There are many reasons to celebrate Donald Sterling's banning from the NBA. Clearly the first is that it sends an important message that racism in any form – whether espoused in public or private – won't be tolerated in a public figure. There are other reasons to commend the NBA's decision to ban Sterling, but among them a brand new one surfaced today: the fact that the Los Angeles Clippers' new owner, Steve Ballmer, is a rather electrifying speechifier. Nothing screams "viral potential" like a singularly awesome speech, and as far as those go, Ballmer's introductory speech as Clippers owner just about takes the cake (Eminem's "Lose Yourself" perfectly sets the tone for what follows – the pinnacle of which is reached at around 9:07 of this video). Just about. Truth is, there are just too many inimitable speeches that have taken the Internet by storm to choose one as the best. Instead, let's take a look at some of the others who've played the Sport of the Speech and come out on top – crazy, but on top:
- Richard Sherman: In early January, Seattle Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman came off the field after a successful game and into the camera lens of Fox Sports' Erin Andrews, for what would become perhaps the most memorable 20-second interview in sports. Asked how he felt about his victory, a highly energetic Sherman tested the limits of his vocal chords as he told Andrews, "I'm the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like [Michael] Crabtree, that's the result you're gonna get!" Some media outlets criticized Sherman for what they saw as the supposedly unsportmanlike conduct of voicing his beef with Crabtree during a postgame interview, but rather more people felt, in contrast, that Sherman's speech reverberated with authenticity and the well-earned jubilance of victory.
- Roberto Benigni: When it comes to the Academy Awards, the United States has historically tended toward giving its major awards – Best Picture, Best Director, and the like – to films made in the U.S. But that all changed in 1999, when audience favorite and certified Italian Roberto Benigni won Best Picture for a film he directed and starred in, "Life is Beautiful." Typically when a winner's name is called out, there's usually a look of modest befuddlement – "Me? Really?" – followed by the expected hugs, kisses, and the humble walk to the stage. This was not how Benigni chose to celebrate his win. As soon as his name was called out, Benigni literally looked like he was zapped from his chair, rising on top of it and climbing, plush red chair over chair, to the stage (see how he manages to retain his balance against all odds here). Considering Italy had only won ten Academy Awards total – one had come from Benigni himself earlier that same night – it was a towering achievement, and there was a sense that Benigni's excitement somehow reflected that of an entire country. Benigni's high-wire act also made him look crazy, but, like Sherman, the best kind of crazy.
- Melissa Leo: Unlike many Hollywood actresses – who get their big breaks young – Melissa Leo's career has been something of a slow burn, but now it's burning brightly. In 2011, she was finally recognized with an Academy Award for her work in The Fighter. Mounting the stage, a clearly moved Leo was the height of grace – that is, until she let slip a certain "F" bomb. The gaff, however, was met with generally good cheer all around.