You’ve streaked at greater than 500 occasions, most famously throughout Tremendous Bowl XXXVIII between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. Have you ever all the time had a style for journey? At school I used to be the category joker. In my native bar I’m the loopy man – the man who likes to do issues for enjoyable. It’s simply stemmed from there. I’ve simply had this style for doing loopy issues, principally simply to make folks giggle. I like to see folks smile and giggle if I do one thing foolish or inform a joke no matter it could be.

What made you do that for the primary time? I went to Hong Kong in 1993 with a one-way ticket and £30 in my pocket. The power there at the moment within the early 90s was infectious, simply unbelievable. The Rugby Sevens was taking place there, a two-day occasion, and I drunkenly mentioned in a bar one night that anyone can streak. The proprietor of the bar dared me to do it the following day through the remaining. I used to be solely speaking by means of the alcohol. I had no intention, however the subsequent day a man got here and dragged me out of the house. I went to the stadium and had a number of beers, then I ran on and took the ball off the New Zealand All Blacks – who have been the very best group on this planet on the time – and scored a strive. The entire stadium went loopy. I sobered up right away. The police threw me out of the stadium and I got here straight again in and did it once more a few half hour later. I imagine I’m the primary one that’s ever streaked twice on the identical occasion on the identical day. What a debut.

And also you have been immediately hooked? It was simply infectious. It was the adrenaline I acquired from that first day. I went loopy. There was an enormous Chinese language soccer recreation on two days later and I agreed to go to that. I shortly realized that individuals actually loved watching me do that – this loopy mad streaking – so I made a decision I’d see after I got here residence to England if it might be the identical right here. There hadn’t been anybody streaking for almost 20 years within the UK. So I did an enormous a soccer recreation, Liverpool v Everton, and it went down nice once more. A few months later I did press-ups within the penalty space at a Liverpool v Arsenal recreation and that’s after I acquired a soccer ban.

A ban? I wasn’t allowed to go to any stadiums for 12 months. That’s after I began doing golf, tennis, all of the rugby occasions and such. Each time in each station at each sport, it’s the identical response.

Are you acknowledged? Even when I’m not planning something, if there’s a significant sporting occasion within the UK, the police are pre-warned and so they have safety talks simply on me. They carry pictures. That was all a part of the journey. Now I’ve acquired to get previous people who find themselves searching for me. That’s after I began sporting disguises. I’ve even acquired into Royal Ascot, one of many largest horse race weekends within the UK, dressed as a lady — thought I seemed just like the Undertaker from WWF. I don’t make a superb wanting girl, actually.

Does the concern issue fluctuate in line with the occasion? Streaking among the many skinny stewards at Wimbledon should be totally different than a police state just like the Tremendous Bowl. Most undoubtedly. Massive soccer occasions are all the time scary. The largest concern issue I had was for the Tremendous Bowl and that began earlier than I even left Liverpool. I went by means of each emotion in my head, the repercussions and the implications. I used to be scared. I used to be frightened about one of many gamers chasing me out and all of the gamers leaping on prime of me. That was my largest concern as a result of I undergo from a little bit of claustrophobia. In the event that they’d have all gone on prime of me, there was a superb likelihood I’d die – I don’t know. I used to be even ready to take a bullet within the leg from a sniper within the room. Keep in mind, this was proper after 9/11. The entire level of me doing the Tremendous Bowl was to make folks smile once more.















Mark Roberts lets the world see him in all his glory on the Wimbledon males’s singles remaining. {Photograph}: Rebecca Naden /PA



Had you all the time eyed the Tremendous Bowl? I used to be provided tickets to the Oscars that very same 12 months and mentioned no. If I’m going to America to carry out it needed to the be the most important occasion within the States. They mentioned it was not possible and I mentioned ‘Why? Who mentioned it’s not possible?’ They mentioned it simply can’t be completed.

Dare to dream. How a lot planning went into it? It was a 12 months within the making. I’d tried the 12 months earlier than in San Diego. I’d organized with a ticket dealer over the telephone for a $500 ticket, however after I arrived he needed $5,000 and there was no approach in hell. I used to be with pals and we didn’t even have that a lot cash between us. I even acquired so far as the stadium on the tram, however the policeman on responsibility wouldn’t let me get off though I mentioned a pal had a ticket on the gate and I’d come all the way in which from England. He refused to let me off, so I’d made all of it the way in which to the stadium simply to be turned again, which was very disappointing. In fact I imagine issues occur for a purpose. I wasn’t meant to do it that 12 months as a result of I used to be completely unprepared. I didn’t have a lawyer, I didn’t have any cash, however now I had a complete 12 months to plan for Houston. The subsequent 12 months I had entrance row tickets, I had a lawyer, and a referee’s uniform that I’d had despatched to me from the States.

Wait, a lawyer? Right now I did have a sponsor. They mentioned simply have our title in your chest and we’ll get you the very best and so they did. They acquired me Richard Haynes, who was the No1 lawyer in Texas and one of many prime six in the entire of the US. He was simply unbelievable. I assumed he was going to be some two-bit lawyer till I met him. You simply knew you have been within the presence of somebody who was unbelievable. He mentioned we go to trial, we plead not responsible: no one informed you you couldn’t go onto the sector. There have been no indicators, no warnings. That was our argument.

Had been there any shut calls with safety? Going into the stadium I had two units of garments on: my very own garments and the referee’s uniform beneath. Each units had Velcro and might be simply torn away. As I’m getting frisked by safety on the gate, he felt the Velcro on my trousers and requested what that was about. The one factor I might consider was I’ve a pores and skin dysfunction and want to have the ability to put the cream on shortly – and he accepted that clarification! Then he lifted my prime up and noticed the referee’s uniform and requested about that. I mentioned it was my fortunate referee’s uniform and I put on it to each recreation. And he let me in. I checked out my pal and mentioned this was meant to occur. If I can get by means of safety with excuses like that, this can occur.





Commentator provides play-by-play evaluation of NFL streaker



So what occurred subsequent? Once we sat down finally, we had entrance row seats on the 50-yard line. The police and safety have been completely in all places, and there was one safety guard proper in my direct line of the place I deliberate to enter the sector who stayed on his mark from two hours earlier than the sport began proper up till the purpose after I wanted to go on. He walked off his mark on the very second I wanted to go. It was like divine intervention.

And you then made your transfer. The adrenaline at the moment was simply pumping. The largest noise I’d ever heard to that time was that very first time in Hong Kong. That noise was by no means replicated till I’m dancing bare on the 50-yard line on the Tremendous Bowl. I felt like I used to be on there for thus lengthy. It felt like minutes earlier than the chase occurred. It was simply surreal: I used to be dancing in the course of the sector on the Tremendous Bowl and no one was coming after me. I assumed, “What the hell is happening on the market?” anticipating folks to chase me immediately, so I needed to give you all these dance strikes. I’m glad they began coming after me once they did as a result of I used to be working out.

Mark Roberts says the Tremendous Bowl stays ‘the holy grail of streaking’.



What do you assume causes the hesitation? Why so usually are you not chased instantly? The factor of shock – happening as a referee – is what made it potential. As quickly as I disrobed, I feel the gamers thought the referee has gone loopy immediately. As I’m dancing in circles across the ball, I’m wanting on the police and so they all seemed confused. They didn’t know what the hell was taking place for almost a minute. If I’d have run off bare, I wouldn’t have gotten 10 or 15 yards. The factor of shock and confusion provides to the entire efficiency, the journey.

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What occurred subsequent? The police have been going to let me go after a half hour, however the head of the NFL got here working down. They’d spent thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of {dollars} on safety on the Tremendous Bowl and I beat all of them and so they didn’t prefer it. In any respect. In order that they needed the e book thrown at me. The NFL even appeared in court docket towards me. The top of the Reliant Stadium, the pinnacle of the NFL, a prime policeman from Houston: they have been going all out to get me despatched to jail. I need to know the place it says within the legislation books it’s unlawful to make folks giggle.

And what occurred on the trial? I acquired a $1,000 superb, however I’d been paid $1m to do the Tremendous Bowl. It was loopy as a result of my lawyer turned out to be a lady – Richard Hayes assigned his right-hand girl, Sharon Levine, who’s sadly not with us anymore. The prosecutor was a woman, the choose was a woman, the jury have been 12 girls. So the state of my life was within the fingers of all these girls, who discovered me responsible. However when the courtroom was cleared and it was simply me, the prosecutor, my lawyer and the choose, all of the jurors went into the jury room and all you can hear was laughter. The choose mentioned to me, “Mr Roberts, in all my years on the bench, I’ve by no means heard laughter coming from the jury room. Would you please escort me into the room?” And he or she linked my arm, we walked in and everybody was cheering and laughing and even the choose began to giggle. It was cool, a type of experiences that you simply always remember.

That’s it? A $1,000 superb? I needed to get again to the States in 2006 to journey, however I used to be stopped in Newark and rotated and despatched again to the UK. The Tremendous Bowl was solely a misdemeanor, however as a result of I’ve acquired a police document now within the States, I’m informed I want to use for a visa on the embassy in London. There’s nonetheless an opportunity I won’t get in. I like the States, . I’ll be deeply disillusioned if I can by no means return to the US once more.

Is there an ideal time to streak? It must be when the sport isn’t in play, since you dont need to change the course of the sport. So it’s often simply earlier than kickoff. It’s the start of the second half and everyone seems to be watching. Earlier than the ref blows his whistle, that’s the time to go. Not like that one absolute fool who’s making an attempt to repeat me in Spain. He does it together with his garments on through the recreation.

Jimmy Leap? Yeah, he’s an fool. He’s. He ruins video games. He modifies the course of the match.

How do you make sure you get your garments again? Normally after I run onto the pitch or the sector, I rip my garments off after I’m on. So the very first thing the police or safety do is seize my garments, give them to me and inform me to place them again on. This occurs 90% of the time. Often I’ve needed to go away and journey from metropolis to metropolis – these blue paper fits the police provide you with? – I’ve needed to put on these a number of instances to come back residence. However generally I get them again immediately.

However not all the time. As soon as in Spain I didn’t. I streaked at a Barcelona-Actual Madrid match in Madrid and the police took me to the station. At half one within the morning they mentioned I might go. I requested if I might have my garments and so they mentioned safety had thrown them into the spectators. I’d informed no one I used to be going to Spain and my passport, my telephone and my cash have been all in my garments. So now I’m bare at half one within the morning in the course of Madrid, however I discovered my approach residence.

How? Effectively I’m working bare by means of the streets simply to maintain heat initially not understanding the place I’m going. This Spanish man stopped me so I defined my state of affairs. The one place I assumed to go was the Vacation Inn close to the Bernabeu the place I’d picked up my ticket. The Spanish man gave the taxi driver his final 20 euros for me to get again to the resort. After I walked in, everyone had watched it on TV. They lent me a t-shirt and shorts, let me keep in a room, lent me 200 euros to get residence and I made it again.

The price of tickets to a few of these occasions alone should add up. How do you account for it? It’s who I suppose. Through the years I’ve acquired to know lots of ticket brokers. There’s one specifically – he’s like a greatest pal – and if it’s an enormous occasion he’s usually there and he provides me tickets without spending a dime. I met him truly on the 2002 Champions League remaining. The very first time we met, he gave me a ticket for £20 when the face worth was £60. That was the time I scored the aim towards the Germans. Since then we’ve been actually good pals. If it’s abroad, typically I’ll have a sponsor. So long as I’ve their title on my chest, they’ll pay the prices.

Do you ever analysis the penalties within the international locations the place you streak? No, I’m going in blind. Normally what I’m trying has by no means been completed earlier than, so it’s uncharted territory. There’s no precedent, so I simply must put religion within the fingers of the police after I get there. Ever single nation I’ve been to – I feel I’ve streaked in 22 international locations – it’s been the identical. I’ve been handled the identical by the police each time. The police are nice. particularly in England. They completely adore it. They chase me laughing their heads off. The police after the Tremendous Bowl after I went to jail, they took my mugshot after which duplicated it, requested me to signal it for them and their girlfriends.















Mark Roberts makes an look earlier than the 2004 World Snooker Championship remaining between England’s Ronnie O’Sullivan and Scotland’s Graeme Dott. {Photograph}: Rui Vieira/PA



It’s probably not a violent crime, is it? It’s not against the law, actually. When you have a look at in the entire sense of issues it’s only a little bit of enjoyable. Which makes it extra interesting for me as a result of it’s speculated to be unlawful. If it was authorized, everyone’d be doing it. Individuals are afraid of consequence, you see. When you cancel out the concern, you are able to do something.