Sometimes, to capture an iconic photo all you need is good timing. Some people have a knack for this, others get lucky and take immortal snaps of incidents that tell amazing stories. Of course, there is a lot more skill to photography, but you'll understand our argument when you take a look at the photos in this story.

For these pictures, aperture, depth of field, and background weren't important. The only thing that mattered was that the photographer was in the right place, and snapping at the right split second. Thanks to that we have a group of photos that are iconic, tell stories, and also make us laugh.

Smile Like You Mean It

The thing about cheerleaders is that they're probably their team's biggest supporters. But unlike fans, they can't be glum and beat down when the team isn't doing well, it is their job to keep everyone's morale up after all. This is why they are important to sports teams on every level, from junior to the NFL.

While they are all about being the picture of enthusiasm, theirs is also the most evident when the team is winning. That's why, like in the picture, their expressions are more ecstatic and enthusiastic than anyone else. This is also why they are always the loudest because they are cheerleaders and it's their duty.

Good Dental Plan

Gold teeth are a sign of status. So when you see a guy with them, you better believe he is loaded. NFL players have a particular affinity for gold nibblers, whether as a grill, dentures, or veneers. This is especially true for African American players. The only problem is, they're easy to lose when playing with them.

That is what former Baltimore Ravens man Matt Elam nearly discovered when this photo was taken. The man who plays the safety position is made for tackling, and that's exactly what he was doing when his opponent flipped over and kicked his helmet off, exposing his mouth gold in the process.

Let's Get Physical

In professional sports, everything is high stakes. games can get intense and things can sometimes get heated too, especially when the games are crucial, or determine a championship. But when players lose their heads, that's when scenes like the one in the photo happen, and boy can they cause the heat to rise.

This happened in 2017 and involved Tristan Thompson, who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and David West, who was with the Golden State Warriors. This was a playoff and things had been heated since the match before. It all blew up, and not even two referees could get them apart. IN 2021 Thomas moved to the Sacramento Kings.

Monfils The Entertainer

Tennis is a no-mess no-fuss game, based on simple shots: forearm stroke, overhead volley, two-handed or single-handed backhand. But not all players like to keep it simple. Sometimes, players like to turn on the style, whether it helps them win, or just wins over the crowd.

Notable crowd-pleasers include Joe Wilfred Tsonga, and Justin Brown as well as the pictured player Gael Monfils. Here he is hitting a tweener shot, which is mostly used to return an opponent's lob that went over your head. But Monfils's back isn't turned to the net, so he is showing off, which is probably what the photographer was hoping for.

Celebrating Every Point

Nicolas Devilder wasn't exactly renowned for winning major tournaments. His highest ranking was 60th. But at least he has this photo to be remembered by, which was taken during a match at the 2012 French Open at Roland Garros. But why would be so happy?

Well for starters, he was in his home country, playing his home tournament, and the match was against world number one, Novak Djokovic. The photo was taken during one of Devilder's rare points, which probably explains why he couldn't contain his excitement. He still lost the match to Djokovic who was ranked World number one in 2021.

Diving In At The Deep End

Olympic diving is far from what you do at the public pool. It's all about the difficulty of the dive and pulling it off without making a big splash. It's a sport of strength, and perfect technique, just like Chinese diver Qin Kai in the picture. This photo was taken at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Mind you all of those factors combined not only least to medal achievements, but also to some hilarious facial expressions. This perfect expression and perfect technique won Kai the silver medal in the three-meter springboard event. He also won the gold medal in the Synchronized Springboard event.

Blue Moon

Male cheerleading is nothing new. Back in the day, former U.S. president George W. Bush was a male cheerleader too. But being one can be awkward, especially since it's still primarily a female-dominated activity. That means guys need to watch where they look and what they touch, all while still making contact with females.

That's probably why this guy looks so awkward while trying to lift this girl into the air. Unfortunately for this guy, there was a perfectly-placed photographer to capture him in all his awkwardness. The 2019 Super Bowl was the first NFL game to have Male cheerleaders.

It's Nothing You Haven't Seen Before

We're not sure what's going on under there, but there must be something strange judging by the expression on those girls' faces. Maybe the girls at the top of the pyramid forgot to wear shorts or something, and the girls holding on are seeing their underwear for the first time.

They shouldn't be looking up in any case. Their business is making sure the routine is done to perfection, not checking out their fellow cheerleaders. Or maybe, just maybe, the expressions are all just part of the routine. Or maybe, just maybe, the girls on top got a little nervous and made an accident.

It Was An Accident... I Promise

Cheerleaders have all the fun. They get to jump, prance and dance their way through an entire football game while claiming front row seats. But those seats are also some of the most dangerous ones as well. Just ask Melissa Kellerman, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader in the picture.

She may have the best seats in the house, but it also meant that she was in the front line, and in danger of being hit by a player. She was accidentally tackled by the Cowboys' tight end, Jason Witten. She was all laughs after the incident, although she closed her Twitter account after being inundated with messages about the incident.

Any Means Necessary

Sometimes it's instinct, sometimes it's just luck, but whatever it was in this instance, the photographer captured a timeless classic photo. Here we see a clash between former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and punter Spencer Lanning. This was straight after the kickoff, and Brown had taken the catch from Lanning.

He was in no mood for taking prisoners and charged straight for the punter, leaping over him and using his head like a step to climb over him. Brown was penalized for his action, and now, thanks to the perfect timing of a photographer, he can never live it down. Brown currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What In Tarnation Is That?

This looks almost like a photo of the 50m butterfly event, only there's an issue with the swimmer. Whether this lady has the longest torso in the world, or this photographer does some photoshop magic. Or, this isn't the 50m butterfly and is the synchronized swimming event, and these are two swimmers.

The photographer was still pretty impressive with his skills and must have seen the pattern of this routine and timed the shot to perfection. While the move in the photo isn't a traditional synchronized swimming one like the knight or crane, the judges must have been quite impressed with this routine and its uniqueness.

A Culture Shock

When it comes to sports, it may be about rivalry, but it also brings people together and puts various religions and cultures in one place at the same time. This is especially evident at the Olympics. This photo is a prime example of how cultures can be different while sharing a love for the same thing.

Taken during the 2016 Rio Olympics at a beach volleyball match between Italy and Egypt, this photo shows the Italians wearing the sport's traditional uniforms (bikinis), while Egyptian player, Doaa Elghobashy, is seen in more modest fully-covered gear. Yet on both sides, there is a passion for the game of beach volleyball.

He's Lost His Head

It doesn't take much to get excited about ice hockey. The speed, frenetic pace of the game, and precision of the play all make it engrossing to watch. Then there are still the mini boxing matches that can randomly start at any point of a match. That's right, fistfights are allowed in the sport.

Sometimes, fights are even planned between rival players. Thanks to that and some comic timing with a camera, a photographer captured this image of a fight between a Finnish and Norwegian player during a match. In an almost cartoonish manner, the Norse player ducks a punch, while his helmet remains suspended in the air.

She Should Go Pro!

With that kind of big air and unique technique, this girl shouldn't waste her time with Cheerleading. Instead, she should put more effort into joining the WNBA and becoming a superstar. Or maybe she should just stick to being a part of those popular halftime trampoline dunking performances.

There is a popular crew in America called Air Elite Dunkers who does this at NBA matches. They perform at NBA games at the homes of teams like Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors. You can even get them to your company function and, if you can afford it, your birthday party.

Getting A Leg Up

Figure skating is one of the most grueling sports in the world. It requires hours of training and dedication to perfect, on top of precision, athletic prowess, balance, and flexibility. But all of this makes it one of the most exhilarating sport to watch too, with all the spins, jumps, lifts, and death spirals.

Thanks to some great photographic timing, there is proof that the sport can also put its competitors in some awkward positions. The sport has been at the Olympics since 1908 with disciplines like men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Most ice skaters go into show business when their sports careers are over.

What A Load Of Bull

Looking for one of the most dangerous sports in the world? Well, look no further than Bull riding. The rodeo sport is renowned for its danger factor, with riders getting on a bull's back with nothing but a rope harness to hold onto. Meanwhile, the wild bull tries to frantically get the man off his back.

There are often injuries, although there have been very few deaths. Plus, the people aren't the only ones being put in harm's way in the sport. Concerns have been raised about things like shock sticks and having a flank strap tied to their genitalia used to get them out and wild.

It's Small But Powerful

Nothing is more perfectly-timed than a photo of a hockey puck a few inches away from a player's face. In this picture, the player's facial expression adds even more hilarity to the story. But putting the jokes aside A hockey puck can do some serious damage when it's hurtling at something at a breakneck speed.

It's even been known to break the double later glass around the rink. What's truly amazing is how the players get the height on the puck to even hit the glass, and sometimes it has even hit players in the face. This often leads to a bloody mess, all thanks to a one-by-three-inch disc.

Doing A Circus Routine

Between the synchronized wedgies and the full-on clown makeup, a lot is going on in these pictures. But what is most striking is that these Synchronized swimmers are wearing makeup in the water. Shouldn't that stuff be running off by now? by the looks of it, they've dipped their faces underwater already.

But that's no problem since they're most likely using waterproof makeup. This is a thing, which was designed to stop makeup from running due to sweat. But it's resistant to water in general, which is good news for synchronized swimmers who are doing a circus routine or looking for endorsement opportunities.

Right In The Kisser

There are many rivalries in various sports. But no sport has bigger rivalries than soccer. From the Old Firm in Scotland to El Classico in Spain. England has its fair share of rivalries, and one of these is the Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City.

It gets pretty heated, and once United captain Roy Keane ended the career of opponent Alf-Inge Haaland. But the incident in the photo has no malice. United goalkeeper David de Gea was simply coming out to punch the ball away, and in his path was City captain Vincent Kompany. Not that it didn't hurt Kompany, but hey, it's just a game right?

Bike Surfing

Moto GP is regarded by many as one of the most exhilarating sports in the world. From the high speeds to precision driving, it captivates the world and in 2021, according to ITV, it attracted a peak viewing number of 425,900 in 2021. But it's also one of the most dangerous sports in the world.

There is an accident or near-death experience at least once in every race. But the racer's instinct prepares them to eject themselves if the need be. It's about as instinctive as the photographer who timed this photo to perfection, capturing this ejecting racer while it looks like he's surfing on his bike.

Bringing Some High Life To Cheerleading

Much has changed about cheerleading uniforms over the years. From the early 20th century, the costumes have gone from conservative full-body costumes to eye-catching, and slightly raunchy attire. But the consensus is that, contrary to popular belief, there isn't just one kind of Cheerleading uniform.

That's where these classy cheerleaders from Texas Christian University have taken their inspiration for these outfits. Taking a different route to the common tank top short skirt vibe, these girls have gone for a different kind of hot, wearing cocktail dress-like uniforms that make them look classy, while still allowing them to cheer with skill and style.

Will He Make The Save

We don't know what kind of voodoo this photographer used to have the instinct to capture this photo, but it truly is worth a thousand words. Taken during a game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, and must have hurt like hell... assuming the Patriots player didn't get to the ball first.

While this is an occupational hazard, it can cost the NFL. This was proven by Orlando Brown of the Cleveland Browns. He was hit in the eye by a penalty flag thrown by an official. This injury put him out for three seasons and he sue the NFL for $200 million. He allegedly settled for $25 million.

Put Your Face Into It

Cheerleading is about more than prancing, jumping, and jazz hands. It's a pretty dramatic practice akin to dancing on stage or starring in a musical. Well, kind of. But the bottom line is that these men and women put everything they have into this practice... including their facial expressions.

Bear in mind prancing and jumping are still part of the practice, and there are a few basic cheerleading tricks that are key to becoming a cheerleader. These include the T motion as in the picture, as well as Ready Position (fists on hips), and Hand Clasp (hands clasped under chin). HUman pyramids come later, and facial expressions are optional.

Take My Breath Away

If this were cricket or baseball, the now-former Supersport United player Thabiso Nkoana would have been fine. Not just because he would be near someone wanting to kick him, but because he would have been wearing a cup too. Sadly for him, this is soccer, and cups aren't worn here.

His opponent, Rooi Mahamutsa from Orlando Pirates, was given a red card for this "tackle," and later apologized to Nkoana, his teammates, and the fans who watched the game for the tackle. This photo was taken during an MTN8 match in South Africa.

Advanced Cheerleading

As we've mentioned before, some basic moves in cheerleading are essential to at least get into the team. But for the more experienced, supple, and athletic cheerleaders, there are more advanced moves that are integral to turning a routine from basic to more complex, and also more entertaining.

Some of these moves include the Spread Eagle (jumping with legs and arms apart), the Hurdler (like jumping hurdles), and the toe touch (jumping with legs apart and fingers touching feet), like in the photo. This girl is good at it, and the photographer captured the image at the right time, with her at the top of the jump.

King James Mining

LeBron James is one of the few modern basketball players who can hold a candle to his Airness Michael Jordan. This is why he is affectionately known as King James, although there is noting kinglike about him picking his nose on live TV. "But why, everyone does it?" that's what you sat right?

Well for starters he LeBron James, and picking his nose is going to get him into this story. Another thing is, nose picking is detrimental because it can damage the nasal cavity. There is even a name for compulsive nose-picking: rhinotillexomania.

Synchronized Splits

Cheerleading is a team activity. Do you know why? Because no matter how pretty or how well the individuals can handclasp and spread eagle, it doesn't mean anything if everyone isn't doing it at the same time. This is why teamwork is important, and why the Dallas Cowboys are one of the best in the business.

Pictured here in a gloriously synchronized hurdle, they were once voted the third-best cheerleading squad in the NFL in a CNBC editorial. They don't just do it at the football match either. They also make regular appearances and are so popular that they have endorsements and sponsors as well.

Waldo Has A Hot New Girlfriend

This female Waldo probably had no trouble being found. Especially by the many men in attendance during this Halloween match featuring the Minnesota Vikings. In celebration of the special day, the Vikings allowed their cheer squad to dress up in a fancy dress. There was a princess Jasmine and a burlesque dancer in the mix as well.

Ironically, girl Waldo could easily be known as Wenda, since that is Waldo's actual girlfriend's name. She was introduced to the story in 1991 and wears the same colors as Waldo does. She also has a sister named Wilma and appeared in the 2019 "Where's Waldo" series.

Setting Her Up For The Powerbomb

No, a powerbomb isn't one of those cheerleading moves we've been talking about throughout this story. It's a wrestling move made famous by pro wrestlers like Kevin Nash, Batista, and Keith Lee. But it becomes worrisome when moves like these start making their way into cheerleading routines... at least that's what this looks like.

Wrestling and basketball have a history of interactions. The most notable is with Shaquille O'Neal. He appeared on WWE as the guest host of Monday Night Raw and had a feud with superstar the Big Show. He also made an appearance as an entrant to the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale in 2016.

The Magic Rodman

Having lived a rather outrageous life during his NBA career, Dennis Rodman became better known for marrying himself, wearing a wedding dress to the wedding, and his various flamboyant hairstyles among other things. This overshadowed his talent as a player, not that he was bad at the sport.

On the contrary, he is regarded as one of the best rebounders in the game during his heyday. He also displayed great versatility, athletic ability, and defensive strength which made him stand out from other players coming against. This well-timed photo shows off all of these traits, as if Rodman is a superman, flying for the ball.

Getting The Message Across

Sportsmen are more than brothers. When men come together to represent one team in one common goal, they can become like one being. That is why things can get pretty personal and intimate when a team has success, scoring a goal or touchdown---like these Carolina Panthers players, who are congratulating each other after they scored a touchdown.

Some may look at that and think "well, that's kind of gay" and ironically, their thoughts are echoed in the photo by New England Patriots player Randall Gay, who lurks in the background with his symbolic name on display, like a cryptic message.

Hope He Used Deodorant

In top-flight sports like NBA basketball, the best player go up against each other. But some stand out more than others, like popular Chinese player, Yoa Ming. He is famous for his time at the Houston Rockets and was an eight-time NBA All-Star in his career.

He was unplayable at times, although this opponent went the extra mile to put him off his game. He tried to get him riled by licking him. Unluckily, Ming is one of the tallest players in the game, so when this guy decided to use his tactic, he was armpit high to Ming and licked where his head was. Poor guy.

A Victory Pile Up

One player must have done something very special to help his team win this game. At least, when you consider that a mass pile-up like this usually centers around one player. This team must have won some sort of championship or something for this level of elation.

There are sports where pileups are par for course though. Like Rugby, where this kind of thing is called a ruck. Mind you, the referee would have called a foul for the guy diving in, since that isn't allowed in a ruck. Here's to hoping the guy at the bottom of this pile survived the onslaught.

Hold Your Horses

Horse racing isn't called the sport of kings for nothing. This nickname is as much about its popularity not only because it's popular with royalty and aristocrats, but also because it is an expensive hobby to maintain. An important part of the sport is also the Jockey's who ride the horses.

They have the skills and also maintain their weight to be less of a burden on the horse's speed. But that doesn't prepare them for when a horse gets spooked, which can get dangerous since the horse won't obey any commands. The horse in the picture must have been spooked to throw its jockey off the way it did.

The Mizz-Tache

Pro wrestling may be accused of being staged and being fake, all things it is, but it cannot be accused of lacking humor. Especially not when the cameramen can capture such wonderfully timed moments as this one. And also not when you have two humorous superstars like Santino Marella and Mike "The Mizz" Mizanin.

During a match between the two in WWE, The Mizz was in control of the match with Marella in a headlock. While Marella struggled to get out he lifted his arm, and a mustache tattoo on the Italian wrestler's arm was perfectly positioned under Mizanin's upper lip. Luckily, there was a cameraman on hand to snap this rare moment.

King Referee

Budweiser is a brand that regularly sponsors sports teams and events. They are even one of the sponsors of the NBA. So there is bound to be some Budweiser branding at NBA matches. The photographer who took this snap must have been timing this shot for a while, waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch someone under the crown.

That person happened to be a referee who was oblivious to his hilarious position. Budweiser also sponsors the National Women's Soccer League, becoming the competition's first beer sponsor. Along with the league, they also have naming rights for the playoff, championship, and MVP awards.

Put Your Back Into It!

We've said it before and we'll say it again: man it's tough being a male cheerleader. They can get into some sticky situations and need to keep their hands and their eyes in check all the time. They are often also asked to do all the heavy lifting.

This strapping young lad must have thought he could pull off the heavy work. But once he had to put this girl on his shoulders, he must have regretted it. You can see the struggle in his face, and the photographer did too and duly took a snap of him, before he drops her or something.

Tom Brady Is A Goofball

Tom Brady is an NFL legend who holds various achievement records and has won multiple (read seven) Super Bowl titles. He was instrumental in the success of the New England Patriots in the 2000s and 2010s and also proved his worth by leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the 2020 Super Bowl win as a wild card team.

He's a pretty humorous guy too, and he proved this with a social media bet he made in 2019. He bet that, if Jeopardy legend James Holzhauer's winning streak ended, he would eat strawberries on Instagram. Brady had never eaten strawberries before then. He didn't have to that night either.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

As the saying goes: "Find something you love doing and never work a day in your life..." or something like that. These cheerleaders from the Oregon Ducks prove this saying true as they look like they are loving their time on the pitchside. This also means they're doing their jobs well, it is all about keeping morale high.

Cheerleading is as much about passion as it is about professionalism, which is why these girls dedicate so many hours to perfecting their routines and being upbeat. This is so that when it's matchday they can keep fans as upbeat as they are, and ensure everyone is enjoying the game.

Give It Some Attitude

The thing about cheerleaders is that the older they become the more mature they get. In high school, they are wholesome and all about keeping things clean and appropriate. But as things hit the big leagues, like the NFL, cheerleaders start focusing more on female appeal, while still keeping morale and motivation up.

It's also a lot about attitude, something that this picture has in abundance. It may look a little messy, but there is lots of enthusiasm there and also quite a bit of female appeal too. This is thanks to their dedication to maintaining their physiques by spending hours at the gym.

Sanchez, Are You Okay?

Did you know, that if you google the term "b*tt fumble," you can see exactly how hilarious this moment in NFL history was? Just to give you the short and sweet rundown of it: it was the thanksgiving game of 2012 between the New York Jets played the New England Patriots.

The Jets had the ball, and their quarterback, Mark Sanchez, had the ball. Things happen in a blitz: hut was called, blockers crashed, receivers rushed and Sanchez used the opportunity to run instar of pass... right into his teammates posterior. He fumbled the ball, the Patriots took the ball and scored at the other end. Patriots won 49-19.

More Leg Room Than Flying Economy

While it isn't a common practice, sometimes the cheer squad does travel with the team to away games. This is determined by the distance the team is going and, whether or not there is a budget to take the cheerleaders along for the trip.

But there may be clever ways to get around the cost of taking the cheer squad along. One of them though isn't letting them travel into the baggage compartments. Amazingly, this girl was small enough to fit in the compartment, but it's doubtful many others would be able to. That is a pretty nifty sleeping arrangement though, better than upright in the seat.

She Could Be In The Team

Cheerleaders are supposed to be girly right? But if that's the case then why are guys allowed to join the squad? Aren't they too masculine? Well, the girl on the right just flipped the middle to those notions. She is a girl (no duh), but she's more muscular than most guys, oh and she's in the Cheer squad.

She is so lean and means she could even be in the football squad. Her friend, however, should stick to cheering. Our strong girl could be an emergency switch if there was no one left on the bench to use and the team needed someone to fill the squad.

A Real-Life Shampoo Advert

Clay Matthews III is a bit of a brand on his own. Not only is he a third-generation NFL player, but he is also a bit of a looker, and as such, makes for a good endorsement investment. Some of these endorsements include ones with Gillette, Nike, and Verizon.

This photo makes him look like a bit of a shampoo model, perhaps shaking his hair for Gillette? There was one time he shook his derriere for the movie Pitch Perfect 2. He was part of a group called "The Green Packers" with teammates Josh Sitton, David Bakhtiari, T. J. Lang, and Don Barclay. They performed an acapella song of Destiny's Child Bootylicious.

My Baby's A Raider

Well, it's no secret who this mom wants her baby to support. The Raiders, formerly of Los Angeles, and Oakland, last in Las Vegas, are one of the best-supported NFL teams, and it's probably thanks to moms like this that they have that large fan base. But is it safe for this mom to be there?

That baby looks ready to pop, and if that happens she is a long way from a hospital, doctors, and medics. Although to be fair, there are two team doctors and medics on hand in the stadium, she should be in good hands if her little raider chooses to come out for the game.