Jay Leno's Memorable Sports Moments

SI Staff | Feb 6, 2014

Jay Leno's Memorable Sports Moments

Wayne Gretzky and Jay Leno

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Wayne Gretzky appeared on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics> shortly after the NHL great's trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. Leno guest hosted the program that night and talked to the new L.A. resident.

Jay Leno

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While guest hosteing for Johnny Carson, Leno presented a clock and counter regarding former Laker Wilt Chamberlain's promiscuity.

Jay Leno and Tommy Lasorda

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Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had an easier time hitting the target to dunk Leno by just walking up to it.

Jay Leno, David Robinson and Billy Crystal

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Leno played referee for a one-on-one basketball game between NBA player David Robinson and actor Billy Crystal.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jay Leno

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar used his height to help Jay Leno change a lightbulb.

John Daly and Jay Leno

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Golfer John Daly shaved the head of an audience member on Jay Leno's show after Daly won the British open and did the same to his own head. Leno's hair remained untouched.

Andre Rison, Edgar Bennett, Sean Jones, Chris Farley and Jay Leno

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Chris Farley appeared as Mayor Cheddar McFarley of Stitzer, Wisc., to pay tribute to Green Bay Packers players Andre Rison, Edgar Bennett, and Sean Jones, just two days after they won the Super Bowl. The mayor crowned the players with cheese heads.

Dennis Rodman and Jay Leno

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Leno presented Dennis Rodman with a pair of high-heeled basketball shoes during one of his many visits to the show.

Jay Leno and Hulk Hogan

AP

Jay Leno inflicts "pain" on "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan during a tag-team wrestling match at Road Wild in Sturgis, South Dakota. Leno teamed up with Diamond Dallas Page to take down Hogan and Eric Bischoff.

Jules Sylvester, Jay Leno and Shaquille O'Neal

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Shaq kept his distance from the snake draped around animal expert Jules Sylvester's neck on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics>.

Elton John, Angie Harmon, Jay Leno and Jason Sehorn

AP

New York Giants defensive back Jason Sehorn proposed to his girlfriend Angie Harmon on the show as Leno and Elton John watched. She said yes.

Doug Flutie and Jay Leno

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NFL quarterback Doug Flutie appeared on the show in 2001 and proceeded to watch the cereal "Flutie Flakes" fall on the host.

Dave Roberts, Alan Embree, Mike Timlin, David Ortiz and Derek Lowe and Jay Leno

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After the Red Sox won their first championship in 86 years in 2004, members of the team appeared on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics>. Leno tore open his shirt to reveal a "Papi" t-shirt.

Will Ferrell, Vince Young and Jay Leno

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Texas quarterback Vince Young had barely scored the winning touchdown against USC in the Rose Bowl to clinch the 2005 National Championship before he appeared with Leno. Devout USC alum Will Ferrell must have been thrilled to see him.

Jay Leno and Paul Newman

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Leno raced actor and former professional race car driver Paul Newman on his show in 2006.

Denzel Washington, Jay Leno and C.C. Sabathia

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Roughly two months after his team won the 2009 World Series, New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia lost a game of Yankees trivia to two-time Oscar-winner Denzel Washington on <italics>The Jay Leno Show</italics>.

Lindsey Vonn and Jay Leno

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Fresh off an impressive performance at the 2010 Vancouver Games, skier Lindsey Vonn joined Jay Leno on his first <italics>Tonight Show</italics> appearance after replacing Conan O'Brien as host. O'Brien had taken over for Jay Leno as host several months prior.

Brian Wilson, Jay Leno and "The Machine"

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San Francisco Giants reliever Brian Wilson sported his famous beard on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics>, just after Wilson's pitching helped the Giants win the World Series. After a clip played of Wilson mentioning "The Machine," a character he'd referenced multiple times before from the movie <italics>8mm, </italics>the masked man appeared and stood behind Leno.

Justin Timberlake, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Hart and Jay Leno

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Tonight Show

Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal was certainly the tallest man on set when he appeared on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics> with actor/musician Justin Timberlake and comedian Kevin Hart.

Jay Leno and Terry Bradshaw

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Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw had a cake fight with Jay Leno to celebrate the former Steeler's 50th appearance on <italics>The Tonight Show</italics>. Without an offensive line to protect him, Bradshaw was sacked by Leno on national television.