Mike Schultz
May 20, 2015

The Top Ten David Letterman Sports Moments

We’ve put together our very own sports-related Top Ten List, in honor of one of David Letterman’s most beloved nightly bits.

For three decades, David Letterman has held the throne as the wise-cracking king of late night TV, and is the longest-serving late night talk show host in television history. Tonight, he takes the stage for the very last time, with guest Bill Murray, who also happened to be one of the very first people Letterman ever interviewed.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Letterman had this to say about his innovative approach to the late-night interview show format:

“I never knew if the stupider things we did or the more traditional things we did would work. I didn’t know if the stupid stuff would alienate people. I didn’t know if the traditional stuff would be more appealing. And then, when I look back on it now, of course the answer is, you want to do the weird thing. “

As well as being a disarming and unique interviewer, Letterman also brought his bizarro sense of humor to the show, introducing some of the most well-known and beloved comedy bits to millions of viewers over the years. Just ask anyone who grew up watching Stupid Pet Tricks and they will attest to Letterman’s weirdly charming appeal. Over the years, Letterman has interviewed actors, politicians, authors, scientists and, some of the most legendary athletes and sports figures of the last 33 years.

Sports Interaction’s Top Ten David Letterman Sports Moments

In 1986, a 23-year-old Michael Jordan made his first appearance on Letterman, discussing amongst other things, some of his first endorsement deals

In 1987, Letterman interviewed Bobby Knight, the infamous Indiana University basketball coach who took the time to explain the famous chair-throwing incident to an amused Letterman.

Dave Letterman welcomed the very young, very earnest and very Canadian Wayne Gretzky to the show in 1986 and opened up about his disparaging comments at the time about the New Jersey Devils.

In 1997, a 21-year-old quarterback from the University of Tennessee made his first appearance on Dave’s stage. It wouldn’t be Peyton Manning‘s last visit, as he went back on the show several more times after winning the Super Bowl.

2012 saw LeBron James as a guest on the David Letterman Show to celebrate his winning the NBA Championship with the Miami Heat.

Famed owner of the New York Yankees George Steinbrenner and former Yankees manager Billy Martin shared the stage in 1987, where they told some yarns about being pranked by Mickey Mantle.

A clearly humbled and honored Letterman welcomes basketball legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to his show, and gives them the entire hour.

Dave takes Bill Belichick to task over the Deflategate controversy, repeatedly demanding to know if there was any “horesplay.”

In 1980, comedian and performance artist Andy Kaufman brought his (staged) feud with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler to Letterman’s stage. Kaufman’s genius was decades ahead of his time, and this appearance on Letterman was proof of that. Letterman was in on the joke for the segment, which has gone down as one of the most shocking moments in the history of Letterman’s show.

Bill Murray makes a memorable appearance on Letterman to talk about his new career as a football star. What ensues is great comedy and one of the best examples of how well Letterman was able to naturally play off the antics of some of his greatest guests.