The massive media sessions ... the Super Bowl Week parties ... the massive pre-game and halftime productions ... celebrities everywhere ... ground-breaking commercials on the telecast ... and the game itself, putting edgy players on the biggest stage possible ... strange things can happen.

Here is our list of the "12 Wackiest Super Bowl Moments" from the first 39 years:

1. Garo Yepremian, passer

The Miami Dolphins hoped to expand their 14-0 lead over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. Garo Yepremian came onto the field to kick a 42-yard field goal with less than 3 minutes to play.

The kick was blocked and the ball caromed back to Yepremian, who seemed stunned to have it in his hands. He was a soccer player from Cyprus, after all. But he tried to act like a football player, anyway.

"I thought I saw some white jerseys downfield, that's why I decided to throw the ball," Yepremian explained. "But the ball just slipped out of my fingers."

His feeble "pass" ended up in the arms of Redskin Larry Bass, who returned it 49 yards for a Washington touchdown with 2:07 left to play.

The Dolphins managed to run out the clock after that gaffe and won 14-7, so Yepremian was relieved. "Wouldn't it have been terrible after we win 16 games in a row if we had lost because of that play?" he said after the game. "I had never prayed so much. God came through for me.

"I thought I was doing something good, something to help the team. Instead it was almost a tragedy. I almost caused a disaster."

His inept play gave him the hook to build a career in motivational speaking. In 1995, he published his autobiography, "I Keek a Touchdown."

2. Janet Jackson, wardrobe malfunction

What a television moment! Americans not taking a bathroom break during the 2004 halftime show saw Justin Timberlake give Janet Jackson's bustier a yank during their routine ... exposing her bare right breast.

Hello there!

Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson will be forever remembered for their haltime performance at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Jackson's red lace undergarment was supposed to remain in place, but it didn't. Fortunately, she had the foresight to wear a sun-shaped "nipple shield" — or Federal Communications Commission czar Michael Powell might have fainted.

Janet issued an apology afterward, but Powell remained unmoved. "I'm glad everybody is sorry. I'm sorry, too; it was a sorry incident," he sniffed.

The incident outraged the usual religious groups and triggered more aggressive FCC policing of the airwaves. It was all Howard Stern could do to avoid prison after that.

3. The prediction

Among the enduring images of New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath is that photo showing him holding court poolside before Super Bowl III — shirtless, tanned, beaming, the very picture of confidence while chatting with fawning sportswriters.

That confidence led to the prediction he made before that game against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. "We're going to win Sunday. I guarantee it," Namath told a crowd gathered at the Miami Touchdown Club.

America laughed at "Broadway Joe." But the Jets won 16-7, with the New York defense and running back Matt Snell (121 yards) doing most of the heavy lifting in a rather mundane game.

Namath's prediction emboldened his teammates. "It was good, really, because it kind of gave us confidence," Jets offensive lineman Bob Talamini later said. "Not that we didn't think we could beat them, but you want your quarterback to be confident."

That prediction, and the successful follow-through, helped make the Super Bowl the massive global event it is today. Back then, Anita Bryant sang the national anthem. Back then, the halftime show was presented by the Florida A&M band.

4. Max McGee: The hangover

After catching just four passes all season, Green Bay Packers receiver Max McGee figured he had the green light the night before the first Super Bowl.

He knew the Packers had a one-check system at curfew. After attendance was taken, he headed out on the town.

"I met some blonde the night before, and I was on my way to pay my respects," McGee told teammate Jerry Kramer, who later wrote about the incident. "I didn't feel I was letting the team down any, because I knew there wasn't a chance in hell I'd play. I waddled in about 7:30 in the morning, and I could barely stand up for the kickoff."

But Packers star Boyd Dowler got hurt, so McGee was pressed into action.

"I almost fainted," McGee said.

He somehow made a one-handed catch that was this game's first highlight-reel play. Overall, he caught seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

5. William Perry, fullback

The Chicago Bears came to Super Bowl XX as one of the most obnoxious teams in history. Quarterback Jim McMahon reveled in his rebel image. He was accused of all manner of malfeasance before the game —even mooning a helicopter.

He wrote the word "Rozelle" on his headband to taunt the straight-laced commissioner. The infamous "Super Bowl Shuffle" video turned the Bears into the Village People of the NFL.

Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan taunted opponents with over-the-top aggression in his "46" defense. But the most absurd aspect of this Bear team was folk hero William "Refrigerator" Perry, the house-sized defensive tackle and occasional fullback.

Bears coach Mike Ditka made sure the Fridge got his chance to score a touchdown during the demolition of New England, but Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton got shunted to the background. The Fridge punched the ball in from one yard out to cap the Bears' 46-10 victory.

"We practiced doing that during that week," Perry later recalled. "When we got down to the goal line, (Ditka) called the same play and called me over and said, 'Big guy, here's your chance.' So he put me in and there it was. I scored in the Super Bowl."

Perry now commands nice appearance fees just for being an amiable goofball.

6. Leon Lett's premature celebration

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett had a knack for making memorable blunders. In Super Bowl XXVII, he scooped up a fumble by Bills quarterback Frank Reich and raced 64 yards toward the goal line. He was celebrating as he neared pay dirt, leaving the ball exposed.

And Bills receiver Don Beebe caught him from behind, swatting the ball loose to keep the big fella from scoring.

Don Beebe wouldn't allow Leon Lett to score late in the Cowboys' win over the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

"We were getting blown out and for him to do that ... it sends chills down my body every time I see it, because Don Beebe reflected the Buffalo Bills, the whole attitude of the team, in just one play," quarterback Jim Kelly recalled.

Beebe's strip stands as one of the greatest — yet most pointless — hustle plays of all time. The Cowboys held on to defeat the Bills 52-17.

7. The John Candy incident

So how cool was 49ers quarterback Joe Montana? His 49ers were trailing the Bengals with 3:10 left to play in Super Bowl XXIII. They had the ball on their 8-yard line. They were 92 yards short of victory.

But Montana was unperturbed.

"I was kind of wild on the sidelines before we took the field for that drive," tackle Harris Barton later recalled. "I was worried about the penalty on the kickoff that set us back to the eight. I was yelling at somebody, can't remember who. Joe came over to me."

Here is how the conversation went:

"Hey, check it out," Montana said.

"Check what out?" Barton said.

"There in the stands, standing near the exit ramp, there's John Candy." Montana said.

Barton played along.

"I looked," he said. "Sure enough, it was him. I grabbed John Frank, our tight end. 'Hey, John,' I said. 'There's John Candy.' Then I got hold of myself. What the hell was I doing? Fifteen seconds later we're in the huddle and Joe's clapping his hands and saying, 'Hey, you guys want it? Let's go.'"

Then Montana proceeded to calmly march his team the length of the field for the game-winning touchdown and a 20-16 victory. He completed eight of nine passes and capped the comeback with a 10-yard completion to John Taylor.

8. Michael Jackson fantasy show

Before there was Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, there was Michael Jackson's performance with 3,500 children in 1993. Music, that is. He sang "Heal the World."

At the time, it only seemed somewhat strange. Although the Cleveland Plain Dealer did print this observation: "With several thousand children frolicking about him and the whole gang singing about peace and love and the human race, Jackson somehow felt compelled to reach out and touch himself — in the crotch."

And, oh yeah, O.J. Simpson performed the pregame coin toss for good measure. Yikes!

9. Real-life irony: Eugene Robinson

Before Super Bowl XXXIII, Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson basked in his reputation as a pious family man and community do-gooder. During the pre-game hoopla in Miami, he received the Bart Starr Award for being of "high moral character."

Eugene Robinson made headlines for all the wrong reasons before Super Bowl XXXIII.

Unfortunately, he celebrated this honor by taking to the streets and trying to buy oral sex from a prostitute. Only the hooker was a cop instead and Robinson got busted. Oops!

The team had to bail him out of jail, but he played anyway. Falcons coach Dan Reeves gave him a pass.

"Unfortunately, even as Christians, we do things wrong," Reeves said. "We're all sinners."

Yeah, but we all don't get busted for solicitation of prostitution on the eve of the Super Bowl, just hours after being honored by Athletes in Action.

10. John Matuszak media daze

Before Super Bowl XV, the Philadelphia Eagles were sequestered in their New Orleans hotel. Coach Dick Vermeil kept his guys on a tight leash.

But Tom Flores let the Raiders run amok. Big John Matuszak gave the city fair warning when the team arrived.

"I'm going to see that there's no funny business," he said. "I've had enough parties for 20 people's lifetimes. I've grown up. I'll keep our young fellows out of trouble. If any players want to stray, they gotta go through Ol' Tooz."

His best performance came later in the week. He woke up to an unfamiliar woman Thursday morning and rushed off to a media session, still disheveled and hung over.

"I'd love to give you all a blow-by-blow account of the evening," the Tooz said, "but it's basically a blur."

So was the game, as the Raiders ran away from the uptight Eagles.

11. Oh the humanity

Before Super Bowl IV, fans were treated to a special race around the stadium — pitting hot-air balloons representing the NFL and the AFL.

Ominously, the NFL balloon (piloted by a man dressed like a Viking) crashed into the stadium. The AFL balloon, with a man in Native American garb at the helm, won going away.

This foreshadowed the game itself, an easy 23-7 victory for the Chiefs. Adding insult to near injury, rabid football fans tore the crashed balloon to shreds.

"I'm hanging up in the stands and the crowd's reaction shocked me," recalled the pilot, George Stokes. "There was no sympathy, not even laughter. The crowd was ugly. It started ripping my balloon apart, tearing at it and pulling the sign off. All I could think of was the late 1700s in France when they used to have balloon launchings and charged people to watch. Lots of times when the balloon didn't take off, the people would attack it and rip it to shreds, then go after the guy inside. But I'm saying to myself, 'This is 200 years later and this is a silly old football game. Why are these people acting this way?'"

Alcohol consumption, probably.

12. Learning from the lizards

Perhaps the highlight of Super Bowl XXXIII was the Budweiser commercial starring the jealous Louis the Lizard and his arch-enemies, the frogs.

This was the culmination of the rivalry. Louie schemed with his friend, the ferret, to finally eliminate the frogs with an "accident" during a commercial break. A Budweiser sign was supposed to fall on the frogs and kill them.

But the plot failed due to poor execution, leaving Louie to utter some powerful words to live by: "Never hire a ferret to a weasel's job."

Every business manager should have those words framed and posted on his office wall.