betting.us

Examining Four of the Best Trash Talkers in Sports History

Richard Janvrin by Richard Janvrin, August 01, 2025

Trash talk across various sports

In sports, trash talk is simply part of the game. Whether it’s to try to get inside the head of the opponent or, in some cases, a genuine beef with the other side, we see it all the time. The best trash talkers in sports are known for a reason, and that’s that they draw a reaction, get to their opponents, and the fans are entertained.

The biggest trash talkers in sports history span across various sports, including MMA, boxing, and football. They often have one-liners or other quotes that we remember for years after the case.

There can also be MLB trash talkers Twitter wars, which help draw intrigue into a game before it happens. The same can be said about other sports as well, with the rise of social media.

Below, I’ll look at four of the best trash talkers in sports history.

Muhammad Ali: One of the Biggest Trash Talkers in Sports History

We may think of Ali today as one of the greatest athletes ever, with iconic photographs, but he was also one of the biggest trash talkers in sports history.

Ali was seen on camera many times going into rants about his opponents or other subjects to build himself up.

One of his best lines came before he faced George Foreman for the title.

He said, “I’ve wrestled with alligators / I’ve tussled with a whale / I done handcuffed lightning / and throw thunder in jail / You know I’m bad, just last week I murdered a rock / Injured a stone, hospitalized a brick / I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”

Another great zinger from Ali was before he faced Floyd Patterson and said, “I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on!”

Ali backed it up over his career. He had 61 fights and went 56-5, including 37 KOs.

Larry Bird: One of the Biggest Trash Talkers in NBA History

While Bird stood six feet and nine inches tall, he didn’t have the “look” per se of one of the best players in NBA history. To go even further, though, he didn’t give off the vibe of being one of the biggest trash talkers in NBA history.

The number of moments of trash talk is far too many to count, but one that stood out was against the Atlanta Hawks during the 1984-85 season.

Bird, who put up 60 in that game, said: “In the trainer’s lap, who wants it?”

He was referencing that he was going to hit a three in someone’s face.

For context, Doc Rivers explained the story in more detail:

“I think Rickey Brown, I’m not sure who it was, ran out after him,” Rivers told Boston.com. “He shot this high rainbow, it goes in, Rickey bumps into him, and accidentally knocks him on our trainer’s lap. So it was exactly what he said, it was an accident, but it was almost fate.”

There was also a moment early in Dennis Rodman’s career. Rodman is viewed widely as one of the best defenders ever, but Bird still had choice words for him, saying, “Who’s guarding me, Chuck? Is anyone guarding me? You better get someone on me, or I’m gonna go for 60!”

Ironically, as mentioned earlier, in that game against the Hawks, he did go for 60.

Bird was referencing Chuck Daly, the Detroit Pistons head coach.

He would add, as Rodman covered him, “I’m open! Hurry up before they notice nobody is guarding me!”

Bird won three MVPs and scored nearly 21,800 points over his 13-year career.

Man, if only NBA online sportsbooks were around during his playing days, am I right?

Bird was truly one of the biggest trash talkers in the NBA during his playing days.

Conor McGregor: The King of MMA Trash Talk

In a sport like MMA, being able to trash talk is almost a prerequisite. Not only does it get inside the head of your opponent, but from a business perspective, it helps sell the fight.

And in the UFC, no one was better than McGregor.

Perhaps one of the most heated moments occurred at a press conference for UFC 229, where McGregor responded to Ali Abdelaziz, an MMA manager representing Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Abdelaziz said something to McGregor, and while Dana White was telling him to leave, McGregor responded back, saying, “Terrorist snitch! I know a lot about you as well, you mad rat! I know a lot about you as well. You keep your mouth shut, kid. Let me take my picture. How’s Noah!? How’s Noah!? Huh!?”

In that, McGregor is referencing Abdelaziz’s son, Noah, who some allege Ali abandoned in Colorado after becoming an informant for the NYPD.

McGregor also went after Floyd Mayweather Jr. ahead of their boxing bout, saying, “He’s 40! You’re 40 years of age! Dress your f***ing age! Carrying a school bag on stage. What are you doing with a school bag on stage? You can’t even read!”

Then, McGregor had choice words for Rafael Dos Anjos during the UFC “Go Big” press conference in 2015. He was set to fight Jose Aldo, but he got into with RDA, bringing up a hypothetical of White offering RDA a fight against McGregor.

“I can make you rich. I change your bum life. You fight me, it’s a celebration. When you sign to fight me it’s a celebration, you ring back home, you ring your wife, ‘Baby, we done it. We’re rich, baby. Conor McGregor made us rich. Break out the red panties. We’re rich, baby.'”

Yeah, McGregor was truly something else when it came to trash talk. I’d contend that he’s among the biggest trash talkers in sports history over the last 10-15 years.

Shannon Sharpe: One of the Biggest Trash Talkers in NFL History

While many know Shannon Sharpe today as a media personality, he used to be an excellent football player who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During his playing days, he would have some of the best trash talk and is considered one of the biggest trash talkers in NFL history.

In a game in 1996 against the New England Patriots, Sharpe caught seven passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos were up 34-8.

On the sidelines, he pretended to call the president of the United States, Bill Clinton, and said, “I called the President! President, we need the National Guard. We need as many men as you can spare ’cause we are killing the Patriots. So, call the dogs off. Send the National Guard, please! They need emergency help. Please! Help these folks!”

He continued, saying, “They’re coming. ‘Help is on the way. Help is on the way. Help is on the way, I promise you. In 10 minutes, help will be here.”

Sharpe was easily one of the best trash talkers in sports history.

Toggle Navigation Overlay
Back to Top