By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Make like Wally, and release your inner James Joyce. Show us your stream of consciousness as you try to decipher the answer.
I can thank a Super-Bowl winning quarterback for my career. Well kinda. I’m not a wide receiver or tight end or anything like that. It’s just that that guy might have helped me focus my efforts. Maybe you could stretch things a little and compare me to Wally Pipp. You see, I spent the first couple years of my college career as a back-up QB. When I finally got a chance, I got hurt, and he took over from there. He’s racked up quite a few yards passing. I’ve racked up quite a few hits. Not many out there would compare our careers, but you could. I don’t know his stats off the top of my head, but I know he’s led the league in at least a couple of passing categories. Me? I led the league in hits, average, OBP, RBI and slugging all in the same season. Somehow, I didn’t get an MVP that year. Something about me hitting where the air is too thin. What do they know? I’ve had some good seasons since then. Nothing like that year though. 11 of my 14 years I have hit over .300. Yeah, I guess that QB helped. Lord knows what would have happened had I taken over for Colquitt, and things went better. My life might have been different….Nahhhh!
Who am I?
“Hitting where the air is too thin.” So he’s a former Rockie. Hits, avg, RBI, and OBP – but not HRs. I recall a guy flirting with the triple crown a few times in Colorado. I’m trying to envision him playing QB even though he’s Canadian. I don’t know if I see it but I’ll take a shot. Larry Walker?
I don’t think it’s Walker, but I think it is indeed a Rockie. I’m pretty sure Todd Helton played CFB (Nebraska?). Anyway, now I have to noodle this while I drive to the office. Hopefully someone will advance the ball down the field in the meantime.
Okay … I’m back at this. I’m pretty sure it’s not Larry Walker because 1) he actually won an MVP, 2) he’s Canadian … so probably played hockey and not college football (I know, this is kinda weak), and 3) he also was more of a power hitter so I doubt he hit over .300 for 11 seasons.
I still believe that Todd Helton is the answer because I’m almost positive he played CFB and that his career has been one of consistently high batting average, OBP and extra base hits … and he has not won an MVP. However, I’m not sure he played football at Nebraska … that was probably another MLB player who punted for Nebraska that I’m thinking of. So who did Helton play CFB for? Well … Colquitt isn’t much of clue b/c he hasn’t won a Super Bowl. But this was at school where one of the QBs won a Super bowl and has a few passing records … So is that QB Brett Favre from Southern Miss? Is it Tom Brady of Michigan? Maybe Peyton Manning of Tennessee? Troy Aikman of UCLA? My guess would be that it’s Manning … simply because Helton is probably roughly same age as Manning, whereas he’s much older than Brady, I think, and he’s younger than Favre and Aikman. Geeez, who ISN’T younger than Favre???? 😉
So that’s my final answer: Todd Helton of the Rockies who also played some QB for the Tennessee Vols … I think. Casey??
This was buggin me all day … Darin Erstad was the MLB player who also played for the Nebraska football team (punter). For years, I’ve always confused Erstad and Helton … both are good left-handed hitters who play some first base. Erstad is now retired I believe.
Wally – Outstanding work brotha. Your knowledge of sports trivia is surpassed only by the energy you put into the Who Am I? Great stuff.
Thanks, Casey. I’ll take that as a helmet sticker. It’s amazing how one can sort out thoughts and memories during a 45 min drive to the office. Of course, it costs me some gas $.
What’s most amazing to me is that Wally’s knowledge is of “sports” trivia, not just baseball, or basketball, or football, or horse racing, or golf. I’m thinking the only place I might outshine him is NASCAR!
I hate this stupid game and I hate all of you!
Rey – look forward to you back here when we do WAI? next week 🙂
Pete —
I’ll definitely concede NASCAR trivia to you or anyone. What is NASCAR anyway?? 😉
Wally – can you throw Rey some love? It sounds like he feels neglected. 🙂
Yes.
Rey — Don’t you realize that you totally kick-started the analysis on this one??? Together, we drove the ball 99 yards down the field and it was your 60 yard bomb (it’s a Rockie!) on the very first play that made it all possible. NICE WORK!!! Absolutely a helmet sticker … AND … we’ll have Aunt Bea make you a pie.
How’s that, Casey?
Should I have Aunt Bea make a blueberry pie?
This was an easy one. Too bad I was on vacation. I don’t think Erstad’s officially retired, but he hasn’t played this year, so his career is probably ever. He was always one of my favorite players, for some reason. Here’s what he’s up to now: https://www.brightfutures4kids.org/events/2010_erstad_detail.php