Jon Stewart’s iconic 16-year run as host of "The Daily Show," a faux-news show that became many Americans’ most trusted source of news, came to an end Thursday night. Here is a look back at his five greatest guests from the world of sports.
Mick Foley, Wrestler, 11/10/10, 12/11/14
It doesn’t get much cooler than chatting with a bona fide hardcore legend. Foley has appeared on "The Daily Show" twice, and he became one of wrestling’s biggest stars in an unorthodox way. Unlike many stars who can perform incredible suplexes, or make any submission look real, Foley was a pure brawler, and was able to withstand the most punishment. Foley’s defining moment was being chucked off the top of a steel cage onto an announce table, landing so hard a tooth flew out his nose.
Foley’s lost an ear to in-ring pyrotechnics, been slammed on tacks, and driven through countless tables, some of them on fire. He doled out the pain, too, mostly as “Cactus Jack” swinging a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire.
Shaquille O’Neal, NBA All-Star & Commentator, 3/26/12
Shaq is easily the biggest guest Stewart ever had on the set, and probably is the funniest athlete who has been on set. Fans learned O’Neal had earned a PhD, and still had “firmness in his ass.” Aside from Magic Johnson, Shaq is arguably the greatest basketball player to talk to Stewart, and he shocked us all by dropping some Hebrew.
Matt Harvey, Mets Ace SP, 5/28/15
With Yankees legends Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera retired, the Big Apple belongs to Matt Harvey, the Mets’ “Dark Knight.” Harvey is currently anchoring one of the sport’s best young pitching rotations, and he has helped the Amazins reach the top of the NL East standings.
Stewart has interviewed all kinds of people, from top celebrities to American presidents, but rarely does he geek out like when the ace of his favorite team stops in to chat. Harvey himself was a little dull, but the police barricades around Harvey’s right arm are priceless.
Pele, Soccer Legend, 4/3/14
Pele is the all-time scoring leader in soccer history, and while his interview wasn’t necessarily hilarious, it is amazing to hear how the greatest player in the world’s most popular sport, got his beginnings kicking around grapefruits and socks filled with newspaper.
Charles Barkley, NBA Hall of Famer & Commentator, 12/17/02, 1/31/06, 1/3/12
Barkley is one of the most loquacious players in NBA history, as evidenced by his three trips to sit across from Jon Stewart. Barkley is one of the more opinionated stars in American sports history, and while Barkley often takes on extremely charged racial issues, Stewart was always able to keep it light-hearted enough to enjoy. He also managed to let “Sir” Charles riff on the Knicks, Kobe’s 81-point game, and how nobody got with Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island.
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