When you think of the best sports sketches throughout Saturday Night Live’s nearly 46-year history, chances are you think of all the high-profile athletes and coaches who’ve graced the stage at Studio 8H. Sure, the Peyton Manning United Way sketch is a classic and who could forget Michael Jordan’s appearance on Bill Swerski’s Superfans, but believe it or not, some of SNL’s funniest and most memorable sports sketches were the result of great writing and performances by the cast members themselves.
Here are some of the best. THIS IS NOT A RANKING. DO NOT @ ME.
"Embrace Me" at the Super Bowl Party
The basic gist: Passionate Green Bay fans are forced to listen to an 80s-inspired pop band, The Fingerlings, at a sports bar during the 2011 Super Bowl. If you don’t lose it the moment Dana Carvey starts dancing, this post is probably not for you and you should bail now. I’M JOKING, I’M JOKING — JUST KEEP SCROLLING.
Roundball Rock: The First Draft
The premise, simple but brilliant: What if John Tesh (played by Jason Sudeikis) pitched a different version of Roundball Rock to NBC executives that featured lyrics written by his fictional brother, Dave?
What results is not only a brilliant impression of Tesh (he said so himself in this interview with The Ringer), but a song that will roll around in my brain for the rest of time:
BUH BUH BUH BUH BUH BASK-ET-BALL! GIMME, GIMME, GIMME, THE BALL ‘CAUSE I’M GONNA DUNK IT, YEAH!
Synchronized Swimmers
If this were a ranking, WHICH AS I SAID IT IS NOT, I would put this 1984 sketch at No. 1 without a second thought. Martin Short and Harry Shearer share their dream of legitimizing men’s synchronized swimming in the pursuit of Olympic gold. (Bonus: Christopher Guest delivers an incredible performance as the duo’s choreographer in a way that will please Waiting for Guffman fans everywhere.)
Jason Priestly's Figure Skating Disaster
This sketch really sums up everything that worked about SNL in the early 90s: the late Phil Hartman’s commanding take on Verne Lundquist, Dana Carvey’s spot-on impression of figure-skating darling Scott Hamilton, and host Jason Priestly being, well, early-90s Jason Priestly. Look at that hair! Even more impressive is Priestly did most of the skating (and wiping out) in this sketch without a stunt double.
All of Will Ferrell's Haray Caray sketches
Will Ferrell’s Haray Caray sketches are among the show’s most memorable during his tenure (and maybe in the history of the show), but this one is my favorite for three reasons: 1) It’s the most quotable; 2) Jeff Goldblum is in it; 3) JEFF GOLDBLUM IS IN IT.
John Belushi's Little Chocolate Donuts
Part of John Belushi’s brilliance was his ability to make even the simplest premise — in this case, “What if there was an average-looking guy who became a star athlete by eating mini chocolate donuts every day?” — into something unforgettable.
Get on the Bag, Brandon!
Will Ferrell obnoxiously losing his temper, but make it sports.
Game Time With Randy And Greg
I can’t lie — this sketch is weird. It’s literally a sports show where one of the anchors (played by Bill Hader) is an alien. And then he turns Jon Hamm into an alien. Just trust me.
NFL Films: The Gun
This sketch has everything: Steve Martin, Darrell Hammond, Jason Sudeikis as an old man, Will Forte speaking in soft tones, A GUN.
NFL Playoff Game: The Gruesome Replay
Seeing terrible injuries is inevitable when watching live sports and networks have often come under fire for replaying them. This sketch takes that idea and makes it as unbearable (and funny) as possible.
