SI's Funniest Photos

SI Staff | Sep 19, 2013

SI's Funniest Photos

Alex Gonzalez, Edgar Renteria, Rey Ordoñez, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

What's better than a photo of the top five young shortstops in baseball? When those top five shortstops agree to pose in just their uniform pants and gold chains.

Bernie Kosar and Dan Marino

Lane Stewart/SI

Miami heroes (and perm partners) Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar pose together for SI's 1984 football preview. Marino was about to start his second year with the Dolphins after making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Kosar was going into his senior year after leading the Hurricanes to the 1983 national championship.

Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban, Steve Nash and Juwan Howard

Jeffrey Lowe/SI

Though none of these are native Texans, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, along with players Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Juwan Howard, try to pull off their best cowboy impressions for a 2001 photo shoot.

Manute Bol

Jacqueline Duvoisin/SI

Leave it up to Manute Bol to make something as mundane as buying milk seem extraordinary. This photo was taken in 1984, when he was a student-athlete at the University of Bridgeport.

Jack Nicholson and Magic Johnson

Brian Lanker/SI

Jack Nicholson has for years been sitting courtside at Lakers games, but sometimes he feels the need to get even closer to the action. In this photo, the actor hops on the back of Magic Johnson, who at the time was the heartbeat of the "Showtime" Lakers.

Brett Favre

John Chiasson/SI

You might expect the NFL's most exciting young quarterback to be living like a high roller. But for 23-year-old Brett Favre, pictured at home in 1993, the adolescent décor of his childhood bedroom suited him just fine.

Brian Bosworth

John Biever/SI

In advance of the 1986 Orange Bowl, Oklahoma's Brian "The Boz" Bosworth throws a Frisbee on a sunny Florida beach. At the following year's Orange Bowl, he would famously wear a "National Communists Against Athletes" T-shirt on the sidelines in response to being suspended by the NCAA for steroid use.

Bryant "Big Country" Reeves

Peter Read Miller/SI

Having grown up in a small rural farm community, no nickname could've seemed more appropriate for seven footer Bryant Reeves than "Big Country." This 1993 photo, taken while he was a student at Oklahoma State, perfectly captures him in his element.

Chuck Nevitt

Theo Westenberger/SI

At 7-foot-5, pretty much everything was a tight squeeze for Chuck Nevitt, pictured here as a Houston Rocket in 1989. Today, Nevitt works as an IT professional in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

Barry Switzer

Richard Mackson/SI

Laughter is infectious, and this photo of Cowboys coach Barry Switzer cutting loose in the locker room is almost sure to make you smile. Taken in 1994, this picture captures Switzer in his first season in Dallas after a long reign as coach at the University of Oklahoma.

Dick Vitale

Bill Frakes/SI

It's not easy to get beloved basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale to stop talking, but this customized Dickie V sandwich spread probably kept his mouth full for a while.

Gaylord Perry

Andy Hayt/SI

Ladies, this one is for you. Braves righty Gaylord Perry strikes up a conversation with an off-duty cop following a game in 1980. At 42 years old, Perry was baseball's oldest active pitcher at the time.

Bill Caudill

Chuck Solomon/SI

Bill Caudill shows off his bowling skills before a 1985 Blue Jays-Royals game. Later that year, the Royals would go on to win their first World Series in franchise history.

George Foreman

Neil Leifer/SI

In advance of his classic "Rumble in the Jungle" bout against Muhammad Ali, George Foreman loosens up with a game of ping-pong in his amazing '70s outfit. Ali's hands would ultimately prove quicker, however, and Foreman would lose the fight in the eighth round via knockout.

Glen Davis

Al Tielemans/SI

If Glen Davis really is a Big Baby, then he's the most graceful baby that ever lived. Here, as a student at Louisiana State, the power forward works on his arabesques with some local ballerinas.

Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas

Peter Read Miller/SI

Fresh off shooting a scene for Miami Vice, Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas shares a laugh with Magic Johnson during the 1984-85 season. Johnson would lead the Lakers to an NBA championship later that year, while Thomas would win his first title in 1989.

Dick Allen

John Iacono/SI

During his MVP season with the White Sox, Dick Allen casually smokes a cigarette and juggles baseballs, giving impressionable young kids a clear blueprint for what they need to do to one day become the best power hitter in baseball.

Jack Lambert

Tony Tomsic/SI

Former Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert shares a tender moment with a duck. Despite being ruthless on the field, Lambert has always had a soft spot for animals and has served as a longtime volunteer deputy wildlife officer in his hometown of Worthington, PA.

Kevin Millar and Jason Varitek

Diana Eliazov/SI

Having heard he was a switch hitter, Kevin Millar takes a chance on a squeeze play with teammate Jason Varitek. Both men were integral parts of the 2004 Red Sox World Series team.

Jim Brown and Ricky Williams

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Newly drafted New Orleans Saint Ricky Williams poses with legendary running back Jim Brown. Thankfully, their surf boards allowed this photo to maintain a PG rating.

Jim Valvano

Ronald C. Modra/SI

Jim Valvano was the toast of the town after leading NC State to the 1983 NCAA championship. In this photo, he celebrates with the Wolfpack band.

Jim Kelly and the Houston Gamblers

Lane Stewart/SI

Despite being known for his no-huddle offense, Houston Gamblers quarterback Jim Kelly huddles around with his teammates in a Huntsville, Texas bar. Kelly would go on to play in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills over 11 seasons in the NFL.

John Daly

Al Tielemans/SI

Just another day at the office for John Daly at the 2007 Masters as he signs an autograph for a Hooters girl. Daly did not compete in the tournament, but he had plenty (cigarettes, beer, Hustler) to keep him occupied.

Philadelphia Eagles trainer Otho Davis

George Tiedemann/SI

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski celebrates his Polish heritage while providing medical assistance to team trainer Otho Davis.

Larry Bird

George Tiedemann/SI

Dress code be damned! Larry Bird enjoys a day off at the golf course.

Steve Taneyhill

Bill Frakes/SI

Despite being known for his goofball antics, South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill won't crack a smile at this novelty mullet cap modeled after his long blonde locks.

Cooper, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning

Bill Frakes/SI

There's the famous Mannings, and then there's the not famous one. In this photo, taken at the Manning Passing Academy in 2003, the three famous Mannings throw footballs at the not famous Manning (aka - Cooper), which in retrospect seems more cruel than funny.

Larry Bird

Lane Stewart/SI

Before the "Hick from French Lick" evolved into the Great White Hope, Larry Bird spent a three-year stint with the Indiana State Sycamores, apparently making quite an impression on the ladies -- or so this 1977 photo would suggest.

Walt Frazier

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Knicks point guard Walt Frazier shows us his love nest, complete with circular bed and mirrored ceilings, during a 1971 SI photo shoot in his Manhattan apartment.

Lee Trevino with children Tony and Lesley

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Professional golfer Lee Trevino assumes the position while his children stand delighted in the background. This photo was shot while his Dallas home was being remodeled in 1981.

Lenny Dykstra

Al Tielemans/SI

Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra fields a ball beneath the eerie gaze of a Hooters girl. This, however, wasn't any Hooters girl. The blonde in question was actually the wife of teammate Darren Daulton.

Chris Bosh

Peter Gregoire/SI

There aren't a lot of cowboys in Toronto, but Texas native Chris Bosh sticks to his roots during this 2008 SI photo shoot.

Mark Messier

David E. Klutho/SI

Edmonton Oilers captain Mark Messier lounges in a sombrero in 1988, one month before winning his fourth Stanley Cup with the team.

Michael Phelps

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

U of M student Michael Phelps gets some homework done while waiting for his competition to catch up. Midterms would eventually give way to Olympic glory for Phelps, who in 2012 would become the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Nate Newton

Bill Frakes/SI

Dallas Cowboys lineman Nate Newton is on the "eat everything" diet as he samples from every snack imaginable during a 1995 SI photo shoot.

Wade Boggs

Ronald C. Modra/SI

Nicknamed "the chicken man" by teammate Jim Rice for his superstitious habit of eating chicken before every game, it's no secret that Wade Boggs had an affinity for poultry. Here he makes an accusatory gesture towards a chicken for a 1986 SI cover shoot.

San Diego Chicken

Andy Hayt/SI

Speaking of chicken, this photo shows the San Diego Chicken administering an eye exam to an umpire during a Padres-Braves game in 1982. Vision, however, was probably the least of the ump's concerns considering he was willing to trust a giant bird with his optometry needs.

Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson

Manuello Paganelli/SI

There was nothing angelic about Redskins defensive tackles Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson, who were both signed in 1998 to raise hell against opposing quarterbacks. The tandem wasn't as productive as the team would've hoped, however, with each of their numbers declining steadily throughout their tenures.

Wayne Gretzky

Paul Kennedy/SI

A 20-year-old Wayne Gretzky strikes a goofy pose behind an assortment of products he endorses. The Great One could learn a thing or two about modeling from his daughter, Paulina, whose sultry Instagram shots are infinitely more compelling than her old man's.

Ray Allen

Gabe Palacio/SI

UConn shooting guard - and well known neat-freak - Ray Allen gestures with frustration at his roommate Travis Knight, whose messy ways drove Allen crazy. He would soon update his digs, however, earning nearly $200 million over a prolific NBA career that's still going strong.

Bill Walton

John Papanek/SI

Imagine going for a hike in the mountains and coming across a seven-foot tall, bearded, shirtless redhead?

Ronde and Tiki Barber

Manuello Paganelli/SI

Twins Ronde and Tiki Barber hold hands on a swing set near their childhood home. Both men were stars at the University of Virginia before graduating to impressive NFL careers with the Buccaneers and Giants, respectively.

Jose Canseco

Craig Molenhouse/SI

Before becoming baseball's leading ambassador for steroids and lunacy, Jose Canseco was one of MLB's brightest talents -- bright enough to warrant these wayfarer shades.

Michael Jordan and Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues

David E. Klutho/SI

Back from his first retirement, Michael Jordan attempts to keep the ball out of Muggsy Bogues' reach in Game 1 of a playoff series. Bogues would take on Jordan the following year as well, only as a cartoon monster in the sports comedy film Space Jam.