What sports figure do you love the most? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

What sports figure do you love the most?

BobbyJ said:
And when he knew he couldn't physically do it anymore, he retired right before spring training Mar.1,'69. Left a $100K contract on the table.
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As a child, it was definitely The Mick. In 1951, his rookie season, on a fly ball hit to right center, hit by Willie Mays in the second game of the World Series, Mantle was called off the ball by Joe DiMaggio in center field. He stepped on an exposed drain pipe injuring his left knee and leg which eventually turned to osteomyelitis where the bone actually bleeds. As great as he was, we would never know his true promise. Casey Stengel said he had the greatest talent he had ever seen. He was the fastest player in the major leagues from home to first as a rookie and had unique power as a switch hitter his whole career. Now, I have to say it is Diana. She is just a winner, pure and simple.
 
BobbyJ said:
And when he knew he couldn't physically do it anymore, he retired right before spring training Mar.1,'69. Left a $100K contract on the table.
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Seem to recall Larry Bird did essentially the same.
 
60s - #7 the days I was selling peanuts at the stadium as my first job
70s - Willis, Clyde & DeBusschere
80s - my kids - my coaching glory days of soccer and b'ball
90s- Joe Torre & Jen Rizzotti
00s - Diana
10s - Stef & Kiah Stokes
Now - Anna Mak!
 
It is just insane to think how high Mantle's star would have shown sans injuries. As they say, a generational player. I am not a Yankee fan but I recognize special players.
 
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Rixxx said:
It is just insane to think how high Mantle's star would have shown sans injuries. As they say, a generational player. I am not a Yankee fan but I recognize special players.
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How much did the alcohol effect mickeys career
 
As a kid I was a big Marty Barrett fan (second baseman of the Red Sox). Tom Brady of the Pats, would be a great choice. I still think Wayne Gretzky, while not my favorite was the greatest of all time within his sport. I root for any former UCONN player in the pros.

But, how about Connecticut's own Doug Henry. Even if you are not a fan of motocross, the Henry story is a great one:

 
Bronxjeff said:
60s - #7 the days I was selling peanuts at the stadium as my first job
70s - Willis, Clyde & DeBusschere
80s - my kids - my coaching glory days of soccer and b'ball
90s- Joe Torre & Jen Rizzotti
00s - Diana
10s - Stef & Kiah Stokes
Now - Anna Mak!
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Interesting by decades favorites. Using that approach I go with the Mick for the 60s, the entire Knicks team for the 70s ( I can't leave out Dollar Bill or the Pearl), Larry Legend for the 80s, His Airness for the 90s, DT for the 2000s, Stewie for the 2010s, and for now, I will let you know after the first 5 UCONN games later this year. I just have a feeling it will be Paige!
 
To the OP, my wife she swam in high school. :D
ncteacher said:
But, how about Connecticut's own Doug Henry. Even if you are not a fan of motocross, the Henry story is a great one:
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Great post and very heart touching story. Not in the same type of story but there is another dirt biker from CT in the Hall Of Fame also. Jimmy Ellis who was from East Hampton and now lives in Australia. It was early to mid 70s a few of us had dirt bikes and would make our way through the woods to an old gravel pit in Durham. With all the use a course was carved out with hills, switch backs a long stretch of moguls etc.
It was rumored Jimmy would practice there on occasion, It was our day! Truck and trailer rolls up and it is Jimmy rolling out to practice around the rookies. We were thrilled and in awe at the same time, our goal was to not let him lap you twice in the same lap! A very up close display of talent and not a bit of embarrassment on our part as he was a highly world ranked local legend.
 
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(thought I had quoted woof101's post) I remember Jimmy Ellis. I also remember another Connecticut guy named Mike Guerra who was really fast. Doug is a unique story of course because of all the hardship, and the positive attitude. If you want to see another great clip watch him attempting a backflip, even though he was paralyzed and couldn't lean back, with the help of Travis Pastrana of Nitro Circus fame. Doug was Travis's idol growing up. Just shows that you should never give up.
 
Rixxx said:
Hank started out as a shortstop which he played in the Negro leagues. He also had a cross handed or split hands grip on the bat until someone changed his grip. He had strong wrists that provided the power in his home run swing. Most interesting is the fact that he never hit 50 home runs in a season.
The Braves of the late 50s had a potent top of the order. Billy Bruton, Wes Covington, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock.
The aces who pitched on 4 days rest were Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn. Spahn may still hold the record for home runs by a pitcher.
I was a Phillies fan in those days, but they stank. As you can see, I had a small interest in Milwaukee's team and County Stadium.
I agree with Husk11, uniforms were cool to a nine year old.
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Hank was also a “front side” hitter which unbelievably impressive how he could generate the power he did. Hank also had some wheels in his younger days as well. Class act all the way and his biography is a must read for any baseball fan.
 
MilfordHusky said:
I was a huge Mickey fan, growing up in Milford in the 1950s and 1960s. In the next 2 decades, after I moved to Philly, it was Mike Schmidt. He was a great player at the plate and in the field.
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Hey! Only 1 player allowed and definitely only ONE PER SPORT! That’s a 5 thread misconduct penalty on Milford...hey Nan...
 
Jim "Crash" Jensen, played for the Dolphins for 12 years. When he'd come in on third down, it was almost a guaranteed first down. Played wide receiver, tight end, quarterback, running back, special teams, whatever they needed him to do. Still my favorite Fin.
 
DefenseBB said:
Let’s put a positive spin on the other thread by hearing who fellow BYers are/were enamored with. Your own criteria, no explanation needed, though it is encouraged.

For me, the best player I ever saw in person and loved his game was Wayne Gretzky who made everyone, and I mean everyone around him better. His peak years were the most dominant of any Player of any sport this side of Babe Ruth and Bobby Jones. What say you? :)
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Jim Brown..IMO the greatest football player of all time..never wore hip pads..said they slowed him down..as great as he was he was an even better lacrosse player..so dominate that they chandged the rules of the game because of him
 
1587445115533.jpeg

Gotta love this guy!
 
WBB: DT
MBB: Bill Russell
Baseball: Hank Aaron
Football: Bob Lilly
Hockey: Bobby Orr
 
I’d have to say Juan Marichal. I was a 13 year old Jersey kid when he pitched his first game in the majors. It was against the Phillies. I was a huge Giants fan and had followed his minor league career - knew he was going to be great. Back in those days, they broadcast Giants games on the radio, back to the NY metropolitan area. So, of course I listened to it. He pitched a 1 hit shutout - single in the 8th. Struck out 12, walked 1. He also pitched in one of the greatest pitching duels of all time. 1963 vs Braves. He won 1-0 in 16 innings agains Warren Spahn - both pitching complete games (game won on a Willie Mays hr). I met Juan after he retired at a card show. Got a personalized, signed card from him. He was dressed in a suit and looked just elegant. He was a true gentleman.
 
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I thought about this some and came up blank. Till this evening. There's a 30 for 30 on the 1983 NC state men's basketball championship team. Jimmy Valvano is my absolute favorite sports character. When I was at UVa I loved Jimmy V. One of my favorite quotes ever was Jimmy saying, "People say I play Vinnie del Negro because he's Italian. I play him because I'M Italian."

Every year when they play that speech of his at halftime of the Jimmy V game, I watch it and I bawl. It never gets old, for me probably the most moving speech ever. This show has the 1983 players talking about him. He was a great coach, but he was such a loving person. And a dreamer. And courageous. The players still love him and revere him.

I'm not one to hold sports figures up as role models, but he was one.
 
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