Favorite non Boston Athletic ?

[carolinatony]

Who would be your favorite Athletic who didn't play in Boston?

I have a tie between Ernie Banks and George Brett. Two class guys and hard to root against either one of these players. Still remember that Tar pine situation with the Yankees and Brett.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Phil Simms , Love the Giants teams when the Pats were not doing well

 

[TeamPats]

Who would be your favorite Athletic who didn't play in Boston?

I have a tie between Ernie Banks and George Brett. Two class guys and hard to root against either one of these players. Still remember that Tar pine situation with the Yankees and Brett.

My family is from Chicago and both my parents grew up in the city. We have since moved to CT about 25 years ago. But at the age of 17 my mother used to go on the road as a "Bleacher Bum" with the Cubs in 1969. She is still devastated about the season to this day. She used to stay with the team in their hotels and was able to befriend the players. My mom became great friends with Ernie Banks and said he was the ultimate class act. He was always true to his wife and never chased the women like most of his teammates. She was friends with him up through college and they used to write one another back and forth. I remember growing up staring at pictures of him around my house wondering who this guy was. A class act all the way.

On a related note, my mother also used to work at the stadium when she got older serving drinks to the Media. While many people think that was the home of Harry Carry, it was actually Jack Brickhouse's domain and Carry called for the Sox. It wasn't until later that he came over to Wrigley. But she used to serve both of them as somtimes she worked Comisky. She said that if they drank only one beer in an inning it was only because they were hungover from the night before, it was assumed she must bring up a cold beer to each announcer at the top of every inning. He would be slurring by the 7th, and butchering Hispanic names.

P.S. this is the same woman who would not let me have a girl over to my house past 10pm until well... she still won't, hence I had to move out. Cool lady though.

 

[chunkypony]

Probably either Brendan Shanahan (NY Rangers, formerly of the Red Wings) or Walter Payton.

 

[dtbrks]

"The Great One"

 

[Peter Pat]

Well being a huge C's fan, I will say Lebron or Dwayne Wade. Both are class guys who would instantly make the C's contenders. Well hopefully the C's keep stinking and we get Oden or Durant, and I will not have to want anymore.

 

[upstater1]

Football: Earl Campbell
Baseball: Willie Stargell, Chase Utley, Ralph Garr
Basketball: Hakeem Olajuwon
Hockey: Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Chris Chelios

 

[Mike the Brit]

Soccer: Billy Bremner
Rugby: Serge Blanco
Cricket: Gary Sobers
Football: Joe Montana

 

[PonyExpress]

Earl Campbell and Eric ****erson

 

[frankiesfly]

Phil Simms , Love the Giants teams when the Pats were not doing well

The Giants are my 2nd favorite team. My Favorite player was Lawrence Taylor. I used to love that whole defensive squad back in the 80's. Pepper Johnson, Carl Banks. Mark Ingram was my favorite reciever back then.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

Who would be your favorite Athletic who didn't play in Boston?

I have a tie between Ernie Banks and George Brett. Two class guys and hard to root against either one of these players. Still remember that Tar pine situation with the Yankees and Brett.

Steve Young, but to answer your question literally, Barry Zito.

 

[ironwasp]

I always rooted for Joe Montana's 49ers when the Patriots of that era fell out of contention (usually about week 9); admired Cal Ripken Jr enormously for the dignity with which he carried himself.

This won't mean much to many of you but aside from those I loved Martin Crowe, the NZ batsman, Sir Viv Richards and enjoyed watching the cavalier French rugby teams of the 80s and early 90s.

 

[Seymour93]

Shaquille O'Neal. I still have posters and articles of him all over my room at my parent's house. I was such a Shaq fan that when I was around ten I went to Orlando (well Disney World) and had a Shaq-themed birthday party. The only thing missing was Shaq himself! Nowadays I just can't watch the NBA. The play is horrible and most of the players are thugs.

Honorable mentions go to Roy Keane and Pudge Rodriguez.

 

[frankiesfly]

Shaquille O'Neal. I still have posters and articles of him all over my room at my parent's house. I was such a Shaq fan that when I was around ten I went to Orlando (well Disney World) and had a Shaq-themed birthday party. The only thing missing was Shaq himself! Nowadays I just can't watch the NBA. The play is horrible and most of the players are thugs.

Honorable mentions go to Roy Keane and Pudge Rodriguez.

I have a shaq rookie card autographed.

 

[PATSNUTme]

All New England Patriots because they are New Englands team, not Boston's. Boston is obsessed with that baseball team.

 

[Seymour93]

I have a shaq rookie card autographed.

You can keep it. Safe to say the NBA just no longer is a passion for me anymore. I still like Shaq, but even when he was with the Lakers my interest was dying down. Shaq and Penny Hardaway in the playoffs... now those were the days!

BTW, How great is the NBA on NBC theme music? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UooitEU6AtE :rocker:

 

[Mike the Brit]

Shaquille O'Neal. I still have posters and articles of him all over my room at my parent's house. I was such a Shaq fan that when I was around ten I went to Orlando (well Disney World) and had a Shaq-themed birthday party. The only thing missing was Shaq himself! Nowadays I just can't watch the NBA. The play is horrible and most of the players are thugs.

Honorable mentions go to Roy Keane and Pudge Rodriguez.

Contradiction here!

 

[Seymour93]

Contradiction here!

Keano is not a gang banger! He's a law and order man. There's nowt wrong with that. It's to be admired actually. Meanwhile did you see what Henry did to Wigan keeper Kirkland? And the way Henry celebrates his goals. He's the Terrell Owens of English football. Now there is a thug!

 

[Mike the Brit]

Keano is not a gang banger! He's a law and order man. There's nowt wrong with that. It's to be admired actually. Meanwhile did you see what Henry did to Wigan keeper Kirkland? And the way Henry celebrates his goals. He's the Terrell Owens of English football. Now there is a thug!

Alf Inge Haaland ...

 

[gomezcat]

Rugby: like Ironwasp and Mike, I was a big admirer of the French teams of the 80s and 90s. I ALMOST cheered when Saint-Andre scored that last gasp try against a stultifyingly dull England side.
Out of the current crop of players, I'd say Richard Hill. We really missed his dynamism and work rate. Magnus Lund will hopefully develop into something similar. It gives me hope that the architect of the best England sides to watch, Brian Ashton, is now the coach.
Cricket: Richards, for sheer destruction of the bowling, Warne for being utterly brilliant and Malcolm Marshall. Flintoff has potential, as does Pietersen. Neither are there, yet.
Football: Ronnie Lott. He really maintained my interest in the NFL in his role as a one man wrecking crew. Barry Sanders also comes to mind.
Soccer: Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson.