The Best You Ever Saw

[palinurus]

Picking up the thread:

Who is the best you have ever seen,* live or on TV:

* -- You needed to have seen them, and remembered them, at their best. If you saw Hank Aaron in 1975, that doesn't count, unless you think he was at his best at age 43 or whatever. A vague recollection of a guy when you were a kid doesn't count. I mean whose greatness you experienced as a comprehending viewer:

CFB RB -- Herschel Walker


**MLB Position Player -- Mike Schmidt (Think ARod was good enough to be here without steroids, et al., but he's out) HM - Johnny Bench.
**MLB Pitcher -- Tough one. Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan. Pick one.

(**Leaving out likely-steroid guys)

NFL RB -- Tough one, too. Walter Payton, probably. HM- Earl Campbell
NFL QB - Joe Montana
NFL WR -- Jerry Rice
NFL Center - Mike Webster
NFL Guard - John Hannah
NFL Defensive Player -- Lawrence Taylor
NFL D Lineman -- Reggie White

NBA Player - Michael Jordan (HM-Abdul Jabbar (close, over Magic and Bird))

Pro golfer - Jack Nicklaus

Feel free to add categories or sports.

 

[koonja]

Picking up the thread:

Who is the best you have ever seen,* live or on TV:

* -- You needed to have seen them, and remembered them, at their best. If you saw Hank Aaron in 1975, that doesn't count, unless you think he was at his best at age 43 or whatever. A vague recollection of a guy when you were a kid doesn't count. I mean whose greatness you experienced as a comprehending viewer:

CFB RB -- Herschel Walker


**MLB Position Player -- Mike Schmidt (Think ARod was good enough to be here without steroids, et al., but he's out) HM - Johnny Bench.
**MLB Pitcher -- Tough one. Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan. Pick one.

(**Leaving out likely-steroid guys)

NFL RB -- Tough one, too. Walter Payton, probably. HM- Earl Campbell
NFL QB - Joe Montana
NFL WR -- Jerry Rice
NFL Center - Mike Webster
NFL Guard - John Hannah
NFL Defensive Player -- Lawrence Taylor
NFL D Lineman -- Reggie White

NBA Player - Michael Jordan (HM-Abdul Jabbar (close, over Magic and Bird))

Pro golfer - Jack Nicklaus

Feel free to add categories or sports.

RB - Barry Sanders,
QB - Tom Brady,
WR - Randy Moss,
TE - Gonzalez
DL - Reggie White

NBA - Kobe Bryant

 

[gkIrish]

If I were you I would change the OP to players you saw in person because otherwise you are basically just asking how old everyone is lol.

So players I have seen in person:

CFB -- Andrew Luck (I've seen a lot of good college players but he is the most talented); Te'o, anyone on the 2012-13 Alabama team
CBB -- Roy Hibbert?
MLB Position Player -- Ken Griffey Jr.
MLB Pitcher -- Mariano Rivera
NFL -- Only been to one NFL game in person so I guess it's Eli Manning or AJ Green
NBA Player - -Melo, Pau Gasol, Kyrie Irving
Pro golfer -- Tiger; I've met Nicklaus away from the course, though
NHL--Jagr or Brodeur

 

[IrishSteelhead]

From a RB standpoint, I saw at Soldier Field:

Walter Payton
Eric Dickerson
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Adrian Peterson

*Barry had over 200 yards in the game, and was easily the most exciting player I've ever seen play football live, possibly even on TV

 

[koonja]

Brianna Banks, Alexis Texas, Jenna Jameson. Wait, what?

 

[twig21]

Joe Montana to Jerry Rice in person many times against the LA Rams in Anaheim Stadium. Also, I walked with Steve Elkington all 18 holes when he shot 64 at Riviera to win the '95 PGA Championship. Not the best golfer ever but the best swing from my generation.

 

[Old Man Mike]

... sat the bench and watched Jerry West score 100 points vs Charleston Catholic High School [ and we actually were pretty good] in two games [49 & 51]. West is beginning to be the most underrated uber-elite fantastic player in sports. People who never watched his game don't realize that no one has ever been better both Offense+Defense [continuously making both All-Star 1st teams] --- Oscar Robertson was just as good, but that's it.

West once said about some modern superstar when a commentator said he had an OK if "mediocre" game because he scored around 15 points: I would have been embarrassed if I only had 25.

 

[Jackalope1977]

NBA- Michael Jordan
NFL- Barry Sanders (Irish Steelhead said it all)
NHL- Lemieux, Gretzky
MLB- I'm sure this is going to be highly unpopular but Barry Bonds. If we're talking no roids I'll go Greg Maddux for pitcher and I guess Miguel Cabrera for hitter.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

In Person
Boxing - Mike Tyson
Football NFL - Randy Moss
Football College - Manti Te'o
Baseball Pitcher - Mariano Rivera
Baseball Position Player - Derek Jeter
Basketball - Tayshaun Prince, Roy Hibbert, Stephon Marbury I guess would be top 3 (havent seen many)

TV
Boxing - Tyson (but the 80s version)
Football - Barry Sanders
Football College - Vince Young
Baseball Pitcher - Mariano Rivera
Baseball Position Player - Miguel Cabrera
Basketball - Michael Jordan

 

[tadman95]

Saw Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose play in Atlanta. Aaron & Bench hit home runs.

Best running back pro: Barry Sanders
Best running back college: Herschel Walker

Best pro BB player: Jordan
Best college BB player: David Thompson

Best Pro Golfer: Tiger

 

[woolybug25]

In Person
Football NFL - Barry Sanders
Football College - Manti Teo
Baseball Pitcher - Roger Clemens (I know)
Baseball Position Player - Ozzie Smith
Basketball - Michael Jordan

TV
Boxing - Iron Mike Tyson
Football - Barry Sanders
Football College - Charles Woodson (sorry)
Baseball Pitcher - Nolan Ryan
Baseball Position Player - Ken Griffey Jr
Basketball - Michael Jordan
__________________

 

[irish1958]

Stan the Man.......pure poetry in motion and Pete Rose........pure mayhem.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

Jordan
Pierce
Shaq
Clemens
Bird
Brady
Olajuwon
Griffey jr
Pedro
Ewing
Bourque
Neely
Gretzky
Lemieux
Jagr

 

[GoIrish41]

NFL
QB - Dan Marino*
RB - Eric Dickerson* or Bo Jackson
WR - Randy Moss* or Jerry Rice*
DL - Reggie White*
LB - LT
DB - Ronnie Lott*

NBA
PG - Majic Johnson
G - Michael Jordon (is there any other choice?)
SF - Larry Bird*
PF - Tim Duncan
C - Kareem Abdul Jabar





*saw in person

 

[Bogtrotter07]

For a little diversity, Wrestling, Dan Gable.

I had a chance as a kid to work out with the US World Cup team in '73. I was on the mat with 5 guys that won Olympic Gold and/or Silver, and other than Ben Petersen, who could throw my fifteen year old ass like I was a rag doll, even when he wasn't trying, no one I ever saw impressed me like him. It wasn't even just me. He would be wrestling some of the guys competing for the US, and in the middle of a scrimmage, begin instructing them about any number of things, while he was scoring back points against them at will! I have never met anyone with the work ethic. He insisted that his grapplers condition. As they groaned, he looked at them and told them he would personally do 5X what he asked them to do. And he did. Man led by example as well as anyone I ever met.

 

[Irish2155]

Best QB I've seen in person was Dan Marino. Joe was great but played on even better teams. Peyton pisses his leg too often when the lights are on. Brady is in the convo too.

Jordan, without arguement, hands down...basketball. Please save me the time. It is what it is.

Best in baseball, has to be Barry Bonds. Was a hall of famer before juice, like Clemens...but was the best I've ever seen. 72 bombs.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Football - Eddie George (rushed for 314 yards in the snow in the shoe)....never been to an NFL game

MLB - torn between Jeter and Pedro Martinez....i'm gonna go with Pedro due to the fact I seen him pitch 4 times in person and he was lights out each time. still happy i got to see jeter in person though

NBA - Lebron, saw him win the Eastern Conference for the Cavs and shook his hand afterward.

PGA - Saw Tiger in Muirfield last year. even though he was struggling he's still the best i've ever seen in person

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Two great linebackers, that were under appreciated, and would be way up on my list were Phil Villapiano ( AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971, All-NFL in 1975 and 1976, and All-AFC from 1972-1976), and Jack Lambert, best modern "Tampa Two" middle linebacker, (Lambert amassed 28 career interceptions, 1,479 career tackles (1,045 solo), and (officially) 23½ sacks.[4] In a nine-year span, Jack Lambert was named to nine straight Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year once). Saw them both play multiple times and they were devastating.

Before the era of modern defenses, you have to go with (Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, though).

 

[Irish2155]

Football - Eddie George (rushed for 314 yards in the snow in the shoe)....never been to an NFL game

MLB - torn between Jeter and Pedro Martinez....i'm gonna go with Pedro due to the fact I seen him pitch 4 times in person and he was lights out each time. still happy i got to see jeter in person though

NBA - Lebron, saw him win the Eastern Conference for the Cavs and shook his hand afterward.

PGA - Saw Tiger in Muirfield last year. even though he was struggling he's still the best i've ever seen in person

Hell yes...6 or 7 year span where he was untouchable from the 7th inning in. Biggest issue was finishing games...8th and 9th innings weren't his friend. Awesome to watch. Saw him pitch at Comisky (US Cellular probaly by then) that year.

 

[GoIrish41]

Two great linebackers, that were under appreciated, and would be way up on my list were Phil Villapiano ( AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971, All-NFL in 1975 and 1976, and All-AFC from 1972-1976), and Jack Lambert, best modern "Tampa Two" middle linebacker, (Lambert amassed 28 career interceptions, 1,479 career tackles (1,045 solo), and (officially) 23½ sacks.[4] In a nine-year span, Jack Lambert was named to nine straight Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year once). Saw them both play multiple times and they were devastating.

Before the era of modern defenses, you have to go with (Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, though).

Lambert was a monster. When I think of great middle linebackers, his name is always in the conversation.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Lambert was a monster. When I think of great middle linebackers, his name is always in the conversation.

Nice guy off the field though, though, he married one of the older sisters of a grade school buddy of mine.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I am surprised nobody took up Pistol Pete's banner. As far as the greatest offensive talent in basketball, John Havlicek called him the best ball handler ever.

He still owns the NCAA scoring record. He couldn't play as a freshman in those days and there was no three point line. What would he have done with that!

Of course, had he been able to leave college early, like today, where would he have ended up in the NBA? No one knows. But he was it.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I am surprised nobody took up Pistol Pete's banner. As far as the greatest offensive talent in basketball, John Havlicek called him the best ball handler ever.

He still owns the NCAA scoring record. He couldn't play as a freshman in those days and there was no three point line. What would he have done with that!

Of course, had he been able to leave college early, like today, where would he have ended up in the NBA? No one knows. But he was it.

i named him as the one basketball player i wish i could have seen in the other thread.

 

[Irish2155]

I am surprised nobody took up Pistol Pete's banner. As far as the greatest offensive talent in basketball, John Havlicek called him the best ball handler ever.

He still owns the NCAA scoring record. He couldn't play as a freshman in those days and there was no three point line. What would he have done with that!

Of course, had he been able to leave college early, like today, where would he have ended up in the NBA? No one knows. But he was it.

Good call...but never saw him, you neither I guess. Would have been really fun to watch though.

I think when it comes to basketball Jordan kind of sponges up the rest. Maybe the conversation should be the "best you ever saw, minus Jordan in basketball".

 

[Bogtrotter07]

i named him as the one basketball player i wish i could have seen in the other thread.

Sorry, you are right. But this guy did things that people still can't do!

Another nomination : Yogi Berra, " When you come to a fork in the road....Take it!"




" It's deja vu all over again!"

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

In person

NBA: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Reggie Miller

MLB: Mariano Rivera, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr

NFL: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, John Lynch, some others I can't remember.

 

[Irish2155]

Saw Tom Seaver pitch in a Boston uni at Old Comisky. Probably my first memory of a ball game.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Revis has to be there at CB. If you look at his 2009 season he probably had the best season anybody's ever had at the position.

Versus Revis, all WRs in elimination game - AFC East Blog - ESPN

 

[Irish#1]

... sat the bench and watched Jerry West score 100 points vs Charleston Catholic High School [ and we actually were pretty good] in two games [49 & 51]. West is beginning to be the most underrated uber-elite fantastic player in sports. People who never watched his game don't realize that no one has ever been better both Offense+Defense [continuously making both All-Star 1st teams] --- Oscar Robertson was just as good, but that's it.

West once said about some modern superstar when a commentator said he had an OK if "mediocre" game because he scored around 15 points: I would have been embarrassed if I only had 25.

So true. He wasn't a self promoter like many, but he could ball with any of them.

 

[Irish#1]

TV
Baseball - Mantle, Berra, Munson, Yaz, Mays, Aaron, Bench, Jackson, Ford, Seaver, Koufax, Gibson, Marachial,
Football - Montana, Rice, Butkus, Sayers, Payton,
Basketball - Big O, Alcindor, Magic, Jordan, Rick Mount, Pistol Pete



In Person
Football - Manning, Marino, Dorsett, Rocket, Dickerson
Baseball - Rivera, Jeter, Banks
Basketball, Dr. J, McGinnis, Reggie, Roger Brown, Bird, Iceman