Brett Fah-ve-rah comes to mind for me.
I don’t remember ever being a fan of the Green Bay Packers. Of the 70’s Packers only Chester Marcoal sticks in my craw. I had heard and read stories of the great Vince Lombardi. I loved seeing video clips of the famed ‘Frozen Tundra’ game. They play in Lambeau (Curly of ND lore) Field, and the team is community-owned – like my hometown Rochester Red Wings (sometime I’ll have to tell the legend of 8,222). Cheese-Heads dot the crowd, and very few teams can proudly boast of the green and yellow color scheme of the Packers.
All of this took on more meaning when Favre donned the #4 jersey (something about #4 – Orr – Favre…and oh yeah I should probably mention Gehrig). I can’t recall a specific incident, rather the ‘rough and tumble’ persona of Favre.
I remember getting fired up watching him scramble and leaning into contact head-first. Then after getting knocked around by a linebacker who he was giving up seventy pounds to, Favre bounced up and slapped the opponent on his helmet as if to say: “Now that’s how you play football.” I loved watching the Packers run a reverse and seeing Favre give a great lead block. When he first did this announcers would go ga-ga, now it’s expected.
Eventually, I began checking the TV listings to find out when the Packers played. If…no actually WHEN the Giants weren’t playing well, I started watching Favre. Favre playing the Monday Night game meant a tough day at work on Tuesday. Favre playing at Lambeau in December or January was an automatic.
To top it off his appearance in ‘Something About Mary’ with Jonathan Richman crooning in the background cemented Favre’s place in Casey’s list of favorite athletes.
So loyal readers who is the athlete that you have adjusted your schedule for?
Dave Scheer says
Dave Keon #14 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1960s. Small but what a quick skater and hard worker. Won Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP) for Stanley Cup finals in 1967.
ccww says
Great to hear from ya Dave. The Leafs – the last team to win the Cup with the old Original Six format.
Muels says
Larry Bird- I’ve said it here before, without Bird and Magic I still struggle to get interested in the NBA…
Mikemurph says
This may sound Cliche, but I can sit and watch Tiger Woods for hours on end, and I have minimal interest in watching a golf event unless he is entered. The reason being why bother watching the event unless the best player in the world is competing…Paul, I hope this makes you happy I have entered something!
Aaron says
After moving to Boston, I went out of my way to see Ken Griffey Jr. play about 3 or 4 times when he was with the Seattle Mariners.
I alwasy felt like he was going to do something special -whether at the plate, on the basepaths, or in the field..
I put off paying a couple of bills just to make sure I could afford a ticket..
Wally says
Dick Allen, my first childhood sports hero, 1B for the early ’70’s White Sox. MVP in ’72 or so. Cool dude … and he could really hit … back when 30 HRs was an awesome year.
Bobby Hull of the Blackhawks, The “Golden Jet” was both tough and skilled … he had the hardest slapshot in hockey back then and a flair for end to end rushes.
Walter Payton, probably the best all-around football player I ever saw. Even when Bears were bad, amazing how he could get 100-200 yards every game even though everyone knew he was getting the ball. He could also block, catch and pass. Often ran over people.
Michael Jordan … simply amazing as both an athlete and a competitor. Can’t remember a big game in which he didn’t play great. To those of us in Chicago, we thought we were watching “the Babe Ruth of basketball”.
Joe Montana, the comeback kid, probably the modern-day standard by which QBs are judged. Picked defenses apart with surgical precision. Both in college and in NFL, the game was never over if Joe was on the field. His legendary pass to Dwight Clark that beat the Cowboys in playoffs in early ’80’s was a milestone event that not only catapulted the 49ers dynasty, but also fueled the NFL’s popularity.
Nolan Ryan … he threw in the mid-high 90s consistently at a time when the average major league fastball was in the mid-80s. He was just a freak for most of that era, as evidenced by 7 no-hitters. Not the best “pitcher” of his era, but clearly the most fun to watch. Today, there are several guys like him, but the hitters have dialed it up, too.
Modern day … Sammy Sosa in his prime with the Cubs. Didn’t know at the time that steriods may have been a factor, but he was an AWESOME run producer for 4-5 years with Cubs. Seemed capable of hitting it out on every at bat. Plus he hustled, was enthusiastic and fun to watch.
Last one for now … the Spurs trio of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. Each are extremely talented on their own, but together they play great team ball, which is a joy to see and evidenced by 3 chan’ships and working on a 4th. The ability of G&P to get to the basket is way under-appreciated.
Wally
ccww says
Wally,
I totally agree with you about Parker. He is not as flashy as Nash, but he can be just as effective. DON’T WORRY I STILL THINK NASH IS FRIGGIN’ AMAZING!!!!!
Casey
StevieD says
Maybe its because he plays ball like I wish I could – but I love the way Jose Reyes plays the game. He plays hard, can run like the wind and always has a huge smile on his face.
Even though I grew up watching the tail end of Gilbert Perreault’s carrer with his skating and scoring abilities, I loved watching Peter Forsberg in his prime in Colorado. He had great open ice skills and vision, but also played with and edge. if he went into the corner you knew he was coming out with the puck.
ccww says
Stevie D,
Great stuff – Gilbert Perrault and The French Connection.
Casey
Wally says
Who is Jose Reyes? Seriously.
ccww says
Seriously? SS for the Mets – and a heckuva ball player.
Casey
Wally says
I wanted to watch some of that game last night, but got home too late. Is Reyes a rookie or sophomore? Don’t tell me neither, cuz then i’m clearly out of touch. Sorry if I insulted anyone.
ccww says
Reyes has been in the show for five years. 1st he played 69 games, 2nd year 53, then 161, and 153 the last two years.
Casey
Aaron says
I am willing to say that in a year or 2… if not already, Jose Reyes may be the best shortstop in baseball.
ccww says
Reyes won the NL Silver Slugger for SS last year, and he has led the league in stolen bases the last two years.
Casey