Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold Blooded
Months after announcing that he was “taking his talents to South Beach,” this superstar returned to Cleveland for the first time in a Miami uniform. Showered with boos, he scored 38 points—including 24 in the third quarter—as the Heat embarrassed the Cavaliers, 118–90.
LeBron James
Facing second-and-26 in overtime of the 2018 national championship game, freshman Tua Tagovailoa launched a 41-yard touchdown pass to this fellow freshman, crushing Georgia and completing Alabama’s dramatic comeback.
DeVonta Smith
With Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals tied at 107, this Cavaliers guard grabbed George Hill’s missed free throw with 4.7 seconds remaining. Believing Cleveland was leading, he dribbled away from the basket and allowed the clock to expire before the Cavaliers lost in overtime.
JR Smith
After leading Buffalo to three consecutive division titles and becoming one of the NFL’s biggest stars, this quarterback appeared on Madden NFL 24. He became the first Bills player ever selected as the franchise’s cover athlete.
Josh Allen
Before fantasy stats, hot takes, or Sunday Ticket mattered to me, this electrifying West Virginia playmaker made me fall in love with football by 8 year old me watching his highlight tape. He could score as a receiver, runner, or returner—and the Rams were so captivated that they traded up to select him eighth overall in 2013. Simply put, there may be no “King JJ” without this original Kingsman.
Tavon Austin
Released after 13 seasons as the face of Carolina’s receiving corps, this outspoken veteran promised there would be “blood and guts everywhere” when he returned with Baltimore. He delivered 139 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the Ravens crushed the Panthers, 38–10.
Steve Smith Sr.
This outspoken challenger dominated Anderson Silva for nearly five rounds at UFC 117 and appeared minutes away from ending Silva’s historic middleweight reign. With only 1:50 remaining, however, he was trapped in a triangle armbar and forced to submit. In other words, "He hit a guy 300 times on the ground, got someone's legs wrapped around him for 8 seconds and they declared him the winner."
Chael Sonnen
Angry that manager Terry Francona was removing him from a rough start in 2019, this Cleveland pitcher turned toward center field and launched the baseball approximately 380 feet over the wall. He apologized after the game and was traded two days later.
Trevor Bauer
Inspired by their matchup in Super Bowl XLIII, Madden NFL 10 featured two cover athletes for the first time: this Cardinals receiver who caught two touchdowns in the game and this Steelers safety whose team won the championship.
Troy Polamalu & Larry Fitzgerald
For me, this seven-time All-Star wasn’t merely the Mets’ third baseman—he was my baseball hero. In 2007, he hit .325 with 30 home runs, 34 stolen bases and 107 RBI while earning both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. Later named the fourth captain in franchise history, he became the face of the team while wearing No. 5.
"Captain America"
David Wright
After seven seasons in Oklahoma City, this defensive cornerstone was traded to Orlando in 2016. In his first game back, he punished the Thunder with a career-high 31 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and the winning jumper with less than a second remaining.
Serge Ibaka
Late in a tied 2018 NFC Championship Game, this Rams cornerback hit Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before Drew Brees’ pass arrived. No flag was thrown, New Orleans settled for a field goal and Los Angeles eventually won in overtime. The NFL later fined the defender for the hit.
Nickell Robey-Coleman
After Florida stopped LSU on third down late in a tied 2020 game, defensive back Marco Wilson committed a bizarre unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that extended the Tigers’ drive and helped set up the winning field goal.
Throwing A Shoe
Acquired from Denver in the Brady Quinn trade, this bruising Browns running back exploded for 1,177 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010. Fans rewarded his breakout season by voting him onto the cover of Madden NFL 12.
Peyton Hillis
My favorite basketball player who never wore a Knicks uniform brought style, grace, and imagination above the rim. Before winning the 1981 NBA MVP and a championship with Philadelphia, this airborne icon collected three ABA MVP awards and two ABA titles while helping reshape how basketball was played and presented.
"Dr. J" Julius Erving
Released by Philadelphia following six seasons with the Eagles, this speedy receiver returned to Lincoln Financial Field with Washington in 2014. He burned his former team for an 81-yard touchdown and celebrated by flapping his arms like an Eagle.
DeSean Jackson
After Alex Gordon reached third with two outs in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, this Royals third-base coach chose not to send him home against a scrambling Giants defense. Salvador Pérez then popped out, stranding Gordon 90 feet from a potential tie.
Mike Jirschele
Immediately after submitting Conor McGregor at UFC 229, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov climbed over the Octagon and launched himself into the crowd toward this McGregor teammate, triggering a chaotic brawl inside and outside the cage.
Dillon Danis
Unlike the other versions of NCAA Football 09, the Nintendo Wii edition did not feature a former player. More than 700,000 votes were cast in EA Sports’ mascot competition, with this Big Ten mascot winning the opportunity to appear on the cover.
Sparty the Spartan
My favorite defensive back ever built a Hall of Fame career by making elite receivers disappear. His signature moment came against Tom Brady in the 2005 playoffs, when he intercepted a pass in Denver’s end zone and raced 100 yards before Ben Watson finally caught him near the opposite goal line. He retired with 12 Pro Bowl selections and a reputation as one of the purest cover corners ever.
Champ Bailey
Seven years after suffering one of the most replayed knockouts in UFC history against Dan Henderson, this British champion invited the same opponent to Manchester for his first middleweight title defense. Despite being dropped twice, he survived all five rounds and earned a unanimous decision to avenge the infamous “H-Bomb.”
Michael Bisping
Cleveland trailed Kansas City in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round when this Browns receiver caught a pass near the goal line and attempted to dive for the pylon. Daniel Sorensen’s hit knocked the football through the end zone, creating a touchback instead of a potential touchdown. Cleveland ultimately lost 22–17.
Rashard Higgins
Trailing New England by six on fourth-and-three in 2015, Indianapolis shifted nine members of its punt unit near the sideline. Receiver Griff Whalen then snapped the ball to safety Colt Anderson, who stood almost alone against several Patriots defenders and was immediately tackled. The Colts were also flagged for lining up illegally.
The Worst Fake Punt In NFL History
Before MLB The Show became baseball’s dominant video-game franchise, Midway produced an arcade-style series that allowed players to throw exaggerated pitches, catch fire and even fight opposing fielders. This eight-time Gold Glove-winning Cardinals center fielder appeared on the cover of MLB SlugFest 2004.
Jim Edmonds
An absolute niche legend, this dependable receiver never needed superstar billing to earn his place in the kingdom. After beginning his career with the Jets, he quietly produced a bizarrely efficient 2013 season for Pittsburgh: 46 receptions, 602 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns—matching half of the receiving touchdowns he had scored over his first nine NFL seasons.
Jerricho Cotchery