Iconic sports personalities in my lifetime

[WhiteBus]

This weekend we say goodbye to one of the greatest announcers ever.
I've lived a life where I saw or heard the best of the best.
In baseball it has to be Gibson as a starter. Mariano as reliever. Saw Secretariat, and American Pharoah. Golf Jack. Hockey Martin Brodeaur.
Announcers no one can top Doc in hockey.
But the only person who is best of the best, that has been a constant in my lifetime is Vin Scully. Sunday is his last call. Sad but thrilled for him. An annoucer that is as good today, or better than the first time I listened to him. Nobody that ever called a game is/was better than him.
Going to miss him a lot.

 

[RUtix4me]

Lol talk about people starting stupid threads, thanks for your contribution, our odds of winning the big ten just increased

 

[brodo]

Muhammad Ali was pretty good.

 

[RU4]

Bo Jackson, Carl Lewis, Mike Tyson, Lawrence Taylor, Mariano Rivera, Wayne Gretzsky, Michael Jordan. I witnessed some of the best ever in my 41 years.

 

[WhiteBus]

Muhammad Ali was pretty good.

Yes one of many I've missed. But that's my point. Name yours. The list is a lot longer than presented. And your lifetime, everyone's lifetime is different. But Vin Scully can cover all generation of all of us on here.

 

[hinson32]

This weekend we say goodbye to one of the greatest announcers ever.
I've lived a life where I saw or heard the best of the best.
In baseball it has to be Gibson as a starter. Mariano as reliever. Saw Secretariat, and American Pharoah. Golf Jack. Hockey Martin Brodeaur.
Announcers no one can top Doc in hockey.
But the only person who is best of the best, that has been a constant in my lifetime is Vin Scully. Sunday is his last call. Sad but thrilled for him. An annoucer that is as good today, or better than the first time I listened to him. Nobody that ever called a game is/was better than him.
Going to miss him a lot.

I agree. The best ever. BTW, he is calling the last four games in SF next week. So, we get four more. My Dad grew up and is still a Dodger fanatic, so, I well versed in Vin. I am a Reds fan myself, but have spent many late nights with the MLB package listening to Scully. I will miss him.

 

[WhiteBus]

Bo Jackson, Carl Lewis, Mike Tyson, Lawrence Taylor, Mariano Rivera, Wayne Gretzsky, Michael Jordan. I witnessed some of the best ever in my 41 years.

I'm older but agree on your list except Taylor. Nothing against him but Dick Butkus was it. And Tyson meh. Not as good as Ali or Frazer but our lifetimes are different

 

[WhiteBus]

I agree. The best ever. BTW, he is calling the last four games in SF next week. So, we get four more. My Dad grew up and is still a Dodger fanatic, so, I well versed in Vin. I am a Reds fan myself, but have spent many late nights with the MLB package listening to Scully. I will miss him.

Vin was the sole reason I've had the baseball package for years. Have enjoyed watching the Cubs this year so there that...

 

[Source]

Vin Scully was a 1949 graduate of Fordham University. He called football games as a student announcer on WFUV that went on the air in 1947. So if he did announce a Fordham-Rutgers football game, the two likely candidates would have been October 18, 1947 with Rutgers winning 36-6 and/or November 20, 1948 with Rutgers winning 28-19. Both games were held at Rutgers Stadium.

Vin Scully also played centerfield on Fordham. Don't know if Rutgers met Fordham on the schedule at the time.

 

[WhiteBus]

Vin Scully was a 1949 graduate of Fordham University. He called football games as a student announcer on WFUV that went on the air in 1947. So if he did announce a Fordham-Rutgers football game, the two likely candidates would have been October 18, 1947 with Rutgers winning 36-6 and/or November 20, 1948 with Rutgers winning 28-19. Both games were held at Rutgers Stadium.

Vin Scully also played centerfield on Fordham. Don't know if Rutgers met Fordham on the schedule at the time.

Source. You know it all. We need to go meet up at knightfan7 place one of these day. I'm buying

 

[Source]

Source. You know it all. We need to go meet up at knightfan7 place one of these day. I'm buying

Well if you're buying, I'll take a 1963 Grand Sport Corvette

 

[colbert17]

Can tell how young some of these posters are. I'll just list a few and I know I'll miss many.
1.Ali
2.Jordan
3.Koufax
4.Jim Brown
5.Wilt (the most dominant player to step on the court, youngsters need to look up his records)
6.Gretzky
7.Bobby Orr
8.Tiger
9.Willie Mays
10. Marty Bordeur (very,very under rated, if he played for the Rangers he would have been a god!! refer to the over rated Lundquist as an example)

 

[Shelby65]

Ali of course, but are those others actually notable personalities ? Absolutely not. You're talking just athletics superstars.

Magic Johnson, Yogi, Billy Martin, Broadway Joe...etc. that's my definition of sports personalities

 

[WhiteBus]

Well if you're buying, I'll take a 1963 Grand Sport Corvette

when I find one and can afford it, it's all yours. In the meantime it's drinks or soda. A Leggits meeting will do until than.

 

[RUClassof67]

Muhammad Ali was pretty good.

Met Ali Mantle, DiMaggio and many others. But one real thrill was walking 9 holes at a Senior golf event with Arnold Palmer. Talk about charisma!

 

[WhiteBus]

Ali of course, but are those others actually notable personalities ? Absolutely not. You're talking just athletics superstars.

Magic Johnson, Yogi, Billy Martin, Broadway Joe...etc. that's my definition of sports personalities

Best of the best. Magic great yes, best no way, Billy no, Joe my god no.

 

[RUpop]

For me as a fan Ali is top.
If I were a pro athlete today I'd be thanking Marvin Miller.

 

[LC-88]

Can tell how young some of these posters are. I'll just list a few and I know I'll miss many.
1.Ali
2.Jordan
3.Koufax
4.Jim Brown
5.Wilt (the most dominant player to step on the court, youngsters need to look up his records)
6.Gretzky
7.Bobby Orr
8.Tiger
9.Willie Mays
10. Marty Bordeur (very,very under rated, if he played for the Rangers he would have been a god!! refer to the over rated Lundquist as an example)

For hockey I'd add: Gordie Howe, Mario, and Ken Dryden.

 

[WhiteBus]

For hockey I'd add: Gordie Howe, Mario, and Ken Dryden.

Iconic and the best. Nice list but pick one who is the best of the best of the best. Gretsky and Martin are bigger in my opinion

 

[newell138]

when I find one and can afford it, it's all yours. In the meantime it's drinks or soda. A Leggits meeting will do until than.

If you're a vet fan we had over 400 of them here in ocean city last weekend. Pretty impressive display every year represented. They do it every September

 

[WhiteBus]

If you're a vet fan we had over 400 of them here in ocean city last weekend. Pretty impressive display every year represented. They do it every September

Source. Sounds like a road trip. Just need to win the lottery

 

[e5fdny]

numba 4....Bobby Orr.

LT

Both changed their game.

 

[WhiteBus]

numba 4....Bobby Orr.

LT

Both changed their game.

I agree on Orr. But Gretsky was better. LT changed the game, was awesome but better than Butkus? Debatable depending on your age

 

[colbert17]

numba 4....Bobby Orr.

LT

Both changed their game.

Went to college in NE my freshman year. Had the chance to see those Bruin teams in person and on TV. I swear to God it looked like Orr could score any time he wanted. Nobody, not even Gretzky could dominate a game like him. You have to also remember that he was a defenseman!!!

 

[e5fdny]

Went to college in NE my freshman year. Had the chance to see those Bruin teams in person and on TV. I swear to God it looked like Orr could score any time he wanted. Nobody, not even Gretzky could dominate a game like him. You have to also remember that he was a defenseman!!!

And that's why he has my vote.

Same for LT. Ask Joe Gibbs.

 

[Shelby65]

again..top "personalities"...not top athletes. go:

 

[e5fdny]

again..top "personalities"...not top athletes. go:

For around here...Joe Willie and the "straw that stirs the drink"

 

[HeyHuey]

Johnny Unitas, Ali, Joe Namath, Dr J/MJ, LT. I have to mention Usain Bolt. He is real game-changer.

 

[colbert17]

If it's personalities it starts and ends with one word.......Ali.

 

[kennyschiano]

as being the absolute best at what they did in my time of really watching sports:

bob shephard PA announcing for the yankees
tiger woods
michael jordan
mariano rivera
floyd mayweather jr
ronaldo (the brazilian striker before he got hurt)
martin brodeur
doc emerick
michael phelps
usain bolt

 

[RutgHoops]

I'm 50:

Ali
Tom Brady
Ken Griffey Jr (cheaters dont count so no on Bonds or anyone who played for the NY Yankees since 1990)
Larry Bird (as a Knick fan I'll never write Jordan even though he was the best)
Gretzky
Pele
Tiger
Christian Laettner (best COLLEGE BB player I saw)
Coach K
Phil Jackson
Bill Belichek
Bo Jackson (best college FB player I saw)
Spend A Buck (won the Kentucky Derby with a Top 5 EVER time, skipped the rest of the Triple Crown to run in the Jersey Derby for $2MM)

 

[e5fdny]

as being the absolute best at what they did in my time of really watching sports:

bob shephard PA announcing for the yankees
tiger woods
michael jordan
mariano rivera
floyd mayweather jr
ronaldo (the brazilian striker before he got hurt)
martin brodeur
doc emerick
michael phelps
usain bolt

Great call on Bob Shepard! "Say fans, in today's Pro Magazine..." "Now batting at SS #2 Derek Jeter, #2"

Also Doc Emerick, "100 seconds to go in this 3rd period!" I mean who says stuff like that? LOL

Ken Griffey Jr (cheaters dont count so no on Bonds or anyone who played for the NY Yankees)

Spend A Buck (won the Kentucky Derby with a Top 5 EVER time, skipped the rest of the Triple Crown to run in the Jersey Derby for $2MM)

Not a Yankee fan either but if you live around here how do you leave off Reginald Martinez Jackson?

And I remember when Spend A Buck ran at Monmouth. It was a big deal.

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

Pretty good article on Baseball Reference the other day, pointing out some of the great statical moments by Dodgers of Scully's career and his calls of them. http://www.sports-reference.com/blo...l-trip-thru-vin-scullys-extraordinary-career/
http://www.sports-reference.com/blo...l-trip-thru-vin-scullys-extraordinary-career/
Also in terms of all time greats that we saw or have seen in person, we can watch one right now and he's from New Jersey. Mike Trout has had one of the best 5 year starts to his career of anyone who has ever played the game.

 

[BABYBULL24]

Piazza not a big of Scully...

http://awfulannouncing.com/2013/mike-piazza-trashes-vin-scully-in-his-new-book.html

 

[MoobyCow]

Good thread. I tend to think of sports in iconic moments, more than as a list of iconic players, but there have been more than a few great ones in recent years.

I think it's worth mentioning in this thread, that what Carli Lloyd did during the WC last year is about as iconic of a performance as you're going to see.

 

[rubaseball78]

Can tell how young some of these posters are. I'll just list a few and I know I'll miss many.
1.Ali
2.Jordan
3.Koufax
4.Jim Brown
5.Wilt (the most dominant player to step on the court, youngsters need to look up his records)
6.Gretzky
7.Bobby Orr
8.Tiger
9.Willie Mays
10. Marty Bordeur (very,very under rated, if he played for the Rangers he would have been a god!! refer to the over rated Lundquist as an example)

No Nate Colbert?

 

[lne001]

Iconic sports personalities in my lifetime - any that played since 1946.

Seriously though , my first sports hero/icon was Willie Mays in 1954. Still believe he's the best player I've ever seen. A master of all 5 elements of the game. Only one other athlete has come close to that level for me personally since then - Larry Bird. Again, superb all-around player.

Have signed jerseys for both, and no one else.

 

[RUhasarrived]

One of the advantages of having morning kindergarten in 1955-56 was being able to listen to Scully on the Dodger games in the afternoon.In 1956,SPORT Magazine had a story entitled:'Young Man with a Dream Job."I lost/threw out that magazine.

I seem to recall some controversy occurring when Phil Rizzuto went into the Yankees' broadcasting booth in 1956.It may have been something about Phil's not having a degree,but I'm not sure who brought up that issue.It's a good thing that nothing ever resulted from that.

 

[rubaseball78]

While not iconic figures, here are my first heroes.

Football - Sam Huff
Baseball - Rod Kaneahl (started watching Mets in '62)
BBall - Dick Barnett (something about the crazy leg kick on his jumper)
Hockey - Ed Giacomin

 

[colbert17]

No Nate Colbert?

Actually met Nate on a couple of occasions. Believe me not much of a personality.