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Since the early 1990s, ESPN has provided a variety of commercials that poke fun at its own flagship program. Featuring famous current athletes, show personalities, and team mascots, ‘This is SportsCenter’ has long been the lone consistent sweet spot for a network that has become infamous for taking itself too seriously.
Every ‘TIS’ scenario involves the show’s most charismatic personalities colliding in everyday #PGP interactions with in-uniform famous athletes and/or silent mascots — all of which have undefined behind-the-scenes menial office roles. While all of them provide some clever, witty references that every sports fan with a decent sense of humor should appreciate, only a much smaller percentage of them provide actual laugh-out-loud reactions. This highly scientific power ranking highlights the elite, memorable ones that result in the latter.
5. ‘Captain America’ (2006)
Nothing beats SVP and the underrated Neil Everett nerding out like little kids. This is hands down the goofiest one yet.
4. ‘Big Buddies’ (1999)
We’ve all been guilty of trying to impress the established athletes in the midst of an extremely innocent pickup game. Kenny Mayne and Stuart Scott get a little carried away with their competitiveness in trying to woo late ’90s greats Sam Cassell and Jayson Williams.
3. ‘Chad Johnson Touchdown Celebrations’ (2006)
An applicable “Boo-ya!” from the late great Stuart Scott, plus an unforgettable “sizzling bacon action” for the mid-aughts’ most celebrated wide receiver, Chad Johnson.
2. ‘Old Timers’ Day’ (2000)
ESPN is probably too PC to make light of geezers’ lack of current sports knowledge these days. Let’s be thankful they weren’t in 2000 before Bernie gets this removed from YouTube lore.
1. ‘Rookie Training Camp’ (1996)
Kenny and Stu back at it again with the in-your-face aggressiveness. Co-starring Kobe Bryant and Keyshawn Johnson, kudos to ESPN for accurately projecting the most high profile figures from the NBA and NFL’s respective 1996 drafts.
Like the most recent one, all ‘This is SportsCenter’ commercials are quality television that helps remind us that sports news doesn’t always have to be as serious as the actual show makes it out to be. However, while most are only worth a slight smirk, these actually produce audible laughs and high re-watchability value..
Image via YouTube
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The one with Steve Irwin (aka the crocodile hunter) was hilarious. Definitely should’ve made the cut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU0UFbxZDGM
Devils mascot on the elevator anyone?
How does the Y2k drill one not make the cut? Hilarious.
I almost told Evan to add that but I knew he’d get called out for it in the comments so it’s all good.
Follow me…Follow me to freedom!
Came here to support the Y2K one
Anything with Charlie Steiner was awesome
I always like the Ovechkin Russian Spy one myself
Arnold Palmer making an Arnold Palmer is my favorite.
Dan Patrick having Danica Patrick’s racecar towed for parking in his spot was my favorite.
And I almost forgot Stuart Scott and Andy Roddick. “Did Alex Rodriguez put you up to this?!”
This should’ve been posted in top 10 format
Sam the Minuteman using the Paul Revere system for Favre’s on again/off again retirement is brilliant too
I know everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but no “Performance Enhancers” or “Anchor Slumps”?
Unhand me, rapscallion.
Would like to throw in “Perfect Show” and the Catchphrases one with Kenny Mayne
My personal favorite was the one with Tim Lincecum setting his voicemail. “Big Time Timmy Jim”