Off-Topic Open Thread: Favorite Non-Steelers Athletes

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 4:41 PM EDT

I have a deadline rapidly approaching to finish a chapter in a book about the football program at the University of Texas. The book is edited by PB @ BON, the author of Burnt Orange Nation, the network's UT blog. I am not a diehard partisan of the football program, but PB was nice enough to ask me to write a historical chapter in last year's and this year's edition. My chapter is about Rooster Andrews, a former walk-on kicker on the football squad and two-year lettermen on the baseball team. He's one of those guys with a larger-than-life personality that knew everybody. He was actually roomates with Bobby Layne at UT, hence my procurement of that photo the other day (Rooster is the laughably short guy below Layne; he stood about 4'11").

Anyway, I need to focus on that for awhile here so I thought it might be fun to share who some of our other favorite athletes are, past and/or present. I'll start and remember, it's more fun for all of us if you participate:

MLB: Chris Sabo, Greg Maddox.

Laugh all you want about Sabo, I'm used to it. But did you know he had 40+ 2bs and 40+ SBs as a rookie in 1988, when he won Rookie of the Year? Or that he hit .563 with 2 HRs, 5 RBIs and an OPS (On Base % + Slugging %) of 1.600+ in the 1991 World Series sweep of the Oakland A's. Didn't think so. You couldn't get passed the Rec Specs could you?

NBA: Chris Paul, Larry Bird

Love Larry Legend. What a baller. As for Paul? Great kid, great competitor. I think the Hornets will win the West, and I've thought so for quite some time. Others: Goran Ivaniesevic (Tennis); Ulf Samuelson, Kevin Stevens, Theo Fleury (Hockey); Drew Brees, Vince Young, Marshawn Lynch, Carl Pickens, Brian Dawkings (NFL). Your turn.

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haha good topic Here are mine

NBA: Now: Lebron James; Then Oscar Robinson

MLB: Now: Chipper Jones (fav player since he came in the league as an 18 year old) Then Pete Rose (got that from my dad, huge Rose fan)

Golf: Now: Tiger Woods; Then Tiger Woods

NHL: Do not watch enough to have a Then, But my Now is smile Sidney the man

Boxer: Now: Kelly Pavlik (only those from Youngstown can understand) Then: Cassius Clay

I think thats enough for now. kinda of a exercise to get to know people better here on BTSC I like, I like

* till next time wave those towels proud

by LiveinDCbutsteelerfanbyheart on May 15, 2008 4:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Chipper Jones debuted at age 21, but that was only for a grand total of 4 plate appearances.

His next MLB action was at 23, his first full season:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesch06.shtml

by kwoog on May 15, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

hey now

YOu can’t come in correcting people without also offering up your fave players. For you, they’ve got to be non-Brownies.

Rules are rules :)

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

ha ha

If you insist. Eliminating Cleveland all together…

MLB: Kirby Puckett
NBA: Clyde Drexler
NFL: Honestly? I always thought Rod Woodson was a bad*ss. Definitely a noble adversary.
Hockey: What’s this?
Boxing: Hagler

by kwoog on May 15, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

The Puck

Man I loved me some Kirby Puckett when I was a youngster. First World Series I remember being glued to the TV was when the Twins beat the Braves in 1991.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on May 16, 2008 9:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

Boy oh Boy people like to pick on me lol

I know he debuted at the age of 21 but he came into the League in 1990 as the number one overall pick . Thus he was born in 1972 which makes him 18 years old when he was drafted. I never said he debuted so and so i said he came in the league at 18 which, when you are drafted that pretty much fits under coming into the league. took him a few years in triple A ball, but point of the matter is Chipper Jones was 18 years old right out of high school when he was drafted.

* till next time wave those towels proud

by LiveinDCbutsteelerfanbyheart on May 15, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

yea just for kicks

I’ll throw in Kimbo Slice for fighting. Not a boxing fan really or an MMA guy, but I’ve seen some videos of this dude fighting and it’s RIDICULOUS. Go ahead and youtube his name and check it out – might not be suitable for work though and the fights that are on the street (not sanctioned or organized) aren’t really for the faint of heart.

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 4:56 PM EDT 0 recs

Kimbo

His fist only fights are brutal. Although i prefer MMA or boxing to this.

by tkired on May 16, 2008 5:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

that should read brian dawkins in my post*

For some reason I can’t edit this story. Sucks. I don’t want to take it down and repost, but I wanted to add I’ve liked Paul since his days at Wake Forest.

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 5:03 PM EDT 0 recs

good luck Blitz -- does Curtain get first preview of the chapter by our leader?

MLB: I’m a huge Rangers fan and when I was kid I loved me some Juan Gonzalez (steriods or not I still kind of like him) and there are tons of other Rangers that I man crush on but outside of them I have to mention Manny. Who didn’t see him high five a fan in the middle of a play last night? Manny being Manny – gotta love it.

NBA: I’ve very basketball ignorant (I realized at a young age that a short, pudgy white kid had no place in this game) so I watch purely for entertainment value. My short list includes Kobe and Dwight Howard.

NHL: not really my thing

Boxing: I like watching but it’s like basketball in that it’s purely entertainment for me and I love train wrecks so I’ll take Mike Tyson. Unless Rocky counts, then I’ll take Rocky.

Blitz—It’s crazy that you liked Chris Sabo, my cousin was a Astros fan when we were kids b/c he lived in Houston and he hated Sabo with a passion (literally had his picture on a dart board for a year). We were just reminiscing about those glory days a month or so ago.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on May 15, 2008 5:05 PM EDT 0 recs

haha

How can anyone HATE Chris Sabo. That’s blasphemy. One of my favorite episodes of Sports Center ever was when we were kids, my bro and I were watching and there was an interview with Bonds (his favorite player) and he was asked who is favorite person to throw out at 2nd base trying to stretch a single: lo and behold, enter footage of Sabo waddling around 1st trying to stretch a single. Bonds laughs as he says Chris Sabo. Dude was actually pretty speedy though.

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 5:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol

Yea I never understood it, but I didn’t really know who he was either. I was an American League guy b/c that all I could get on the tube when I was kid. Thanks to growing up in the country.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on May 15, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

im actually happy

That your cousin hated Sabo. Nobody hates athletes that aren’t good. It’s not worth anyone’s time. Sabo probably just stomped all over the DisAstros one too many times for your cuz’s liking :)

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

stick with

the now & then format:

NBA: Kobe Bryant, Dominique Wilkins

NFL: LaDainian Tomlinson, Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson

NHL: Mario Lemieux, Evgeni Malkin

MLB: Honestly, I don’t care much for baseball but I’ll say Barry Bonds forever. He’s hilarious.

Boxing: Floyd Mayweather Jr. —I know his “cockiness” (can you really call it that when all he does is win) annoys people, but he won me over for good when he walked into “Born In The USA” before his fight with Ricky Hatton (after the classless Brits booed our national anthem), and then sent that Tory back home flat on his butt, extending USA’s undefeated run against the British dating back to 1775 (well, until Calzaghe beat Hopkins recently, but hopefully Roy Jones will avenge that). Then: Mike Tyson (in the 80’s, before the rape charges), Joe Frazier. I like Roy Jones Jr. alot nowadays too and hope he knocks off Calzaghe if and when they finally fight.

Golf: Tiger Woods, Bagger Vance

Soccer: Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea FC), then: any of the old German greats

MMA: Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar, I know Lesnar lost his first fight but he was throwing that guy around and I can’t wait to see him fight again, he’s so huge. Then, Rickson Gracie…..never lost a fight in his life. Best of the Gracie family.

by TheMostViolentTeam on May 15, 2008 5:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Rickson!

The weirdest stance i’ve seen, he looks like a robot, but he is really a pretty amazing fighter.

by tkired on May 17, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

i know

there keep being rumors he will come out of retirement (he’s almost 50 now I think) and fight Sakuraba to avenge the other Gracie’s Sakuraba has beaten. but who knows at this point, everyone wants him to come back and fight since MMA is now way more popular than when he was in his prime (early 90’s). i have read many stories that said originally Rickson was going to be the Gracie who did the early UFC’s when it was first started by the oldest Gracie brother Rorion, but Rorion wanted to use Royce since Royce isn’t nearly as well-built as Rickson and it would make the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu look better to have this little guy (Royce) throwing people around. Would’ve loved to see Rickson though. Imagine how badly he would’ve smoked everyone considering Royce won the first two. All the Gracie’s say Rickson kicks all of their butts so I’d love to see him fight.

by TheMostViolentTeam on May 19, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Awesome

I hope he does fight Sakuraba, who is such a warrior, with a great all around game.
And yeah, Royce dominating the UFC early was probably more impressive for the Gracie fighting system than if Rickson had dominated, because he has the physical tools to go along with skills.

by tkired on May 20, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

My List

MLB: Clemente. My first sports hero and much under appreciated b/c he played for a team in a small market that often was 2nd division. Great offensive and defensive player. Others. Then: Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson

NBA: Dr. J. Got to see him on a regular basis when I lived in Philly. He did something almost every night that you’d never seen before.

NHL: Mario. My daughter was a bigger fan than I was. Took her to see him live once. Didn’t realize how HUGE he was (6’6”) And he was the fastest, most graceful player on ice.

Boxing: Ali, especially before he was stripped of his title. Sugar Ray Robinson, Marvin Hagler

Golf: Tiger

Football: Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, Johnny Unitas, Lawrence Taylor,

by RickVa on May 15, 2008 5:33 PM EDT 0 recs

hockey players

Thats the thing I’m most amazed by: most are GIGANTIC. Jagr and Lemieux are both behemoths of men – well over 6’ tall and 230+ lbs. Ridiculous how skilled they are.

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lemieux

unbelievable player. best ever.

by TheMostViolentTeam on May 15, 2008 5:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

so sick

He even found a way to light up the league when he cameback just a few years ago with only like 2 verterbrae left. I think he was leading the league in scoring for quite some time when he finally succumbed to injury.

by Blitzburgh on May 15, 2008 5:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

50 fav's

MLB; Agree with RickVa on The Great One. Roberto was a marvelous athlete and consumate professional. Agree with DC too because I was a HUGE Pete Rose fan even though he played for the hated Reds. Also liked Mantle. Never saw him play but the first book I ever did read was “Life & Times Of Mickey Mantle” WOW, what a different guy he was than the one in that book! Mazeroski because who couldn’t grow up in Pittsburgh without hearing on a regular basis “The Legend Of The 60 Buc’s” Regularly hung out in Mazeroski Park behind the Forbes Field Wall that still stands with hot Pitt chicks instead of going to class! I would say my favorite current day MLB guy is Burbank’s own Freddy Sanchez.

NFL; Lambert, Bradshaw, Swann, Franco, Joe Greene, Bubby Brister (I swear. I named a lab Brister) Lloyd, Bettis, FWP, Ben and Troy.

NHL; The line of Apps, Pronovost and McDonnough. Brawlers Brian Bugsy Watson, Battleship Bob Kelly, Steve Durbano and Dave The Hammer Schultz. Super Mario, Jagr and Barasso. Sid The Kid.

NBA; Dr. J. Magic & Larry. James Worthy on the break. Big Shaq Daddy the Diesel with his 3 NBA Finals MVP’s (CAN U DIG IT?!) Robert Horry (Mr. Clutch) Derek Fisher (NBA’s Hines Ward) and since this NBA season began one Kobe Bryant KB 24 MVP.

Boxing; Ali, Smokin’ Joe, Foreman, Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, Rocky Balboa, Ray “Boom Boom Mancini (What’s Up Youngstown!?) Oscar De La Hoya.

Volleyball; Gabrielle Rees
Tennis; Gabrielle Sabatini, Anna Kournakova

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on May 15, 2008 6:04 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice topic...

NFL: Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders-current players
MLB: Roberto Clemente, now for someone i’ve actually SEEN play, Andy Van Slyke (before he left Pitt)
NBA: Oh so many…Chris Paul right now, years ago Alonzo Mourning when he was with Larry Johnson
College bball—Loved watching Chevon Troutman and now Tyler Hansbrough
Boxing: Floyd Mayweather is amazing, if you ever step into the ring you can respect his game and Old school pre-arrest Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.
Hockey: Love all the Pens right now but ago, loved Kevin Stevens and Larry Murphy.
Tennis-Andy Roddick…Pete Sampras not long ago.
Volleyball!!! We got some volleyball love in here, gotta be Karch Kiraly.

by Mikey on May 15, 2008 10:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Chris Paul

I thought he was classy (following in the footsteps of other WF greats Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress) until he decided to hit Julius Hodge (yes, of NC State), in the nuts. I lost all respect for him then. He seems to have kept himself out of trouble since, though, so maybe I should forgive him. I wish the Hawks had drafted him.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 16, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Ok, now for my favorites

NFL: 70s – Mean Joe Greene, 80s – Joe Montana, 90s – Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, and Jerome Bettis, 00s – Hines Ward and Torry Holt (another State alum :)).
MLB: Kirby Puckett
NBA: Magic Johnson, Shaq, and Tim Duncan
NHL: Mario, Jagr, Ron Francis, Crosby, and Malkin
Tennis: Steffi Graf (I know she has a big nose, but I liked her. :))

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 16, 2008 10:26 AM EDT 0 recs

Oh Tennis

I personally am a fan of Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang, and Martina…The woman is STILL playing doubles at a top level.

by tkired on May 17, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

as a brit, i’m going with soccer players. As a Tottenham Hotspur fan I have huge respect for Teddy Sheringham, Jurgen Klinsmann and David Ginola. From today’s crop Dimitar Berbatov is incredible (hope he doesn’t leave this summer) and Modric and Bale promises to be packed with potential.

On the world stage of soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo is just phenomenal right now. 41 goals from midfield? that’s just insane. I still think Francesco Totti has been underrated – probably because he got himself sent off in so many important tournaments.

Watching Berbatov, Henry, either Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka in their prime is amazing.

by darrkespur on May 16, 2008 10:34 AM EDT 0 recs

GREG F'IN MADDOX!!!?????!?!?!?!?!?

I HATE THE BRAVES!!!!!! SID BREAM!!!!!!! SMOLTZ, GLAVINE, MADDOX, AVERY, DAVID JUSTICE, DIE DIE DIE, MOTHER%^&#ERS DIE!!!! YOU RUINED MY CHILDHOOD!!!!!!

I’m slowly getting over it, though. On to my favorites:

MLB: Andy VanSlyke, Bob Walk, Manny (hate the Sox, though), Kenny Lofton, Griffey, Kirby Puckett (but only for the World Series), Chase Utley, Ryan Howard

NFL: Barry Sanders, Brian’s Westbrook and Dawkins, Frank Gore

NBA: Charles Barkley (man that hook was sweet), Steve Nash, Daniel Gibson

Golf: Jim Furyk

by BadMaafala on May 16, 2008 10:48 AM EDT 0 recs

maddox

I HATED Maddox when he was a Brave too. Bigtime. But once he kept doing his thing into his late 30s and now his 40s, I can’t help but be impressed with how incredible he is. He’s a true treasure.

by Blitzburgh on May 16, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

those braves teams made me sick though

My least favorite was Jeff Blauser. Never seen a more disgusting bony chin than his.

by Blitzburgh on May 16, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

As if destroying the Pirates weren't enough...

the one time they actually get it done in the world series they knock off the hundred win Indians team, my other local MLB team. Man I hate the Braves.

I will say that what they did as a team over time was very impressive, and I do have respect for Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz and how long they were together. One of those guys won the Cy Young just about every year, and they’re still getting it done today. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t punch John Smoltz in the face if saw him, though.

by BadMaafala on May 16, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up 0 recs