The Year In ... On-Air Mishaps

Just like last year, we're showcasing the people, ideas and memes that made Deadspin 2009 shine. Today: The greatest "oops" moments on live TV.

Ok, this first one isn't so much a mishap, as it is a stunning lack of professionalism and dignity. Standard operating procedure for Fox.

Mike Patrick, during the Capital One Bowl: "Georgia is just pulling a Plaxico. They just keep shooting themselves."

The sports team at WECT-TV in Wilmington, North Carolina, was reduced to using a whiteboard for sports scores, because their Speak-N-Spell was on the fritz. Matt Vasgersian welcomed the MLB Network to basic cable by the dropping the channel's first live F-bomb. (More on Matt later.)

Live interviews are fun. Unless you've just run a full marathon and the local news crew can't get their act together while you desperately suck up oxygen.

Sometimes it's just too early to be talking about volleyball.

Matt V. strikes again, making an ill-timed comparison between Donovan McNabb and an EMT, who was hauling a damaged Brad Hawpe off the field at the time. Drug busts make Chris McKendry a little giggly.

Keith Hernandez, on Roberto Clemente: "What a great player. And he could fly." You can't take College World Series fans anywhere. Ok, the internet isn't TV, but how many times have you wished an interview ended with the questioner unconscious? Adam Schefter had a bit of breakdown. Al Michaels (or someone in the Sunday Night booth) also had something stuck in his throat. Something very disgusting. The anguish of defeated fans amuses Chris Fowler and his broadcast partners.

Chris Myers learned that you should never insult Whoopi Goldberg. Unless you're talking about her talent, in which case it's totally justified. Woody Paige finds that live television is a great way to meet chicks and their grandmas.

Remember when the raciest thing about Tiger Woods was his love of farts?

Let's pause for a word from our sponsors and to give color commentator Matt Bullard a chance to scream at the refs. And we're back to the action! You know, I think Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson had a very good rehearsal.

Bob Griese got in trouble for saying Juan Pablo Montoya loves tacos, even though everyone knows that Juan Pablo Montoya .

Pam Ward finds injuries very inconvenient to her schedule.