Your Greatest Sporting Hero Is,Because?

**teaktop** · August 6th, 2016, 12:29 AM

Down the Pub we had this question and the slagging and fun it started was amazing.People are very protective of their Heros ,they grew up with them they mean a lot ,harking back to childhood memories,staying up late to watch football finals,boxing matches Olympic Finals in far flung places,or sitting all day on the couch watching a FA Cup Final,Superbowl.
My Heros were John McEnroe,Stefffi Graff,Gazza,Joe Montana,Red Rum,Super Mac(not the burger),Charlie George,Serge Blanco,Jonah Lomu,Colin Montgomery[Ryder Cup Legend].In reading and seeing old footage I think James Hunt is a Legend.
But my hero is a semi blind 5ft 9in rugby player called Brian O'Driscoll,ticks all the boxes Courage, Skill ,Sporting lows [you have to get kicked in the teeth to prove your human]Comebacks and Winning Games with sheer brillance,its the Bod cos hes God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JLASzADsaI

**SanteeFats** · August 6th, 2016, 02:19 AM

I'll jump right in with Babe Ruth. He played when no one worked out or used PED's and not only hit and fielded but for the first four years he was a pitcher who won 98 games including 3 in the World Series. Not only that but there were fewer teams and IMO the talent pool was there for not diluted as today's is with with all the teams and of course free agency.

**teaktop** · August 6th, 2016, 02:33 AM

George Herman Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948),How?SanteeFats?He was long dead you never saw him play ,what was it that gravitated you towards him?

**seldomseen** · August 6th, 2016, 02:59 AM

Joey Dunlop
A great road racer,and an ambassador to N Ireland with all the charity work that he did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wamdJQXI9w

**9876543210** · August 6th, 2016, 03:36 AM

Back in the day (the 60's) I used to love to watch Bob Gibson pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. He had one of the best fastballs in history and struck out people at an amazing rate. Plus he had to do this in St. Louis, Missouri during the summer. Because of the heat and humidity, one of the lousiest places to live in the summer in the US. Half the time you feel like you are literally melting.

Gibson, on some nights, would be just pouring sweat.

And then, of course (being a homer), the Vince Lombardi Packers. Best coach and team in NFL history. Used to watch them with my dad (may he rest in peace).

natas777 · August 6th, 2016, 05:52 AM

Barry McGuigan
Wayne Gretzsky
Jerry Rice

**Motorboater** · August 6th, 2016, 06:31 AM

Nigel Mansell
Stephen Kernahan - Captain of Carlton's 1987 & 95 premiership teams (Australian football)

**tygrkhat40** · August 6th, 2016, 02:12 PM

Arthur Ashe. He was indeed a superb tennis player, but IMHO he had a quiet dignity that you rarely see in anyone, let alone a world class athletic talent. When he died at a tragically young age, I thought of the line said of Joe Louis at his passing, "He was a credit to his race--the human race."

**SanteeFats** · August 6th, 2016, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaktop

George Herman Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948),How?SanteeFats?He was long dead you never saw him play ,what was it that gravitated you towards him?

That is true Teak but I have watched old games, read a lot about many players. He played when it was a game and not a business as it is today. No drugs but booze and according to reports a lot of that for many of the players. Then there are the facts I already posted. Yes there are others who hit more homers, PED's used in a lot of those cases, but nobody has his body of work when you include the pitching with his hitting. Plus he was an orphan who cared about kids.
There are many old time players I admire but not many of the recent ones although I am sure there some.
Another thing is they played ball to win. Imagine a Ty Cobb playing today.
I know games change over time but.....

~~bigtrain45~~ · August 6th, 2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanteeFats

That is true Teak but I have watched old games, read a lot about many players. He played when it was a game and not a business as it is today. No drugs but booze and according to reports a lot of that for many of the players. Then there are the facts I already posted. Yes there are others who hit more homers, PED's used in a lot of those cases, but nobody has his body of work when you include the pitching with his hitting. Plus he was an orphan who cared about kids.
There are many old time players I admire but not many of the recent ones although I am sure there some.
Another thing is they played ball to win. Imagine a Ty Cobb playing today.
I know games change over time but.....

I do not mean to demean anything Ruth accomplished. He was probably the best baseball player ever, but he never played any night games, never played against the best black players, except during barnstorming tours in the offseason, and did not have to deal with the travel that today's players do, or the endless array of relief pitchers who come streaming out of the bullpen the last three innings of every game, all throwing 95 mph+. I read something recently about Griffey Jr. going into the Hall of Fame, that he faced more different pitchers in his first 5 seasons than Babe Ruth faced his entire career.
It's always been a business. Ever since the first owner charged the first fan a nickel to get into the ballpark.

August 6th, 2016, 12:29 AM	#1
teaktop Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,057 Thanks: 54,282 Thanked 117,195 Times in 7,076 Posts	Your Greatest Sporting Hero Is,Because? Down the Pub we had this question and the slagging and fun it started was amazing.People are very protective of their Heros ,they grew up with them they mean a lot ,harking back to childhood memories,staying up late to watch football finals,boxing matches Olympic Finals in far flung places,or sitting all day on the couch watching a FA Cup Final,Superbowl. My Heros were John McEnroe,Stefffi Graff,Gazza,Joe Montana,Red Rum,Super Mac(not the burger),Charlie George,Serge Blanco,Jonah Lomu,Colin Montgomery[Ryder Cup Legend].In reading and seeing old footage I think James Hunt is a Legend. But my hero is a semi blind 5ft 9in rugby player called Brian O'Driscoll,ticks all the boxes Courage, Skill ,Sporting lows [you have to get kicked in the teeth to prove your human]Comebacks and Winning Games with sheer brillance,its the Bod cos hes God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JLASzADsaI __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by teaktop; August 6th, 2016 at 12:36 AM..

August 6th, 2016, 02:33 AM	#3
teaktop Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,057 Thanks: 54,282 Thanked 117,195 Times in 7,076 Posts	George Herman Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948),How?SanteeFats?He was long dead you never saw him play ,what was it that gravitated you towards him? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 6th, 2016, 02:12 PM	#8
tygrkhat40 Long Suffering Bills Fan Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The City of Good Neighbors Posts: 9,669 Thanks: 304,243 Thanked 152,323 Times in 9,629 Posts	Arthur Ashe. He was indeed a superb tennis player, but IMHO he had a quiet dignity that you rarely see in anyone, let alone a world class athletic talent. When he died at a tragically young age, I thought of the line said of Joe Louis at his passing, "He was a credit to his race--the human race." __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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August 6th, 2016, 02:19 AM	#2
SanteeFats Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Santee, Ca Posts: 60,811 Thanks: 281,799 Thanked 813,708 Times in 60,857 Posts	I'll jump right in with Babe Ruth. He played when no one worked out or used PED's and not only hit and fielded but for the first four years he was a pitcher who won 98 games including 3 in the World Series. Not only that but there were fewer teams and IMO the talent pool was there for not diluted as today's is with with all the teams and of course free agency.

August 6th, 2016, 02:59 AM	#4
seldomseen Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 38,203 Thanks: 127,400 Thanked 711,950 Times in 38,112 Posts	Joey Dunlop A great road racer,and an ambassador to N Ireland with all the charity work that he did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wamdJQXI9w

August 6th, 2016, 03:36 AM	#5
9876543210 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,044 Thanks: 24,638 Thanked 34,288 Times in 4,008 Posts	Back in the day (the 60's) I used to love to watch Bob Gibson pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. He had one of the best fastballs in history and struck out people at an amazing rate. Plus he had to do this in St. Louis, Missouri during the summer. Because of the heat and humidity, one of the lousiest places to live in the summer in the US. Half the time you feel like you are literally melting. Gibson, on some nights, would be just pouring sweat. And then, of course (being a homer), the Vince Lombardi Packers. Best coach and team in NFL history. Used to watch them with my dad (may he rest in peace).

August 6th, 2016, 05:52 AM	#6
natas777 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 57 Thanks: 31 Thanked 497 Times in 55 Posts	Barry McGuigan Wayne Gretzsky Jerry Rice

August 6th, 2016, 06:31 AM	#7
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,487 Thanked 38,245 Times in 4,299 Posts	Nigel Mansell Stephen Kernahan - Captain of Carlton's 1987 & 95 premiership teams (Australian football)