Image via Complex Original
Trash-talking is a lost art. Throughout the history of sport, there have been many talkers but only a few masters. Guys do it to gain a mental edge or just for shits and giggles. They talk about your mother, your girl, your mama's mama, your kids, and, of course, you. Speaking of which, today is Muhammad Ali's 71st birthday. The Greatest of All Time was a poet when it came to promoting fights and psyching out his challengers. Ali would often win fights before he ever stepped in the ring. He inspired a generation to take their trash-talking serious. Other guys that you might find on this list are Chad Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Gary Payton, and Shannon Sharpe, among others. Check the rest of the 25 Greatest Trash-Talkers in Sports History.
25. Rasheed Wallace
Sport: Basketball
Big Sheed! The current king of the infamous "Ball don't lie!" phrase and a supremely talented old head who's probably never held his tongue in his entire career. Rasheed's gotten technicals throughout his 16 seasons in the L like nobody's business for his constant berating of opponents and refs, but the dude can ball so he's always managed to help his squad. He's now on the second-place Knicks along with Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby to form the AARP bench.
24. John Randle
Sport: Football
The man damn near invented the post-sack celebration. John Randle was a wild boy that painted his face like Mac in The Predator before games. A lot of his trash talk didn't make sense and came off as crazy, but that was his plan all along. He would say some crazy shit and bewilder offensive lines to the point where they were talking so much trash to him the quarterback would have to call timeout. The NFL needs more guys like him.
23. Sean Avery
Sport: Hockey
Sean Avery is the most annoying talker on here. Everybody hates him and rightfully so. Dude is a dick. He lies, cheats, and steals to win. He also gets mad when people date his ex-girlfriends. In regards his ex, Elisha Cuthbert, Avery told a gang of reporters that "it's become a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds." What an asshole.
22. Macho Camacho
Sport: Boxing
Macho Time! The little Puerto Rican from Spanish Harlem had as much mouth as he did flair. Camacho used to want to fight guys at press conferences and he would talk even more trash after he beat them. Macho was a hell of a fighter and never wore the same ring outfit twice. He stayed defiant and controversial well after his career was over. R.I.P.
21. Deion Sanders
Sport: Football
Prime Time was the first of his kind, a new breed of DB and NFL star. He could talk with the best of them, he could back it up on the field, but there just was this flare about him that plenty of dudes have tried to jock since. Deion became the Prime Time persona where he would go out on the field and make you look like a high schooler, all while utterly degrading you with his words and two-steps. There's no surprise he's become a successful analyst for NFL network, Sanders is too good of an elocutionist not to be on TV. Must be the money.
20. Drazen Petrovic
Sport: Basketball
No one knew what he was saying but they knew he talking trash. Drazen consistently dropped 20 on cats while cussing them out in a foreign language. He was one of the only players to be able to get under Reggie Miller's skin. Petro also had a rivalry with Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Whenever they played each other it was a battle and if you paid close attention you could see the two jawing at each other the whole game. No doubt Drazen is one of the greats.
19. Joey Porter
Sport: Football
Big case of "I don't give a fuck" and "I'm big as hell" when you're talking about Jerry Porter. A monster on the field, the only thing that's overshadowed his very solid career, has been his mouth that's never seemed to quit. Porter called Peyton Manning and the Colts soft before their playoff match-up, he met the Browns on the 50-yard line for a good time, and pretty much ended Jerramy Stevens before their Super Bowl game. How can you compete with Porter when you can't spell your own first name, Jerramy!?
18. Charles Barkley
Sport: Basketball
Sir Charles didn't want to be a role model to youths growing up during his playing days, but trash talkers across the nation should have taken notes from the Round Mound. When you're a 6-foot-6 power forward that's dominating your competition as much as Chuck did, you got the right to be a little cocky. Never being one to hold his tongue, Barkley let the dog out in him on the floor and let helpless opponents know exactly how good he really was. We all remember the epic battle with MJ, and some might remember his lighter bombastic moments, but we all know Chuck was deadly with his game and his mouth on the court. Just ask Shaq.
17. John McEnroe
Sport: Tennis
Johnny Mac usually just talked shit to chair umpires. He would throw tantrums whenever calls didn't go his way. But don't get it twisted, he also got at fellow tennis players. When talking about Ivan Lendl, McEnroe said: "I've got more talent in my pinkie than Lendl has in his whole body. The guy hasn't been good for tennis. He's been so selfish. And he's certainly not the kind of guy who brings out the best in others. He's hurt the popularity of the game so much. Do you like a robot being the world number one?"
But wait here's another great quote. When a Czech opponent mistakenly hit him with a tennis ball, McEnroe told him: "You'll be sorry you hit me you fucking communist asshole." Respect this man.
16. Shaquille O'Neal
Sport: Basketball
The Diesel is one of the more creative guys on here. He has talked shit about everyone from Kobe Bryant to Erika Dampier. He smacked Greg Ostertag before a game with no cameras present and referred to the Sacramento Kings as the "Sacramento Queens." Shaq also talks shit to Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley on TNT's Inside the NBA, forever throwing his rings and stats in their faces. And let's not forget about his ongoing fued with Dwight Howard. Even with his career having ended a couple years, Shaq still loves to run his mouth.
15. Kobe Bryant
Sport: Basketball
Like Michael Jordan before him, Kobe has been the alpha dog of the NBA for a while now, and he's been letting bums know the deal for years. He's had run-ins with all the "Kobe Stoppers" in Raja Bell, Ruben Patterson, Matt Barnes, and Ron Artest and undoubtedly got the best of them with his game and his stellar trash talk. The Black Mamba even had a run in with Kyrie Irving in the video above this past summer where he gave the young buck a tongue lashing like no other. LeBron might be the best player in the league right now, but Kobe's still the king in his head and with his words.
14. Terrell Owens
Sport: Football
"Get your popcorn ready!" T.O. talked trash about his opponents, his teammates, and his coaches. No one was safe. One notable moment was when he disrespected the Cowboy star multiples times during a game as a member of the 49ers. After each touchdown, Owens stomped in the middle of the star and raised his hands to the heavens. He also ran to the 50-yard line to do the same thing and was tackled during his second attempt. And to top it off, the NFL outlawed excessive celebrations because of this man. He should have a bronze bust into Canton, OH for that alone.
13. Reggie Miller
Sport: Basketball
Reggie solidified his place in trash-talking lore when he got into it with Spike Lee during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Miller fueled off the hate Lee spat his way and torched the Knicks for 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5, complete with choking gestures and all. Another notable moment was when, after hitting a shot in Steve Kerr's mouth in Chicago, he took a bow at center court to the chorus of boos. We wish he would talk trash when he's commenting games because Reggie is boring as fuck on TV.
12. Shannon Sharpe
Sport: Football
Tight ends generally didn't talk much before Shannon, they were secondary or tertiary targets for a QB and ended up blocking a bunch to help the teams greater good in the run game. Then Sterling's younger brother entered the picture. There hasn't ever, nor will there probably ever be another tight end with the gift of gab Sharpe possesses. He taunted fans and players alike while consistently producing for the Bronco's and Ravens on the field. Ray Buchanon knows exactly what we're talking about.
11. Chad Johnson
Sport: Football
Chad hasn't had much to talk trash about recently for obvious reasons, but in his prime No. 85 was the pulse for the Bengals and gave them 100 percent of their swagger. There was nobody safe when Chad was out there on the field and that meant ridiculous catches as well as superb shit talking. He made a list of DBs he'd destroy in '05 and largely lived up to his own hype, and has had plenty of jawing action with the guys who lined up against him before joining the Pats in '09. If you remember the good about Chad it'll be his entertainment value. He let you know what he'd do to you, do it, then celebrate creatively after.
10. Kevin Garnett
Sport: Basketball
Arguably the dirtiest trash talker on this list, KG is one of those guys you hate if he's on another team, but love if he's on your own. He's been accused of calling Charlie Villanueva a cancer patient, telling Tim Duncan "Happy Mothers Day, motherfucker" totally aware that his mother died, and most recently (allegedly) telling Carmelo Anthony his wife La La Vasquez-Anthony tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios. You know you never go full sugar on the cereal. Original Cheerios or Raisin Bran, son!
9. Mike Tyson
Sport: Boxing
Easily the most vile shit-talker on this list, Iron Mike talked shit and made you fear for your life. He's told reporters that he'll fuck them until they loved him and that he wants to eat Lennox Lewis's children. What are you going to say to a man that can break your face with one punch? Maybe we should ask Mitch Green that question. Tyson broke his face after Mitch was talking shit to him in front of Dapper Dan's in Harlem.
8. Chael Sonnen
Sport: MMA
The man is a poet. He went in on Anderson Silva—he got beat up for it—but his trash talk was eloquent. He's just as creative as Ali, but the "G.O.A.T." was able to back it up; Sonnen, not so much. At least it's entertaining, though. One of our favorites was when he said: "Wanderlei [Sliva], you are an immigrant from Brazil and I am a gangster from America." Chael would be perfect for the WWE. They should give him his own show like Piper's Pit.
7. Ricardo Mayorga
Sport: Boxing
This dude was off his rocker. Mayorga hyped many a fight by talking a bunch of smack and getting his opponents heated during press conferences. In his native Spanish, Ricardo would insult guys by calling them homophobic slurs and blowing cigarette smoke in their faces. He would also deliberately take shots to the head and act as if they weren't hurting him. That plan backfired when he tried it versus Felix Trinidad. Mayorga took three hooks to the jaw but he wasn't planning on his legs turning to noodles on the last one. If only he could back up his talk in the ring, he would've been one of the greats. Check out the awesome highlight reel of hall of fame trash talk. He's one of the best.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Sport: Boxing
If there was a trash talking heir to Muhammad Ali's marvelous boxing throne, it would be Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He exhibits everything you look for in a great talker: supreme talent, unmatched confidence, an overarching theme of humor, and last but most definitely not least, that "I don't give a fuck" attitude. He's ethered De La Hoya, Pac-Man, Victor Ortiz, and countless others to the delight of HBO 24/7 viewers and it doesn't look like he's quite done yet. And let's not forget about the infamous post-fight interview with Larry Merchant. Can you imagine what he'd do if he knocked out Pacquiao? He might buy out Broadway and have them reenact it nightly for a month.
5. Gary Payton
Sport: Basketball
Probably the most relentless talker on this list, GP talked smack for the whole 48 minutes with a big shit-eating grin on his face. He didn't care who you were, the Glove was going to go in. Payton would go at it whenever he faced MJ and even would make Jordan want to fight him. Gary is so raw for television, NBATV had to replace him with the likes of Kevin McHale. It's a shame because Gary and Chris Webber would constantly talk trash about today's players. Check the vid above and let Payton tell you the science behind his talking.
4. Michael Jordan
Sport: Basketball
OK we all get it, you're the best player to ever play the game, but do you have to talk trash and make dudes contemplate Prozac, too? Yes. Yes he did. MJ possessed that extreme level of confidence most lack, and made sure his opponents knew his confidence was with good reason as he dismantled them on a nightly basis. Steve Smith told the story of the time Jordan started counting backwards from 40 as he made buckets and slowly but surely made his way to zero, that's just disrespectful.
3. Satchel Paige
Sport: Baseball
Satchel Paige was one of the greatest pitchers to walk God's green Earth. After decades of domination in the Negro Leagues, Satch became the oldest rookie in MLB history at 42. Paige believed in his stuff so much he would make his defense sit in the dugout while he faced batters. His exploits on the field were the stuff of legend, aided by the man himself.
Here's a couple quotes from Satchmo. When talking about cheating, Satch said: "I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation." And when talking of his baseball career, he said: "The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second class citizen to a second class immortal." The man talked a tremendous amount of smack as one of the handful that backed it up. Paige should be put in philosophy textbooks. He was just as effective as Plato and Aristotle.
2. Larry Bird
Sport: Basketball
What are you supposed to do when a slow-footed guy who can't jump hits a three in your face and then tells you about it? Larry Legend was like the Ali of his sport. He once told Chuck Person that he had a gift for him during a Christmas Day game. Bird then hit a three in front of the Rifleman while he was sitting on the Pacers' bench and told him, "Merry Fucking Christmas." He also asked a locker room full of the best shooters, "Which one of you motherfuckers is coming in second?," before the 1986 Three-Point Shootout. Bird won the contest by a landslide and when he received his winnings Larry said, "My name's been on this check for a week now." Legend.
1. Muhammad Ali
Sport: Boxing
Was it even a question? Ali is the greatest because he backed up everything he said and was the most creative. He had rhymes for days and always had a clever comeback. From an early age, Ali had the gift of gab. He psyched out Sonny Liston at the tender age of 22 and managed to get Joe Frazier so mad at him, the two continue to beef 'til this very day. He beat people to a pulp because they kept calling him Clay and told the world when he was going to knock fighters out. Ali is the greatest boxer and the greatest trash-talker of all time. Watch the clip above to see the legend in his element.