What sports figure do you love the most?

[f1f1ferrari]

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.

 

[uconnfan68]

Male: Christian Laettner

Female: Allyson Felix

Where is that dislike button?

 

[browns]

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?

 

[browns]

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

 

[Mdoggie]

Gotta love this guy!

 

[triaddukefan]

Where is that dislike button?

 

[Duncan Idaho]

WBB: DT
MBB: Bill Russell
Baseball: Hank Aaron
Football: Bob Lilly
Hockey: Bobby Orr

 

[augustaTC]

Mike Trout

 

[VA Huskie]

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.

 

[Bigboote]

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.

 

[skilz]

The Big Unit and Michael Jordon!

 

[HuskylnSC]

Briana Pulido - What the game is about