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Post by doc on Feb 12, 2016 19:04:27 GMT
As long as we're talking favorites, who's your favorite athlete of all time?
Mine is Muhammad Ali. I never missed any of his fights and his personality was as big as the arenas and stadiums he'd fill. It's hard to see him now given the way Parkinson's has ravaged his body.
Some others from my younger days - Tony Perez, Ken Anderson and Kareem - the 'sky hook' was a thing of beauty and unstoppable. |
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Post by Bevo on Feb 12, 2016 20:04:47 GMT
Hands down... my favorite is: Nolan Ryan
He came from a small town, Alvin, that was just 15 miles from my home town. We're the same kind of people. Not only was he GREAT, from a pitching standpoint. He's always been a fine human being. Never one to betray his own morals and beliefs, or to besmirch our State. My youngest son's middle name is "Ryan"... after Nolan. Naturally, my son care ZERO about any sport... sigh... oh well.
After that? I'd say Jack Nicklaus. I grew up watching him in his heyday... When I learned to play golf, in my own head, I was always "Jack Nicklaus, lining up a putt to win the Masters".
The only other player close was... Earl Campbell. I had a chance to meet Earl several times, while at school.. and, a couple of times even after he'd retired from the NFL. He's just one fine person. Always has been, always will be. As far as I'm concerned, the best running back EVER in football.
In basketball, I liked Oscar Robinson... who AVERAGED a Triple Double for an entire season... Always loved watching Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird too.
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Post by bluehen on Feb 12, 2016 20:51:47 GMT
Probably Stan Musial but my all time favorite to read about would have to be Babe Ruth.....the all time one of a kind, break the mold individual of sports.
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Post by FLORIDA HERD FAN on Feb 12, 2016 23:18:54 GMT
I met Stan Musial at an old timers baseball game, around 1987. What a super nice guy. The game was a charity event to raise funds to help former MLB players who were down on their luck. Musial might have been the most underrated MLB player ever.
My son, who was 11 or 12 at the time, and I sat immediately in front of the players and wives - except for the players on the field. As the former players were being introduced, they walked directly past my son and me to their seats. I pointed out the ones for my son to ask for autographs.
One was Ewell Blackwell, a great pitcher in his time. Blackwell told my son to wait an inning or so, and then come up to where he was sitting. Dutifully, after an inning my son headed up the steps. He didn't return to his seat for several innings. He sat beside Ewell Blackwell the entire time while Blackwell told him stories, and gave him baseball tips.
My son collected at least 100 autographs that evening, many from some of the greatest players ever.
Johnny Van Der Meer, the only pitcher to pitch consecutive no-hitters, was a close friend of the father of my son's Little League coach, and came to help out at a couple of practices. With my son beside me, I asked Van Der Meer if he remembered Ewell Blackwell. He replied that he considered Blackwell to be the greatest right handed pitcher ever. My son was in total shock.
We sat directly in front of the wives of Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson. They were the two biggest gossips I have ever heard in my life. I'm not sure if either of them took a breath for 9 innings.
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Post by FLORIDA HERD FAN on Feb 12, 2016 23:36:48 GMT
Anyway, back on topic, as a kid:
I followed Hank Aaron from his first at bat ever until his last.
I followed Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Bill Campbell in golf. Campbell was a friend, and a great amateur golfer. He became President of the USGA and Captain of the Royal and Ancient. I believe that he is the only person to have headed up both of golf's governing agencies.
I followed Hal Greer, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West in NBA basketball, and Leo Byrd, Bevo Francis and Pete Maravich in college basketball.
Rocky Marciano in boxing.
Jim Brown in the NFL.
I was fascinated with Roger Bannister running the first sub-4 minute mile, and Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide being the first to climb Mount Everest.
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Post by Hero on Feb 13, 2016 13:15:15 GMT
Hank Aaron
I got to see him and the Braves when I was a youngster.
I was there when he hit his 500th home run.
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Post by bluehen on Feb 13, 2016 14:15:07 GMT
I met Stan Musial at an old timers baseball game, around 1987. What a super nice guy. The game was a charity event to raise funds to help former MLB players who were down on their luck. Musial might have been the most underrated MLB player ever. My son, who was 11 or 12 at the time, and I sat immediately in front of the players and wives - except for the players on the field. As the former players were being introduced, they walked directly past my son and me to their seats. I pointed out the ones for my son to ask for autographs. One was Ewell Blackwell, a great pitcher in his time. Blackwell told my son to wait an inning or so, and then come up to where he was sitting. Dutifully, after an inning my son headed up the steps. He didn't return to his seat for several innings. He sat beside Ewell Blackwell the entire time while Blackwell told him stories, and gave him baseball tips. My son collected at least 100 autographs that evening, many from some of the greatest players ever. Johnny Van Der Meer, the only pitcher to pitch consecutive no-hitters, was a close friend of the father of my son's Little League coach, and came to help out at a couple of practices. With my son beside me, I asked Van Der Meer if he remembered Ewell Blackwell. He replied that he considered Blackwell to be the greatest right handed pitcher ever. My son was in total shock. We sat directly in front of the wives of Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson. They were the two biggest gossips I have ever heard in my life. I'm not sure if either of them took a breath for 9 innings. Thanks for sharing, FHF. What a great experience for you and your boy. |
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Post by EvilVodka on Feb 15, 2016 15:54:05 GMT
hmmm...I don't know if I have a favorite....
NFL: I've got much respect for Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, and Steve Young. Also huge fan of Barry Sanders
NBA: The Spurs....Tim Duncan, Popovich, classy organization
Boxing: Evander Holyfield....really liked watching him battle all the other big heavyweights
College Football: Charlie Ward and Warrick Dunn...Dunn is a class act
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Post by doc on Feb 16, 2016 23:13:33 GMT
I met Stan Musial at an old timers baseball game, around 1987. What a super nice guy. The game was a charity event to raise funds to help former MLB players who were down on their luck. Musial might have been the most underrated MLB player ever. My son, who was 11 or 12 at the time, and I sat immediately in front of the players and wives - except for the players on the field. As the former players were being introduced, they walked directly past my son and me to their seats. I pointed out the ones for my son to ask for autographs. One was Ewell Blackwell, a great pitcher in his time. Blackwell told my son to wait an inning or so, and then come up to where he was sitting. Dutifully, after an inning my son headed up the steps. He didn't return to his seat for several innings. He sat beside Ewell Blackwell the entire time while Blackwell told him stories, and gave him baseball tips. My son collected at least 100 autographs that evening, many from some of the greatest players ever. Johnny Van Der Meer, the only pitcher to pitch consecutive no-hitters, was a close friend of the father of my son's Little League coach, and came to help out at a couple of practices. With my son beside me, I asked Van Der Meer if he remembered Ewell Blackwell. He replied that he considered Blackwell to be the greatest right handed pitcher ever. My son was in total shock. We sat directly in front of the wives of Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson. They were the two biggest gossips I have ever heard in my life. I'm not sure if either of them took a breath for 9 innings. Thanks for sharing, FHF. What a great experience for you and your boy. Speaking about one of the great old timers....a dear friend of ours has 3 daughters. When the oldest was about 10 she was having some medical issues so they had some tests run and it was determined that she had juvenile diabetes. Naturally after the oldest was diagnosed it was recommended that the younger girls were also tested and they also were determined to have diabetes. Obviously, our friend was pretty upset - you obviously think the worst in situations like this, especially when you don't know the life of your family is about to change and you're not exactly sure how. Shortly after the the girls were diagnosed, he attended one of those dream week camps for baseball. I think it was scheduled before the girls were diagnosed so he went although his heart really wasn't in it. Well one of the old timer major league players who was in attendance that week picked up on our friends depression and asked him what was going on. Our friend told him about his daughters and this guy's first response was "well,chat are WE going to do about it?" As it turns out, this guy was also diabetic and he told our friend that day, whatever I can do to help you, I'll be there. The player was Jim 'Mudcat' Grant and from that day a beautiful relationship has evolved. Mudcat helped our friend establish a celebrity golf event in Louisville and 2 years ago they passed the million dollar mark in funds raised. Muscat got many of his old timer friends to attend the event on their own dime and he's been to every event. Two years ago we attended our friends' daughter' wedding and Mudcat sang the old sang several songs - he was awesome. Weve been to several of the outings, one year Mudcat was our foursomes' celebrity. He is one of the most gracious and caring men I've ever met. He played at a time when blacks weren't treated well at all and some of the stories he tells are unbelievable. He could be bitter but he's not. And he's very open about some of the things he's been through. Just a great man, I could sit and listen to him tell baseball stories all night long. |
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Post by FLORIDA HERD FAN on Feb 17, 2016 4:51:28 GMT
That is awesome, Doc. I remember Mudcat's playing days well. I wonder where he picked up that moniker? He used to have a TV show, where he sang and danced. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8iu4xTDMU |
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Post by bluehen on Feb 17, 2016 13:09:44 GMT
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Post by doc on Feb 17, 2016 14:41:08 GMT
Thanks for posting this. Mudcat told us the story about leaving Minnesota due to his relationship with a white woman - that didn't play well in Minnesota back in the 1960's. They basically broke off the relationship and went their separate ways, they both got married. Years later they reconnected, both had been divorced, and they've been married ever since - I'm thinking it's been well over 30 years.
He has so many stories - it really is mesmerizing sitting and listening to him tell baseball stories. And he can sing the blues like BB King.
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Post by doc on Feb 17, 2016 14:50:28 GMT
That is awesome, Doc. I remember Mudcat's playing days well. I wonder where he picked up that moniker? He used to have a TV show, where he sang and danced. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8iu4xTDMUThanks for sharing this. Imagine sitting with Mudcat all night long, him telling stories, singing songs and being captivated by everything he says. This is a 5 minute clip but it shows just how generous and genuine he is. One of the nicest people I've ever met. |
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Post by Bevo on Feb 17, 2016 17:19:15 GMT
That is VERY cool... I never heard of "Mudcat". Maybe I'll play in his tourney this year.
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Post by doc on Feb 17, 2016 19:13:00 GMT
That is VERY cool... I never heard of "Mudcat". Maybe I'll play in his tourney this year. I'll let you know when it is. It's not named for Mudcat but he comes to take part every year. |
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