Hey what's up. So for the past couple of posts we've had some, as Marty McFly would say, "heavy" discussions. Good points have been made, interesting points have been made, drinks have been recommended, all and all it's been sweet. But this post is sort of a "relief" from that, more entertaining then Spiritual.
If you don't like sports, sorry.
The question is; who is your favorite athlete in any sport, and why? You are not allowed to name more then one athlete!! One athlete only. (answers that don't count: he/she is good looking. Any of us could say Anna Kournikova. Also, "just because" is an unforgivable response.)
I'm going to start the festivities. My favorite athlete is Allen Iverson.
Many people love to make fun of me for having Iverson as my favorite athlete (Mr. Ecelbarger and Josh come to mind) and he certainly has his faults, both in his character and in his game. However, the following points, in my mind, overcome his defeciencies (sp?)
1) He's fearless
Probably the thing that is most respected about Iverson is his fearlessness and his pain tolerance. It's my first point b/c it is this part of him that makes him so much fun to watch. Iverson uses his quickness to attack people a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier.
2) He never quits.
Probably the thing that I most respect about Iverson. No basketball player takes harder hits, or as often. No one gets knocked down more. But after every hit, if it's physically possible, Iverson gets right back up. Not only does he get back up, but he continues to attack, continues to open himself up to getting hit again. And then he gets up again. He simply never quits.
3) He has a flair for the game.
Probably the thing that Josh hates about him, but I love players who have a flair for the game (Jason Kidd, Chad Johnson, Stephon Marbury, Gilbert Arenas etc.)
4) He overcame a lot of odds
His past has been well-documented, but the points is 5 of his friends/family members have been murdered, two before his eyes when he was under 16. He spent a controversial time in prison, his sister nearly died b/c their public housing wasn't supposed to be lived in etc. It's amazing that he's gotten to the points he has.
Anyways so there you have it. I'm interested in you people's opinion. By the way it can be any athlete past or present.
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24 comments:
Darrell Green - Cornerback - Washington Redskins
The Allen Iverson of football...undersized but completely fearless. Never quit (played with a cast on his arm and forced a Michael Irvin fumble)...had the "we might not see this again" factor with his ability catch people from behind in ridiculous fashion...at 40 yrs old could still shut down Randy Moss in his prime...had class, character, work ethic. My favorite athlete ever.
"We're talking about PRACTICE!"
Nuff said.
two responses
1) you think anyone in the NBA practices hard during the season? No, they practice hard during the offseason and then chill as much as possible...they have 82 games. Iverson is honest.
2) am I defending what he said? No. He was frustrated and he said many things I don't think he meant. The point is, if I'm sitting there, having won the MVP and still everyone is saying I'm gonna be traded, my best friend has been murdered, AND my season just ended less then an hour ago, and everyone's obsessed about asking about missing practice..."not a game...PRACTICE. Not a game, where I play every game like it's my last...we talking about practice." AND the reason he missed the practice that everyone was talking about was because he went to a viewing of the friend that had been killed.
The example that he set was terrible, which is why he shouldn't have said it. But you don't become as good as he's become with the sort of attitude towards practice that he conveyed in that press conference.
Ahhhh, what a hard question to answer! Joey, you took the one I would have said, so I will choose another. I would have to say that Michael Jordan would be my favorite. No making fun of me!!!! Not just because he was the best EVER, and ever will be, but that he was cut from his high school team, went out and worked harder, and became a legend. He was, in my opinion, the most fun athlete to watch, always doing crazy amazing things. And, when he had too, he took over games and won just because he could. There was no "I'm getting paid so I won't work hard." He played every game to win; his sense of competition is unmatched (yes, yes, I know he has gambling problems. That't proof of his competetive nature!!) :-)
Andy Pettite. The man is a hard core Christian, who shares his faith and his stuff is filthy! He's far and away my favorite athlete
I think its funny, You weren't going to defend him and then you did. Are you sure it was at the end of the season?
Who are you, anonymous? I'm curious now. Anyways, I said I wasn't gonna defend him for actually saying it (b/c of the example he set) I was defending his motivation for saying it...
and yes I am sure it was at the end of the season, 2002 after being beaten in the first round of the playoffs. Incidentally, the season before that he led the league in scoring AND steals, won MVP and led the Sixers to the finals (while putting forth one of the most impressive playoff performances ever.) Must have taken a lot of practice to get that good...
oh man Joe, I noticed on your blog your a yankees fan. That's too bad. Congrats about A-Rod btw. As my favorite sportswriter would say, he's kind of like pollen. Guaranteed to make an impact every April and May.
Jason Taylor. And this is not a biased Dolphins fan posting ;)
first he was homeschooled...need i say more, haha...
seriously his character shines through as he leads the dolphins even while playing on DEFENSE! While playing on a recovering team like the dolphins he works harder than any other ahtlete i know. He is a three-time champion of the NFL’s "Ultimate Defender" competition and has one of the best records in sacking. This guy is a leader!
-Melinda
ps he seems to have a great family who loves him..that is a plus :)
The dolphins...a team that is recovering.Hahahahah! That is the funniest thing I have EVER heard!
P.S. Melinda how many professional players do you know?
haha....i'm glad you enjoy my humor...as to your question, i don't like answering questions from strangers (mr. anonymous)
lo siento...pero, quien es?
-Melinda
I'm gonna go with Corey Brewer from the MIGHTY GATORS!!!!!
he is very talented in all areas of the court. from shoting three's to driving it in for the SLAM. He is also a very unselfish person who lead the gators to their SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
joey P
David Wells, he's a big time partier. He's a great pitcher and he loves the same beer I do! He isn't the hardest working pitcher I know but he's cool!
joey p who said corey brewer is not me...its joey pino...obviously...just want to make sure I'm not associated with that team in any way
Dirk--he's tall, white, dunks and drains threes...my hero! That's why he's my favorite.
Melinda,
How many professional athletes do you know besides me?
Jason Taylor
What if I said my favorite athlete was my favorite because she was "smokin", would that count? I'm just asking, once I did you all could come to my funeral b/c my wife would kill me!
:)
Joe you're halarious! I'm Jesse, Joey, Janelle and Jake's mom...and if my husband said an athlete was "smokin'" my kids would be going to his funeral, too. :-)
BTW my favorite athletes are Josh, Jaime, Jesse, Joey, Janelle, and Jake. Nothin' on TV can come CLOSE to watching my kids play. Even if they are white!
ohh Jason Taylor!!!
well in THAT case...
i prob don't know as many profession athletes as YOU DO but i hope this doesn’t disqualify me from answering the question; as far as i'm concerned "who is your favorite athlete in any sport, and why?" means just that….as for the fact that i'm not as much of a sports buff as most of the ppl who read this blog...i agree unashamedly, but i do know good talent when i see it and you're prob my fav
anyhow, you rock! say hi to the fam for me ;)
-Melinda
ps i totally forgot you could pick family! i'm ashamed...i would have said my mom. winning MVP throughout her basket ball years in HS, got a letter in all three sports = track/volleyball/bball, her JV team was the first team to be the Varsity team in her school, humble, courageous, hard worker, leader of the team.....ect. ect. sry Jason, u may just be second best :/
Ladanien Tomlinson.
I have no idea of I even spelled that correctly, but he basically helped me to win the Phillips Fantasy Football League my first year. Yes, let me just say I was the only girl (oh, no Janelle too, but she was terrible and does not count) and pretty much wiped out everyone. He does seem like a pretty stand up guy though.
Actually, Joey took mine (Darrell Green), so I had to come up with something.
Jaime
Oh please. If us singles are allowed to pick someone cuz their hot, (cough...Dwayne Wade...cough) then this should be allowed for EVERYONE. :-)
Are you saying I'm not hot?
~Jason Taylor
Ok, I know I've never commented on here before, but I decided to put in my two cents. : ) I like Tony Hawk. Awesome skateboarder! Plus the only person who has successfully landed a 900. (And yes, I do consider skateboarding a sport)
Whoops! I meant to put my full last name, but I hit enter instead.
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