THE BEST OF THE BEST: MEME EDITION

Talk'OH! Tuesday

Written by Glenn Javier

Internet memes have become a disruptive worldwide phenomenon [in the most entertaining sense]. With the advent of accessible mobile photo editing applications, anyone who's up-to-date on the latest news can create a meme and make it viral. The World of Sports is not new to this online culture. As a matter of fact, the best memes feature prominent athletes and sporting events. I'm here to take you down memory lane and then some as we revisit the best sports memes.

The Great Smile of China

In 2009, Chinese Houston Rockets player Yao Ming and then-teammate Ron Artest were at a playoff press conference when Yao broke out the smile that launched a thousand ships... I mean memes. It quickly became one of the most notable sports-related memes [of all time]. Memes to his face usually relate to sarcastic and somewhat degrading jokes.

Melancholic Michael

Many distinguished athletes have broken down in tears after a triumph, loss, or other emotional moments. But I guess meme creators are like the paparazzi; the more famous you are, the more pictures, or in this case, "memes" about you will be made and spread throughout the cyberspace. Michael Jordan cried during his acceptance speech at the 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony. From that moment, any time a team loses a big game, Crying Jordan’s face is quick to follow.

Cry me a LeBron

Real men cry and LA Lakers player LeBron James has proven this... a lot of times. There are cameras everywhere! Not making a meme of James crying is just not acceptable considering how much crying he has done. Anyhow, this popular mug is from his time with the Cavs where he and the city of Cleveland had plenty to cry about. Google it. The photo below relates to a well-known online dating application named Tinder. Crying LeBron was also used to comically depict other sad [and unfortunate] experiences.

Time to Blow your... Competition?

Although not seen in the photo, this next one still relates to LeBron. 2014 was arguably the golden age of memes when it introduced us to then-Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson. During that year's NBA Playoffs, the Pacers were overmatched when they faced LeBron James who was playing for the Heat at the time. Their team was desperate to find any advantage so Stephenson brought out one of the most bizarre tactics - blowing air in LeBron’s ear. Blowing is the solution to everything! Just look at the memes below!

He Shoots, He Scores!

Since we're including legendary athletes, why not include the late Black Mamba. There are countless Kobe Bryant memes. All of them relate to his shooting skills. He is a renowned shooting guard and always takes his shots seriously - and mercilessly. The meme below, apart from representing a shrugging emoji, is directed towards Bryant's all-out shooting in the court.

The Cold Never Bothered Him Anyway

Tom Brady, like the athletes mentioned above, is already used to being the subject of a viral meme. During the 2017 AFC Championship Game where then-Patriots QB Brady and his team battled the Pittsburgh Steelers, the weather became a bit chilly. As a result, Brady was given an enormous coat - a coat that could even fit the rest of his team. Guess he's not bothered by the cold anymore. The meme, on the other hand, pertains to how you can just stuff a bunch of stuff inside the coat.