Most Popular Boston Athletes Ever

[wolverinejoe80]

Folks the question isn't " Greatest" Boston athlete. It's whose " most popular". Orr was a better hockey player than Brady was football player. However Brady is and will be more popular going forward.

Ortiz is probably more popular than McHale. Yet McHale was better at his sport than Ortiz at baseball.

and how exactly orr was a better hockey player than brady was football player? that's the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard.

both are great, and you can't prove who's better than who.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Bobby Orr was and is my most popular player. That was the only name I thought of when I saw the thread title.

Having Russell in this discussion is absurd. Russell was NOT a popular player for a number of reasons. Even after both sides mellowing out for decades, he's still not anywhere near a top 10 popular player in the Boston area. We loved the rings; not so much the person.

Rocky Marciano was popular for a while, but it was a fading glory. It also was more focused on boxing fans (of which there were a lot more of at the time). But who thinks of Ricky Marciano now? Or even back in the '80s? He's only brought up now because of his undefeated record (i.e. which to some extent is because he chose to retire rather than fight with significantly diminished skills like many fighters today - but he was undefeated).

Brady is more popular than Bird. I don't know where to fit in Ortiz; he's very popular but never captured my imagination in the way other athletes did.

Ted Williams had a love/hate relationship with the media and I'm guessing that impacted his popularity. He was a terrific baseball player; I don't think he rises to the top in terms of popularity like Orr, Brady or Bird.

 

[Pats1989]

and how exactly orr was a better hockey player than brady was football player? that's the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard.

both are great, and you can't prove who's better than who.

Orr won 8Norris trophies in a row. Orr is considered the greatest D ever. Actually one of the best hockey players ever. He could do everything. Come on I love Brady. I'm not sighting him putting him behind Orr.

You can't ignore Orr's stats. Nobody was in his league. I realize different sports etc

 

[Pats1989]

Bobby Orr was and is my most popular player. That was the only name I thought of when I saw the thread title.

Having Russell in this discussion is absurd. Russell was NOT a popular player for a number of reasons. Even after both sides mellowing out for decades, he's still not anywhere near a top 10 popular player in the Boston area. We loved the rings; not so much the person.

Rocky Marciano was popular for a while, but it was a fading glory. It also was more focused on boxing fans (of which there were a lot more of at the time). But who thinks of Ricky Marciano now? Or even back in the '80s? He's only brought up now because of his undefeated record (i.e. which to some extent is because he chose to retire rather than fight with significantly diminished skills like many fighters today - but he was undefeated).

Brady is more popular than Bird. I don't know where to fit in Ortiz; he's very popular but never captured my imagination in the way other athletes did.

Ted Williams had a love/hate relationship with the media and I'm guessing that impacted his popularity. He was a terrific baseball player; I don't think he rises to the top in terms of popularity like Orr, Brady or Bird.

Is Orr more popular in Boston than Brady though? Among Bruins fans..sure.

 

[scout]

LOL those rings look they came from Woolworth's or something

Well before many here were born, Russell jumped his height. However, I imagine they measured the height with a Woolworth product.

 

[jri37]

My most popular, can't speak for anyone else.

Orr - Revolutionized how the game was played from the blue line and if he played 20 years later when orthopedics became more advanced he would have had a much longer career but for the time he played he was a must see every single shift.

Brady - not the most physically gifted but the way the guy prepares and executes is second to none. Every drive is like watching him surgically dissect defenses and I don't ever remeber a QB as good as diagnosing defenses pre-snap and then getting into the right play. GQBOAT and on the verge of becoming the best player all time.

BIll Russell - The most dominate defensive player of his era and the greatest winner of all time. Another guy who just dug down deep to will himself and his team to win.

Troy Brown - There are guys that have tremendous physical gifts and then there is Troy Brown who maximizes every ounce he can out of his.With out a doubt the guy for me earned everything he got and was one of the most unselfish players I've had the privelage to watch.

Not a big baseball guy so these are my preferences.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It has to be Orr!

Because of him New England has hockey rinks all over.

Because of him New England and the US is actually producing nhl players in record numbers.

He is a legend in Boston, beyond anything anybody else has achieved.

 

[bormio]

It has to be Orr!

Because of him New England has hockey rinks all over.

Because of him New England and the US is actually producing nhl players in record numbers.

He is a legend in Boston, beyond anything anybody else has achieved.

Somebody posted a video somewhere of a comedian talking about telling Boston cops a joke about Brady. The joke fell flat. The comedian asked the cops "If Brady was walking down the street kicking a puppy, would you arrest him?" One cop said "I'd arrest the puppy for getting in the way of Brady's foot". That approaches the way people in New England felt about Bobby Orr - but less and less people remember it now.

 

[Calhoun44]

It has to be Orr!

Because of him New England has hockey rinks all over.

Because of him New England and the US is actually producing nhl players in record numbers.

He is a legend in Boston, beyond anything anybody else has achieved.

I agree with your comments...Orr for sure.
But, that 1980 Gold medal team didn't hurt the growth of hockey in the US either.

 

[Calhoun44]

I still can't believe we beat the Russians.