Clive Palmer was never far from a microphone - and a Verbals-worthy soundbite - in 2012
Photo: Getty Images
"I'm not saying KP is exactly like Ali, that man was the greatest. But you can see through his behaviour that people want to take him down that little bit more."
West Indian great Viv Richards may have had one too many rums, comparing Kevin Pietersen to Muhammad Ali.
"If you have to punch each other up around the corner, then do it, get it out of your system, then come back."
Shane Warne suggests a way Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss might be able to sort out their differences.
"I have a big problem. I can't write... I can't work a computer, I don't know what an email is, I've never sent a fax and I've never sent a text message. I've never wrote a letter in my life. I write like a two-year-old and I can't spell. I couldn't even fill a team sheet in."
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp made some astounding admissions during his court case for tax evasion.
"It is a rare man who can be that tough on the field and also have his own line of underwear."
US President Barack Obama ribs ageing football icon David Beckham.
"Peter Siddle's first Test wicket."
Peter Siddle's answer to the question, 'How would you describe Sachin Tendulkar?'.
"I don't even like the game … I think it's a hopeless game. Rugby league's a much better game."
Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer must have bought his team just because it was what all the cool kids were doing.
"Frank Lowy is an institution who now belongs in an institution."
Clive Palmer again, this time tweeting his disdain after being informed by the FFA that Gold Coast United's licence was being revoked.
"With each passing day it seems the statements emanating from the Gold Coast are more illogical, more confusing and ever more damaging to our game."
Frank Lowy explains why the FFA was left with no option but to revoke Palmer's A-League licence.
"You could not pay him a million bucks to wear that."
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire responds after seeing a digitally altered image of key forward Travis Cloke wearing a Fremantle guernsey, a prediction that ultimately came true.
"If you need to think about where you're from you're probably not welcome in this team."
New Zealand Test half Shaun Johnson makes his feelings pretty clear on James Tamou's decision to play for Australia.
"He's a f***ing prick. He sits there making judgments about players that are much better than he ever was, believe me, he's a pr*ck."
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff chose not to mince his words when describing former captain Mike Atherton.
"I just want to go after Mayweather, I don't want nobody else. He's the only one on my level."
Anthony 'The Man' Mundine, mere days before he announced he would fight 41-year-old journeyman Bronco McKart.
"Balotelli is just selfish. He deserves a lot of slaps. Balotelli does not play for the team, only for himself. He is an egotist who thinks the world revolves around him. Guys like Balotelli deserve lots of slaps rather than pats on the shoulder."
We can only assume Paolo Di Canio either forgets his own days as a player or knows from first-hand experience the best way to treat a slightly unhinged Italian forward.
"He's a little bit like a flat equivalent of AP (McCoy) in that I expect he makes an incredibly boring husband as he comes home and pores over video after video."
Racing manager David Redvers explains why he chose Craig Williams to ride Dunaden in the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"I don't give a shit who wins. I'm going on a holiday."
Once Sweden was eliminated from Euro 2012, it appears Zlatan Ibrahimovic lost all interest in the tournament.
"I don't think we've got smart enough blokes in this side to do the niggle."
Manly coach Geoff Toovey is well aware of his side's limitations.
"I have never doped and have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one. That USADA charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about its lack of fairness and this vendetta."
Disgraced ex-cyclist Lance Armstrong continues to protest his innocence.
"Either I come up with the football shoes or I invite Chuck Norris to advise me on how I should play on this court."
World number one Novak Djokovic slams Madrid Open organisers for ignoring players and switching to a blue clay playing surface.
"Lewis is a coward. I don't want to be friends with someone like that."
Ex-Formula One driver Adrian Sutil was less than impressed when former friend Lewis Hamilton failed to appear as a witness at his trial for glassing an F1 team boss.
"The Magpies are going to Port Douglas … we're heading down to Port Melbourne."
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick points out the difference between the way Collingwood handled its bye and the way his club approached the week off.
"People who stay outside the Olympic Village are weird. Why wouldn't you want to stay with your friends and play dominoes?"
Usain Bolt wasn't too keen to get out and see what London had to offer during the Olympics.
"I'll be holding on to the blocks very, very tightly. If you see me wobble outside the pool, I'm not drunk – I'm just a little bit off balance."
Australian breaststroke star Leisel Jones had to battle a middle-ear infection at the Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide.
"I'm like Forrest Gump. When they told him to run, he ran. Today, my teammates told me to win. And I won."
Tour de France green jersey favourite Peter Sagan had a pretty simple approach to each of the sprinting stages.
"I love how Kobe [Bryant] has his wife with him at the Olympics, yet still surrounded by groupies!!! Some women need to get a grip, ASAP!"
Opals star Liz Cambage takes a swipe at swimmer Stephanie Rice, who was rumoured to have had a fling with US basketballer Kobe Bryant in the Olympic village.
"I've learnt in business that you hire slowly and fire quickly."
OTI Racing principal Terry Henderson stands by his decision to stand down jockey Damien Oliver after he was first accused of betting on a rival horse. If only Racing Victoria followed his thinking; they instead took months to find Oliver guilty, conveniently after the spring carnival was finished.
Next up: Hits, crashes & spills
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.
Follow BigPond Sport on Twitter: @bigpondsport