Coming to the end of a tense 5th game in the 2004 NBA play-offs, San Antonio Spurs centre Tim Duncan hit a clutch two-pointer, stopping the clock at 0.4 seconds and sending his team - and the crowd - into raptures … as if the game had been won. Problem was, the game wasn’t over yet. With just under half a second remaining, LA Lakers point guard Derek Fisher hit his own spectacular buzzer-beater, giving the Lakers the win and leaving the home team and its 15,000 supporters a little red-faced.
Glen Fisiiahi 2010: “It ain’t over till it’s over” Part 1
This is why you should never celebrate too early. In 2010, New Zealand Warriors Holden Cup fullback Glen Fisiiahi broke away from the South Sydney Rabbitohs defence, running almost the length of the field. Slowing up over the last ten metres, he crossed the white stripe saluting the heavens, only to be crash-tackled from behind by a Rabbitohs defender. He dropping the ball in the process, fluffing up a certain four-pointer.
Sergio Ramos 2011: the Cup has fallen
Fresh off winning the 2011 Copa Del Rey over rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid returned to the Spanish capital to a ticker tape parade as the triumphant champions rode on top of a double-decker bus. With the trophy perched on the head of defender Sergio Ramos, basking in the glory, the trophy slipped from his grasp, tumbling down the front of the bus to the road. It was then run over.
Brad Haddin 2011: high not-so-five poke in the eye
It’s just the Aussie thing to do; give your mate a high five after doing something extraordinary. Sadly for Brad Haddin, his high five with an over-enthusiastic James Faulkner almost cost him his vision. After taking the prized scalp of Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan in an ODI in India, Haddin looking for a double high five from Faulkner, who completely missed the ‘keeper’s gloves, poking him directly in the eye. Safe to say Faulkner was in the nets practising his post-wicket celebrations the next day.
Scotland Rugby Team 2012: hard-head celebration
After pulling off one of the biggest upsets in rugby history, defeating the Wallabies in Australia (something no Scottish team had achieved in 30 years), the Scots still seemed to be the butt of jokes all around the world. On a miserable and wet night in Newcastle, Scotland needed a penalty kick to win the match. Rightly so, the penalty was converted, leading to scenes of jubilation from the players. However, two over-zealous troops, whilst running in to celebrate, knocked heads so hard, both were covered in blood and required medical attention.
Lamar Houston 2014: Houston, we have a problem
A message to Jarryd Hayne: if you do make it in the NFL, please be humble when celebrating, otherwise you’ll end up out injured for 12 months like Chicago Bears defensive end Lamar Houston. After sacking New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Houston jumped around celebrating his first sack of the season, only to land and blow out his Anterior Cruciate Ligament. He required a full knee reconstruction and was kept on the sidelines for a year.
