semin, Staal grabs Semin by the jersey, and the two start to fight. Semin manages to slip out of his jersey and then proceeds to... 'play the drums' on Staal's chest, as commentator Joe Benenati described it. You really need to watch this clip to fully grasp how bizarre it was. And yes, this was Semin's very first — and only — fight in the NHL.
7. The Cody Parkey Double Doink
With under 10 seconds remaining in the 2019 NFC Wildcard Playoff between the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles, Parkey lined up for a 43-yard field goal that would win the game for the Bears. He sent the ball soaring through the uprights, but before the snap, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson called a timeout, nullifying the kick. On his second attempt, Parkey's kick struck the left upright, ricocheted off the crossbar, and fell in front of the goalpost. The Bears lost the game and were eliminated from the playoffs with a 16-15 defeat. It wasn't the miss itself that cemented Parkey's legacy; it was the call from NFL commentator Chris Collinsworth, 'Oh my goodness... the Bears’ season’s gonna end on a double doink.'
Those last two words — 'double doink' — quickly went viral across the internet. There's just something about the way it sounds and the feeling it brings to mind, almost like hearing the fail music from *The Price is Right*. Although the game tape later revealed that Eagles’ defensive tackle Treyvon Hester had barely blocked the kick, causing the ball to veer off course, the damage to Parkey's reputation was already done. Just to show how much this moment caught on, the 'double doink' now even has its own Wikipedia page!
6. Patrik Stefan’s Missed Empty Net
In January 2007, the Dallas Stars were ahead 5-4 against the Edmonton Oilers with just 12 seconds remaining. The Oilers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. As the Oilers moved up the ice, Stefan intercepted the puck and skated in alone toward the empty net. Rather than taking a quick shot from close range, Stefan decided to casually skate and tap the puck in. However, the puck hit a divot in the ice, bouncing over his stick. Trying to regain control, he fell and accidentally passed the puck to the Oilers, who capitalized quickly and scored to tie the game and force overtime.
Although the Dallas Stars ultimately won the game in a shootout, this blunder became infamous for Stefan in the worst possible way. The play-by-play announcer summed it up perfectly: 'Oh, I thought he was gonna until he blew it!' The worst part? It happened with only 12 seconds left. If Stefan had done anything differently, the Stars wouldn’t have had to go into overtime. Stefan only played 13 more NHL games after that. He now coaches teenagers in Detroit and often tells them after a rough shift or game, 'There’s always next shift, next game. I didn’t kill somebody. It’s a game. Mistakes happen.'
5. Steven Bradbury’s Surprising Victory
Steven Bradbury is a four-time Olympic speed skater who made history as the first person from the southern hemisphere to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. While he’s a celebrated figure in Australia, what people mostly remember about him is how he came to win that gold medal.
In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bradbury competed in his fourth Games, at nearly 30 years old, making him the second-oldest participant. He reached the semi-finals after another racer was disqualified, but he knew he couldn’t compete with the younger, faster skaters like Apolo Ohno. So, he devised a plan to hang back and hope for a crash. His gamble worked, as Bradbury took first place in his semi-final. In the final, he was in last place until the final corner, when a pileup occurred among the frontrunners. Bradbury cruised past them to win Australia’s first gold medal.
After winning, Bradbury reflected, 'Obviously, I wasn’t the fastest skater. I don’t think I’ll take the medal as the minute-and-a-half of the race I actually won. I’ll take it as the last decade of the hard slog I put in.' Though some American commentators disapproved of Bradbury’s win, they acknowledged that the risky moves of the favorites allowed him to take the gold. Bradbury became an unlikely hero and underdog. His win was so significant in Australia that the phrase 'do a Bradbury' was coined, referring to succeeding in an improbable way.
4. Pete Carroll Not Running the Ball
Pete Carroll is one of the longest-serving NFL coaches, but he is also known for making one of the most questionable decisions in NFL history.
In 2015, the Seattle Seahawks were seeking their second Super Bowl win in three years. With only 26 seconds left, trailing 28-24 to the New England Patriots, the Seahawks found themselves just short of the end zone on 2nd-and-goal. Everyone watching knew what was next: Beast Mode. Marshawn Lynch earned this nickname due to his explosive running style, bulldozing through defenders. To understand his dominance, you need to see his iconic game-winning run against the Saints in 2010. With just two feet to go, and one of the league's most powerful running backs in Lynch, it seemed like a no-brainer decision, right?
That’s why the next play left everyone stunned. Rather than handing the ball to Lynch, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pass to Ricardo Lockette. The pass was intercepted by rookie Malcolm Butler, in what was his first-ever career interception. The Seahawks lost the Super Bowl, and all anyone could focus on was why Lynch wasn’t given the ball. Fans, players, and analysts all second-guessed Carroll's decision. They had a chance to defeat the Brady/Belichick-led Patriots, and they blew it. That moment also sparked a viral meme of Seahawks defender Richard Sherman staring in shock as the interception unfolded.
3. The Butt Fumble
Alright, I’m gonna be upfront here — this entire list was made just to give me an excuse to talk about the Butt Fumble. It happened on Thanksgiving in 2012, but it’s so memorable, it feels like it was yesterday. The New York Jets faced off against the New England Patriots in a primetime game. Quarterback Mark Sanchez took the snap and dropped back to hand off the ball but miscommunicated with the running back. With the play already ruined, Sanchez tried to scramble back to the line of scrimmage to avoid a loss, only to slide straight into the backside of Jets offensive lineman Brandan Moore. This collision caused Sanchez to fumble, and Patriots safety Steve Gregory scooped up the ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
This moment became the defining play of Mark Sanchez’s career. It was the perfect storm: a hilariously bad play resulting in a touchdown for the opposing team during a nationally televised game watched by millions, and played in front of 79,000 fans. Perhaps it was the turkey-induced tryptophan haze, but the Butt Fumble became iconic. It appeared on ESPN’s “Not Top 10” list the very next day and held the 'worst of the worst' spot for 10 months. ESPN had to eventually retire the play from the poll due to its overwhelming popularity. They even featured a Sports Science segment explaining how the impact of Sanchez colliding with Moore generated 1300 pounds of force. No wonder Sanchez dropped the ball.
While the analysis of this hilariously awful moment is utterly fascinating, it’s also interesting to see how Sanchez and Moore have dealt with the lasting attention it’s brought. Moore clearly isn’t fond of the play and seems more frustrated with how it has overshadowed other achievements in his career. On the other hand, Sanchez appears more laid-back about it and laughs it off quite often.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Sanchez explained how he can laugh about the infamous moment, but as a competitor, it frustrates him that this one mistake is all anyone remembers. He goes on to reflect that he views the Butt Fumble as part of the package that comes with the highs of being a professional athlete. If he dwells on the negative comments about that moment, how can he fully embrace the praise for his successful plays? It's a healthy and constructive perspective on handling failure. Of course, it's still pretty funny to watch him get taken down by his own teammate’s backside.
2. Shizo Kanakuri’s Long Race
Shizo Kanakuri is celebrated in Japan as the father of the marathon, and his most famous race was the one he ran during the 1912 Olympics. He finished the marathon after a staggering 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20 seconds. This incredible feat of persistence and determination has earned him a legendary place in marathon history.
The 1912 Olympics were held in Stockholm, Sweden, a journey that required Kanakuri to travel by boat and train for 18 days just to arrive at the Games. Exhausted from the long journey, Kanakuri struggled with both the local food and the unexpectedly high temperatures. To make matters worse, it was his first encounter with the white nights phenomenon, where the sun remains visible all through the night. These challenges led him to spend far more time recovering than actually preparing for the race.
Kanakuri was unable to finish the marathon and returned to Japan quietly, embarrassed. However, he never informed the race officials of his withdrawal. The story of the lost Japanese marathoner became a humorous legend in Sweden. This joke lingered until 1967, when Swedish Television reached out to Kanakuri, inviting him to complete the race. He agreed and triumphantly finished the marathon. Reflecting on the journey, Kanakuri humorously remarked, “It was a long trip. Along the way, I got married, had six children and 10 grandchildren.”
Armando Galarraga's Near-Perfect Game is one of the most unforgettable moments in sports. While perfect games are rare—only 20 have been accomplished in over 150 years of professional baseball—Galarraga came agonizingly close. As a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, he almost pulled off the incredible feat, but an umpire's controversial call ruined it. Many still consider his near-perfect game as remarkable.
In 2010, Galarraga was just one out away from achieving a perfect game in a match against the Cleveland Indians. When Jason Donald hit the ball, it appeared Galarraga had clearly beaten him to first base. However, umpire Jim Joyce ruled Donald safe. The call shattered what would have been a flawless game, despite Galarraga winning the match. Joyce initially defended his decision but later expressed regret after viewing the replay.
Following the controversial call, umpire Jim Joyce showed remarkable humility. He reached out to Galarraga, apologized for his mistake, and expressed his sorrow, even tearing up. Galarraga, showing grace under pressure, reassured Joyce by saying, “probably feels more bad than me. Nobody’s perfect. Everybody’s human. I understand. I give the guy a lot of credit for saying, ‘I need to talk to you.’”
In the aftermath of that fateful game, Galarraga was gifted a car, had his near-perfect game officially acknowledged by Michigan’s governor, and even received a medal for reasonableness from Jon Stewart. Despite the negative moment caused by the wrong call, both Joyce and Galarraga have become symbols of grace and sportsmanship, forever commemorated for their reactions to a mistake.
Although the incident will always be remembered for the incorrect call, the way both Joyce and Galarraga handled the situation helped turn it into a positive story. Joyce's willingness to admit his mistake and Galarraga's compassionate response have made this moment an enduring example of how sports can bring people together, even in the face of disappointment.
