Watch Norm McDonald's Monologue From the 1998 ESPY's That May Or May Not Have Gotten Him Fired From SNL

The ESPY's were last night. Yay. 

I didn't watch but I assume it was Manning brothers circle jerk, disguised as an awards show for athletes who (mostly) already won real trophies and accolades. 

Every now and then the liars at ESPN will toss us a crumb and let us hear somebody really incredible say something truly powerful, like the timeless Jimmy Valvano speech

the insanely talented Jamie Foxx

or Justin Timberlake

and Stuart Scott's unbelievably brave speech

As great as all those moments were, none of them are touching Norm in '98. Not even close. Sorry. 

Norm took to the stage from curtains up, and began roasting everyone in sight. Nobody was safe. 

He eviscerated Jerry Jones, telling him he was obligated to get "America's Team" back to its winning ways, and the only way to do that was getting them back to "strippers and crack."

Watching everybody who's anybody in sports (they all still attended back then) squirm in their seats praying to evade Norm's aim was equally as funny. John Elway looked like he was going to shit himself.

(He was luckily spared)

But Norm, ever the showman that he was, knew not to blow his load early, and end running out of steam. He left the crowd wanting more, going out on a high note, saving his best, most brutal joke for last-

That's how its done folks. R.I.P.

p.s. - rumor is people were so pissed off by Norm's barrage that it affected his standing at SNL, and he was let go from his role there that same season.