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At Complex, we try our best to seamlessly bridge comedy and sports, but there are only so many Javale McGee fails and Anthony Davis unibrow jokes to go around. So today, we're taking a break from douchiest lists and badass vs. jackass debates to give you scripted greatness from the world of sketch comedy. From Bill Swerski's Super Friends to Prince reverse dunking on Chappelle's Show, these are the The 10 Best Sports Skits in TV History.
10. "O.J. Simpson (Cold Opening)"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 1995
Star: Tim Meadows
Double murder is no laughing matter, unless it's about the O.J. Simpson case. In this clip, Tim Meadows plays Juice (complete with trench coat and leather gloves) as he interviews a clearly uncomfortable Bills coach Marv Levy. Simpson's game analysis sounds suspiciously like a confession to murder and the gag is completed, rather hilariously, with his spelling out "I did it" while diagramming a play on the teleprompter.
9. "Little Brothers"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 2012
Star: Eli Manning
A lot of people criticize Eli Manning for having the personality of a Gap mannequin, but the Giants quarterback did a shockingly hilarious job hosting SNL in 2012. His signature short was a commercial for "Little Brothers," a service that enlisted the services of Manning to beat up bullying older brothers. Take note, Peyton.
8. "And-1 Mixtape"
Show: Chappelle's Show
Year aired: 2003
Star: Dave Chappelle
If you applied the bravado of the And-1 Mixtape to any other sport, it would be absolutely ridiculous. You probably never thought about that, but thank you Based God that Dave Chappelle did. If you've ever wondered how a bombastic street culture would affect baseball, tennis, or bowling, get to clicking.
7. "Jesus Visits Tim Tebow"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 2012
Star: Jason Sudeikis and Taran Killam
During the 2012 season, Tim Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs with some ridiculous fourth quarter comebacks. The wins were so unlikely that many attributed his success to a higher power. After an overtime win against the Chicago Bears, Jesus descends upon the Broncos locker room to say "you're welcome." Taran Killam plays a geeked out Tebow opposite Sudeikis' too cool for the Old Testament messiah. It's funnier than it sounds.
6. "Weekend Update: Ray Lewis"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 2013
Star: Keenan Thompson
Everyone gives Ray Lewis a pass on saying dumb shit, probably because he's 240 pounds and beat a body in 2001. But Keenan Thompson portrayed the emotional linebacker as the self-aggrandizing cry baby that he is with a series of hilarious, grammatically butchered soundbites. Physically, the impression could use a little work. It's not like Lewis is on a steady diet of Sonic milkshakes and deep dish pizza. However, close your eyes and it sounds exactly like a Ray Lewis interview, tears and all.
5. "Harry Caray: Space, the Infinite Frontier"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 1997
Star: Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell's best known for his George W. Bush impression, but his take on Harry Caray is by far his most convincing. In this skit, Ferrell does the legendary Cubs announcer as the host of a show about space. The most hilarious moment comes when Caray prefaces a question with "We all know that the moon is not made of green cheese," and continues, "but what if it were made of barbeque spare ribs, would you eat it then?"
4. "Spartans Football Game"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 1997
Star: Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri
SNL's spawned many a memorable tandem (read: David Spade and Chris Farley, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, Rob Schneider and Dennis Miller). LOL, just joking about the last one, those guys suck. Anyway, the most recognizable on-set duo of the '90's had to be the Spartan Cheerleaders. Mary Catherine Gallagher (Superstar), MacGruber, and Stuart Smalley all had feature films made about their lame characters, but somehow Lorne Michaels let this one slip. SMH.
3. "United Way"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 2007
Star: Peyton Manning
"I will kill a snitch. I'm not saying I have, I'm not saying I haven't." That line alone is worth the ridiculously long commercial NBC will make you sit through to watch this clip. It was a fierce competition, but, once again, Peyton outshines Eli for the most hilarious Manning brother short on SNL.
2. "True Hollywood Stories - Prince"
Show: Chappelle's Show
Year aired: 2004
Star: Dave Chappelle
Comedy Central tried desperately to recreate the success of Chappelle's Show by giving Nick Swardson, Demetri Martin, and Jeff Dunham a shot at sketch comedy. But the genius of Prince playing basketball, reverse dunking, and calling "Game, blouses," will never be matched so the network needs to stop trying. There's SNL, then Chappelle's Show and everyone else can take a seat.
1. "Bill Swerski's Super Fans"
Show: Saturday Night Live
Year aired: 1991
Star: Michael Jordan
Long before we poked fun at the Windy City's propensity towards overrating athletes and scarfing fried food, Bill Swerski's Super Fans delivered hilarious digs at Chicago one bite of greasy Italian sausage at a time. In this particular installment of the recurring series, Michael Jordan joins the round table to talk about "Daaa Bulls." The Super Fans interrupt Jordan to debate Coach Ditka vs. a hurricane and discuss how many heart attacks they've had (a baker's dozen for Farley). You know, basic happy hour conversation in bars throughout Wrigleyville.
