SI's 2016 Signs of the Apocalypse

For over 20 years, Sports Illustrated has collected and featured weekly signs from the world of sports that the Apocalypse is upon us: Tales of frenzied fans, egomaniacal coaches, athletes who run afoul of the law, mind-boggling bureaucracy, violent behavior and tastelessness run amok... Here were the signs of 2016.

SI's 2016 Signs of the Apocalypse

January 11, 2016 SI Issue

Matt Rourke/AP

Chip Kelly was fired in part because he forced the Eagles to change the traditional date of their Christmas party, according to CBS.

January 18, 2016 SI Issue

Ryan Kang/AP

The Raiders’ Khalil Mack was voted an All-Pro at two positions (OLB and DE), although his team listed him only as a DE.

January 25, 2016 SI Issue

Al Milligan/KLC fotos

Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Marisa Dick invented a new move, which has been named after her.

February 1, 2016 SI Issue

Twitter

While in New York to play the Nets, Thunder forward Steve Novak ordered a room-service latte at the Trump Soho, for which he was charged $20.67.

February 8, 2016 SI Issue

Rich Graessle/Icon Sports Wire/Corbis via Getty Images

The grounds crew at Super Bowl-hosting Levi’s Stadium initially painted the Broncos’ name and logo in both end zones.

February 15-22, 2016 SI Double Issue

Lance King/Getty Images

D-III Keuka College is changing its name to Wolves from Wolfpack after N.C. State threatened legal action.

February 29, 2016 SI Issue

Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Australian cricket star Shane Warne, appearing on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, put his head in a box of snakes and was immediately bitten in the face by a non-poisonous anaconda.

March 7, 2016 SI Issue

Carolyn Kaster/AP

Former attorney general Eric Holder used the name Lew Alcindor for his official email address.

March 14, 2016 SI Issue

Graig Abel/Getty Images

On Feb. 28 the Bruins waived Zac Rinaldo after he received his third career suspension for an illegal hit. The winger reported to the AHL, and in his first game he delivered another head shot. He was suspended indefinitely.

March 21, 2016 SI Issue

Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images

The Vikings have officially requested that a road near their new stadium be changed from Chicago Avenue to Vikings Way.

March 28, 2016 SI Issue

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

If you’re in Cleveland and ask your iPhone “Where is sadness?” Siri responds with directions to FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Browns.

April 4, 2016 SI Issue

Morry Gash/AP

Brewers reliever Will Smith tore the LCL in his right knee while taking off his shoe.

April 11, 2016 SI Issue

Tony Avelar/AP

After three years without a fullback, the Eagles decided to add one—so they signed Ryan Mueller, a former defensive end at Kansas State who spent last season on the Chargers’ practice squad as a linebacker. (He was released a month later.)

April 18-25, 2016 SI Double Issue

Matt Slocum/AP

Sam Hinkie’s bizarre 13-page resignation letter as 76ers GM included an Abe Lincoln quote that Lincoln never said.

May 2, 2016 SI Issue

A Nigerian soccer official assigned referee Wale Akinsanya to a match last week. He died in January.

May 9, 2016 SI Issue

Ebay

A die-hard Green Bay fan is marrying a woman named Packer and taking her last name.

May 16, 2016 SI Issue

TNT

Hawks guard Kent Bazemore fell asleep on the bench during his team’s 123-98 loss to the Cavs on May 4.

May 23, 2016 SI Issue

Gusgeijo

CD Palencia, a lower-level Spanish soccer team, introduced uniforms that make the players appear skinless.

May 30, 2016 SI Issue

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

According to TMZ Sports, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who shaves his head, sees a hair stylist two or three times a week and pays $1,000 a pop.

June 6, 2016 SI Issue

Reflog_18/Twitter

Cleveland fans built a pyramid of 112 beer cans during last Friday’s Indians-Orioles game.

June 13, 2016 SI Issue

John W. McDonough

Peak, a Chinese sneaker company, is giving Cavaliers point guard Matthew Dellavedova a signature shoe, the Delly 1.

June 20, 2016 SI Issue

Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images

A professional soccer player in Iran, Sosha Makani, was suspended for six months for wearing bright-yellow trousers adorned with images of SpongeBob SquarePants.

June 27, 2016 SI Issue

John W. McDonough; Twitter

Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’s original Super Bowl ring had the wrong name (Peters) on it.

July 4-11, 2016 SI Double Issue

Jim Ruymen/AFP/Getty Images; Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images; @shaq/Twitter

Shaquille O’Neal, who fell one vote short of being the NBA’s first unanimous MVP in 2000, attempted to troll Steph Curry.

July 18, 2016 SI Issue

A Georgia Southern athletic department staffer did 10 extra-credit assignments for two football players—who still didn’t pass the class.

July 25-August 1, 2016 SI Double Issue

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Phil Mickelson, who has earned $81 million on Tour, used a binder clip to keep his hat on.

August 8, 2016 SI Issue

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP; Twitter

When he found out receiver Josh Doctson was injured, Washington GM Scot McCloughan punched a wall and injured himself.

August 15, 2016 SI Issue

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Florida Gulf Coast beat the Providence Storm 92-89 in an exhibition despite playing the last 40 seconds with only three players.

August 22, 2016 SI Issue

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Aug. 10 was Umbrella Night at Target Field, when the Twins hosted the Astros. The game got rained out.

August 1-September 5, 2016 SI Double Issue

Twitter

Brandon Thomas, an outfielder for the independent Gateway Grizzlies, hit a grand slam during a 17-6 win over the Joliet Slammers on Aug. 21, only to discover that the ball broke the windshield of his truck.

September 12, 2016 SI Issue

RM Nunes Photography/Getty Images

A couple from India was banned from climbing in Nepal for 10 years after they were caught using altered photos to fake a successful ascent of Mount Everest.

September 26, 2016 SI Issue

Getty Images

English soccer club Mansfield Town canceled a promotion with a clairvoyant, citing “unforeseen circumstances.”

October 3, 2016 SI Issue

Twitter

One of the new oak trees at Toomer’s Corner was set on fire after Auburn beat LSU 18-13 at home on Saturday.

October 10, 2016 SI Issue

Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire

ESPN analyst Mack Brown walked out of the booth with about 10 minutes left while calling the BYU-Toledo game so he could catch a flight.

October 17, 2016 SI Issue

Franklin Jacome/AP

Ecuador striker Enner Valencia allegedly faked an injury during a World Cup qualifier so he could use an ambulance to escape police waiting to arrest him for unpaid child support.

October 25-31, 2016 SI Double Issue

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

When asked if he’d attended the Paul McCartney concert at the Golden 1 Center, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins admitted he doesn’t know who McCartney is.

November 7, 2016 SI Issue

Power Sport Images/Getty Images

Gary Player and Yao Ming

November 14, 2016 SI Issue

Tasos Katopodis/AFP/Getty Images

November 21-28, 2016 SI Double Issue

YouTube

During a World Cup qualifier, Bosnia forward Edin Dzeko pantsed Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

December 5, 2016 SI Issue

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Two Hollywood producers are developing a film about the NBA star who ended Cleveland’s title drought: Matthew Dellavedova.

December 12, 2016 SI Double Issue

Fox Sports

The football team at Del Oro High in Loomis, Calif., did the mannequin challenge—during the first quarter of a 50-10 win over Antelope High on Nov. 25.

December 19, 2016 SI Issue

YouTube

A home video of a boy dropping a pass after running into his dog went viral, and the NFL issued a ruling that it was a catch and fumble.

December 26, 2016 SI Issue

Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina Central lost the Celebration Bowl 10-9 because of a blocked extra-point attempt that was pushed back by an excessive celebration penalty.

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