Celebrating Fat Guys: 9 Gargantuan GIFs

Sports are awesome. If you're reading SB Nation, you probably already know that. One of the greatest things about sports is that it can constantly challenge your perception of what sports is all about. We are constantly told that athletes look a certain way, or that a "healthy" person conforms to certain physical ideals, but every now and then, an athlete who doesn't necessarily fit into that mold will do something spectacular and blow your freaking mind.

Because no matter what they look like, professional athletes are professional athletes and they're way better at their sport than most of us will ever be. When a 400-pound dude snags a tipped ball and runs it back for a touchdown, that is awesome. When a bulky-as-hell first baseman takes advantage of a lucky bounce and hustles his buns over to third for a triple, that is awesome. And when a fella has got it AND opts to flaunt it?

Oh, you better BELIEVE that's awesome.

So with all that said, welcome to the first edition of an ongoing series in which we celebrate the big boys who make all of our lives a little better with their unexpected -- but always welcomed -- skills. In this first installment, we'll take a look at some of our favorite GIFs of girthy glory.

Big Baby's Got That Fadeaway, Son

Now THIS is how you execute a fadeaway jumper. Show 'em how it's done, Big Baby.

Flawless. High knees! High knees!

When A Body Meets A Body

The bigger athletes are usually there because they're absolute beasts. Sometimes those bests collide in an open field. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE

Even Celebrations Are Better

Exuberance. Exaltation. Effervescence. Perfection.

Everyone Wants In On The Act

Sometimes more than one of these mountains of men is able to show off their quick thinking and athletic prowess in order to make something amazing happen for the good of the team.

Believe it or not, but that's a play they drew up.

We Are Unstoppable; We Can't Be Defeated

You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.

whoops lol guess you can't do that either. QBs gotta resort to chop-blocks as a result of not being ready for this jelly.

Great Hands

The Georgia Bulldogs know what they're doing. Making catches. Making catches all dang day.

Who Says Coaches Can't Get In On The Act?

Coaches are athletes, too! In a way. OK, that may not necessarily be accurate, but Rex Ryan still has some hops.

Flawless Hook Slide

If you asked me to execute a hook slide into second base, there is no way I could do so with even a fraction of the grace that Prince Fielder demonstrates here.

And finally ...

Just Give The Ball To Shaun Smith

If you're on the goal line, why wouldn't you just give the ball to Shaun Smith every time? You're pretty much guaranteed that this will happen:

That's what the big guys do, everyone. They get the job done.

So keep your eyes peeled for an unexpected athlete to do something that makes you jump up and exclaim your shock and delight aloud. It happens all the time ... and it is awesome.