All day long I planned to post something on CHASM ... well, this ain't it. Seconds became minutes and minutes turned into hours and now it's 8:30pm already and I haven't posted. Maybe tomorrow I'll post something a little more worthwhile (time will tell). For now, another poll ...
This time, forget cartoon or comic book characters. Who's your favorite REAL person? Allow me to narrow. I was going to ask "If you could meet any person living in the world today, who would it be and why?" but in trying to answer the question myself, I realized how daunting a task that could be. SO, let's start with sub-categories like athlete. I'll even allow two answers per category (trust me, that'll still be challenging if you are into ANY sports). SO, if you could chill with any TWO athletes for a day, who would they be and why would you chose them?
Posted by languorous at June 14, 2004 08:46 PMI'd have to say C-Webb (Chris Webber) and Tom Glavine. This was a surprisingly difficult one for me to answer. I've been a huge fan of the two aforementioned atheletes almost my entire life but as I wrote them down I remembered two other athletes that captivated me as a kid. I have to give them at LEAST an honorable mention: Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson.
Let's see, as for why I'd like to meet them, that's simple. Other than being a huge fan of Chris Webber ON the court, his interviews from OFF the court make him seem like the guy next door. A good sense of humor, great laugh, infectious smile and a look in his eyes that shows there's much more than just basketball going on in there. From his days at Michigan up until every excrutiating playoff loss with Sacramento this past NBA postseason, C-Webb's been my boy.
Tom Glavine. What can I say? A true professional. Tommy's been my boy for over ten years now and I don't think there's ANY other player that could've made me do the unthinkable, root for the Mets. Sure, I root like hell against the Mets when those other guys pitch but when Tommy's on the mound, it's just like game six of the World Series against Cleveland in 1995.
Posted by: languorous at June 14, 2004 09:14 PMFirst of all, this is an insanely difficult question. I mean, I'd like to pick some living legends from baseball, but how can I ignore my favorite players of today? And I can't pick two from the same sport, that would just be unfair.
Firstly, I have to start with my boy: Mike Piazza. I mean, who better to hang out in NYC with? And from listening to him talk to reporters, he seems like a pretty cool guy; at least he tries to give some witty answers, not the usual canned jock-head crap. Plus he's from Norristown!
As for my other pick: Allen Iverson. Now, me and A.I. might not belong to the same demographic; but I think he might be a little misunderstood, and I bet you could get the real story by hanging out with him for a day or so.
Honorable mention goes out to John Elway and Brett Hull. Oh yeah, and Anna Kournikova too...
My first choice would have to be PRIMETIME. For those of you who were not born in the 70's, PRIMETIME is none other than the two sport star DEION SANDERS. I grew up loving Florida State football and baseball. Neon Deion was the star of both teams. You got love a guy who during a game against Clemson was about to return a punt when he went over to the head coach of Clemson and stated,"I am going to return this for a TD!" About 20 seconds later after returning the punt 76 yards for a TD went back over to the coach and stated,"How You Like Me Now!!" The first true trash talker who could back it up. I used to cut pictures out of him and articles and tape them to my wall. Besides he loves fishing, he takes all the neighborhood kids fishing all the time.
Second, this is where it gets difficult. Do I choose someone for pure enjoyment or someone who will teach me something. If I chose someone to teach me I would either choose Phil Jackson or Skip Bertman. You all know who Phil Jackson is, but for those of you who do not know Skip Bertman is; he was the one who LSU baseball on the map!!!! These two choices would purely be for knowledge.
Enjoyment I would have to go with Little E, Dale Earnhardt Junior. Maybe I would get to drive one of his cars, and did any of you see the special on him and his club in his basement.
JOHN KRUK! He is hysterical and one of the finest baseball players ever... well at least in my knowledge base of the sport which is limited to Phillies players:-)Then I would also have to pick another hometown hero, Andre Reed. Hell I already hung out with his brothers now it is time to meet the real deal.
Posted by: stuck at work at June 15, 2004 11:36 AMWell, the older Fillman boys answered...now it's time for the youngest to chime in. Although I've grown attached to several athletes from both past and present, there are two that come to mind immediately as my favorites...Greg Maddux and Alonzo Mourning. Here's why...
For as long as I have been watching baseball, the Braves have been my favorite team, as well as one of the most dominant teams in sports. At the core of their success WAS pitching; clearly that is no longer the case. Maddux proved to be a reliable starter who could simply get hitters out with any given pitch. He didn't have a piping-hot fastball; he didn't need it. Maddux was somewhat predictable, throwing his standard offspeed/changeup on a 1-2 count. But that's what I love about him...he would dominate the strikezone and hit his spots, leaving batters defenseless. This, as well as his low-key image and willingness to better himself not only at baseball but at other endeavors in life (MAddux could often be found working crossword puzzles in the dugout), is why I have grown attached to him as an athlete over the past ten years.
Many of the same attributes that Maddux has are also applicable to Alonzo Mourning. Mourning would simply get his rebounds and ten-fifteen points and was a dominant force in the paint with his ability to shoot as well as "post-up." He is the anti-Shaq in my mind, and that right there is one reason to love the guy. He was in great physical condition, unlike Shaq, until he recently had health problems that caused an early retirement in my mind. I am sure Mourning had a few more years in him to go on being the reliable guy teams have known him to be. Bottom line...I would take a respectable, well-spoken, hard-working, and versatile guy like Alonzo rather than a gigantic dimwit that is Shaq. For all those who agree, comment again on let us all know.
Hmm, what an interesting question, with some pretty intriguing answers so far. Really tough to narrow this one down, but I think Id have to say Id like to meet Tom Seaver, cause being a Met fan, and a fan of good pitching, he is the best pitcher the Mets ever had. He also is fun to listen to commentate. I think secondly, Id like to meet Shaq. I was going to put Michael, because he truly change the game of basketball, but the Shaq cracks me up with the way he acts and talks. He plays dumb for the sake of humor, and just to be an ass, which I can appreciate, far more than whiney little ghetto thugh Iverson. Id love to seem play one on one, Iverson would be squashed like a bug! Alright, back to work for me.... wait, honorable mention to HOJO Howard Johnson in this category, hahahahaha
Posted by: Top Shelf at June 15, 2004 02:34 PMEasily-- Vinny del Negro and D.J. Dozier. right...
No, I would have to pick ALOIS LEITER! He brings an unmatched intensity to every start. Forget that he is 38 years old-- Forget that he gets no run support=- Forget that the Mets defense is sketchy at best... He still pitches like he is in his 20s... well, early thirties (his Marlins/Mets years). Aside from having a killer cutter and a dominating curve (lefties are batting .167 off him this year, righties .196), he is a community activist. He donates to charities, appears at benefits, hospitals, etc., and fundraises for children. Great guy! He'll make a great mayor of NYC!
The second is a throwback to my childhood. Remember sitting in front of the TV, playing Nintendo, and throwing that 80 yard pass to Jerry Rice for the 72-68 victory at Tecmo Superbowl? Well, who else could I pick but the guy that could do that in real life? JOE MONTANA was the man, is the man, and will always be the man. Four Superbowl wins, three Superbowl MVPS, the 92-yard drive in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XXIII. I would love to play some catch down at UT with Joe... then grab some Willie Joe's, of course.
Posted by: Robb at June 15, 2004 04:34 PM