Image via Complex Original
Today is Suzy Kolber’s birthday. She’s a consummate professional, respected reporter, and most famous for having drunken Jets legend Joe Namath try to lick her face off on live TV. In honor of talented, smart women defying gender stereotypes no matter the ridiculous circumstances, we’ve collected several weird and somewhat hilarious clips involving the ladies behind the mic. Here are the 20 Most Awkward Moments in Female Sports Reporting.
RELATED: The 20 Hottest Women in ESPN History
20. Mumbling in the Rain
Reporter: Heidi Watney
Year: 2008
Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. Especially when that cover is the impeccable fashion combination of a white v-neck, wrinkled button-up, and argyle sweater. It's okay to assume that book can't talk to girls. This awkwardly-garbed (and clearly intimidated) sports writer turns rain delay coverage into an uncomfortable first date when he bumbles his way through an interview with smoking hot Red Sox reporter Heidi Watney.
19. Good Times
Reporter: Amber Theoharis
Year: 2007
Man-on-the-street interviews are the most awkward of all journalism practices. Particularly when the person being interviewed screams an expletive on live TV. Props to Amber for handling it well though.
18. "How to Get Fired," ESPN Edition
Reporter: Danyelle Sargent
Year: 2006
A broken teleprompter made for a sloppy introduction, but ESPN's Danyelle Sargent turned a hiccup into a stroke with an expletive-laden outburst on live TV. Her co-anchor is clearly reading highlights so why she thought it kosher to scream the f-word is beyond us. We hope she had plenty LinkedIn contacts handy.
17. Not That Kind of DP...
Reporter: Christine Nubla
Year: 2007
Live TV can be tricky. Reporters rely on their subconsciousness to think about where they are and where they're going at the same time. But when you're a freak at heart, sometimes stuff like this slips out.
16. "Do You Watch Porn?"
Reporter: Michelle Beadle
Year: 2011
Forget the strip club, if you want to see hot, young women pander to pervy older men, peep morning TV. Regis Philbin hit ESPN reporter Michelle Beadle with an inquisition of her Internet history at 6 a.m. with predictably awkward results.
15. Don't Play Me
Reporter: Jemele Hill
Year: 2011
Anyone who watches ESPN knows that First Take is the network's one-stop-shop for all things awkward. But things got especially uncomfortable when Jemele Hill discussed her what-could-have-been romance with Michael Smith just in time for the E:60 reporter to walk in the studio and set the record straight. Apparently, Smith never called her back because he was caught up in a Madden season. Ugh, typical guy, always playing games.
14. Ever Watched ESPN on Weed?
Reporter: Chris McKendry
Year: 2009
This is what happens when you do a bong load during the commercial break, rush behind the anchor desk, and do a story about marijuana.
13. The Dicky V Tango
Reporter: Erin Andrews
Year: 2010
Erin Andrews was on Dancing with the Stars which apparently gives her creepy coworkers an excuse to grope her. ESPN commentator Dicky V grabs the world's hottest sports reporter and does an unnerving waltz with the clearly traumatized Andrews. #creepyoldmansteez
12. Say What?
Reporter: Unknown
Year: 2006
It's not easy to be a female commentator. You're unfairly judged, stereotyped and assumed not to know as much about sports as your male counterparts. Also, you have this bat shit announcer setting the movement back 20 years with her bizarre, insanely awkward take on Pac-10 basketball.
11. Bump-N-Grind
Reporter: Erin Andrews
Year: 2009
Grinding on an unsuspecting woman is awkward and inappropriate when you're drunk at a fraternity house basement. Go ahead and times that by 10 when you're wearing a facemask, shoulder pads, and the chick's famous. SMH.
10. Uh, You're Live
Reporter: Doris Burke
Year: 2011
Doris Burke is a perfectionist, which is why she tried a to improve her pregame report with a second-take. Unfortunately for her, she was live. A for effort.
9. A Ride Along
Reporter: Jamie Little
Year: 2010
Apparently unwilling to comment on his feud with Carl Edwards, racecar driver Kevin Harvrick tries to avoid a persistent ESPN reporter by (literally) jumping into a getaway car. The uncomfortable dialogue turns painful when Harvick and the persistent Jamie Little are forced to share the cab of a pickup truck. Soundtrack, please!
8. "Anything is Possible!"
Reporter: Michele Tafoya
Year: 2008
If this were a list for douchiest victory speeches it would be No. 1, but since it's awkward moments, we have to rank it a bit lower. After winning an NBA championship, Kevin Garnett cries on Michele Tafoya's shoulder, slobbers on her then screams (but screws up) the Adidas tagline. This was just one of the many crazy moments in KG's career.
7. My Porkchop Brings all the Boys to the Yard
Reporter: Kim Jones
Year: 2010
In addition to being abrasive, entitled blowhards, Yankee fans are also, apparently, very hungry.
6. Put That Thing Away
Reporter: Rachel Nichols
Year: 2010
During LeBron's decision, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols was out in New York to get fans reaction to the King heading to Miami. Instead she got a repulsive dude trying to lick her mane. Yikes. On another note the clip does remind us of this classic ratchet anthem.
5. "Cammy Cam Juice"
Reporter: Tracy Wolfson
Year: 2010
During an Auburn blowout of South Carolina, a bored Cam Newton gave sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson a Gatorade bottle full of what he called "Cammy Cam Juice." Desperate for a story and seemingly unaware of the overt double meaning, Wolfson proudly announces that she's going to "take a little taste" before squeezing the bottle into her mouth. Then, with a cheesy, commercial smile proclaims, "Not bad. A little sweet for my taste."
4. Rude Boy
Reporter: Elena Etxebarrieta
Year: 2010
We're not sure what this chick is saying, but it must be really hot because that drunken clown with the fro-hawk seems to be really turned on.
3. "Strugg-a-ling"
Reporter: Suzy Kolber
Year: 2003
Not all transformations are as lovely as a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Take for example Broadway Joe's transformation from NFL legend to pervy uncle on live TV. During a sideline interview with Suzy Kolber, a clearly intoxicated Namath strayed from his bumbling analysis of Chad Pennington and said, "I want to kiss you." Kolber manages an uncomfortable smile and gains some distance from the tumescent creep with a Curtis Martin-like stiff arm.
2. Security?!
Reporter: Heather Nichols
Year: 2009
In this clip Heather Nichols playfully allows Rampage Jackson to hump her while she stumbles through an interview. And this is how sexual assault charges begin...
1. "I Love You, Sarah"
Reporter: Sarah Kustok
Year: 2012
Sarah Kustok doesn't need much help in the awkward department. The grating, Chicago reporter has been a part of more uncomfortable interviews than Sarah Palin. Her signature moment came during intermission of a Blackhawks game when a jumpy, smitten twenty-something confessed his love for her on live TV.
