Player appreciation thread - The Orange Mane

Clockwork Orange · 10-02-2004, 10:19 PM

We spend plenty of time and threads bashing players we dislike or have no respect for. I wanted to start a thread that was just the opposite. A thread to express your respect and admiration for your favorite athletes.

Doesn't matter what sport it is (this is the other sports board anyway) so feel free to laud the praise on whoever you like.

I started the thread, so I'll start.

Joe Sakic

*The leading scorer (1402 points) in Quebec/Colorado franchise history.

*The only member of the franchise to ever score 500 goals (currently 542)

*Has played in the NHL All-Star game 11 times

*Captain for over a decade in which he helped lead his team to 2 Stanley Cups.

*Lead Canada to their first Olympic Gold Medal in nearly 50 years in Salt Lake, 2002. Was named Outstanding Player of the Olympic Tournament.

*Winner of the NHL's Hart Trophy (league MVP), Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), Pearson Award (MVP as voted on by the players) and Lady Byng Trophy (Sportsmanship & Gentlemanly play).

*Shares the NHL record for career playoff overtime goals (6) with the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard.

Easily a first ballot Hall Of Famer and the owner of the best wrist shot I've ever seen, Sakic has to be considered one of the greatest players of this generation.

You da man Joey.

Breck Bronc · 10-02-2004, 10:29 PM

There's not a better choice than Super Joe Sakic

. One accomplishment that is not on your very good list is Joey's 2004 All-Star Game hat trick and MVP. The man has done almost everything in hockey and Denver is so lucky to have him and the Avalanche.

Clockwork Orange · 10-05-2004, 08:43 PM

"Le Magnifique" Mario Lemieux.

In my opinion, simply the greatest hockey player of all time.

The guy dominated the league while playing through back injuries so painful that he needed help just to lace up his skates. Came back to lead the league in scoring and win the Hart Trophy after battling Hodgkins disease. Saved hockey in Pittsburgh twice.

I will miss him when he finally retires for good.

Mtbrncofn · 10-21-2004, 10:51 PM

I missed this thread somehow, but I am not surprised to see who's on it. Way to go, CO. Great choices.

Of course, mine would be Peter Forsberg. I can't ramble off stats like CO can, but just because the guy is an all around stud. I love his work ethic, his fiery play, his incredible talent.....I could go on and on. I mean come on, what other player can come back from being lost the whole season to injury and be the leading scorer in the playoffs?

And how awesome is it to watch him pull a wrap around on some unsuspecting schmuck goalie, or better yet, one who knows its coming and gets beat?!

I too, would like to put in a vote for Super Joe. The guy is the epitome of classiness in sports.

Clockwork Orange · 10-21-2004, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtbrncofn®

Of course, mine would be Peter Forsberg. I can't ramble off stats like CO can, but just because the guy is an all around stud. I love his work ethic, his fiery play, his incredible talent.....I could go on and on. I mean come on, what other player can come back from being lost the whole season to injury and be the leading scorer in the playoffs?

I'll ramble them off for you.

Winner of the Calder Trophy, Hart Trophy & Art Ross Trophy. Named an NHL First Team All-Star 3 times. Played in the NHL All-Star game 5 times. Selke Trophy finalist in 1997.

Widely regarded as the best two-way player in the NHL.

Was the NHL playoffs leading scorer twice.

Ranks in the top 5 in NHL history in assists per game (0.91) and playoff points per game (1.16).

My favorite player also.

Mtbrncofn · 10-22-2004, 12:11 AM

Great comic, CO!

And thanks for the stats help too! I knew most of them, but I'd probably forget something important in my excitement and make myself look like a clown.

Pezman · 10-22-2004, 12:25 AM

Always respected Junior Seau for being such a warrior... and even if he single-handedly disrupted the Broncos offense, that mofo was one bad dude to have to matchup against in his hayday...

and from the Nuggets, Michael Adams, and Bill Hanzlik... Two great players who always seemed to be everywhere in the game when they were needed. And boy were they fun to watch! Especially Kamakazii Hanzlik! Great memories

-Slap- · 10-22-2004, 06:35 AM

Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

AKA The Motor City Cobra

The first man to win championships in five weight classes. A skilled boxer, but also a great action fighter, Hearns never had a boring fight. He was respected as much for his class outside the ring as his fearsome prowess within.

Tommy's son Ronald Hearns is an undefeated middleweight prospect, fighting out of the same Kronk Gym that spawned his father's brilliant career.

bendog · 10-22-2004, 07:19 AM

Floyd Little.

-Slap- · 10-27-2004, 11:55 PM

Clockwork Orange · 11-14-2004, 11:36 AM

Earl Boykins.

Smallest player (5 ft. 5 in.) to score 30+ points in a game in NBA history. Carmelo Anthony said it best when asked about Boykins, "He's got the heart of a lion, that's all I can say about Earl."

Tredici · 11-14-2004, 03:46 PM

Tiny Tom Jackson.

Always voted "Most Inspirational" by his teammates.
Doesn't and hasn't ever acted like a broadcast Flava Clown.

Tom Jackson, right, a former player for the University of Louisville and the Denver Broncos, worked ESPN's "NFL Countdown" and "NFL PrimeTime" Sunday with Chris Berman.

Photo by PAM SPAULDING
BRISTOL, Conn. -- When you see him walk, you can almost see every blow that his body absorbed during 14 years in the NFL, and the countless hits that came before that in the college and high school arena.

This is a damaged man.

When he played football, he was known for his bursting speed and a shiftiness that made NFL quarterbacks earn their fat paychecks week after week.

Now, Tom Jackson climbs from his chair with a wince, then perambulates in lurching, hitching fashion down the hall.

The good Lord, they say, has a sense of humor. He gives you the glory, the fame, the riches. The punch line comes in the form of crumbling hips, arthritic joints and knees that the surgeons can no longer fix.

"Every step that I take, every day, is painful," begins Jackson. "When I'm playing with my girls, sometimes they rough me up, and it's painful. I've thought about it a lot. . . . and I wouldn't trade a second of what I did."

Because guys from Cleveland who end up at a college football backwater like the University of Louisville after being deemed too small for the Big Ten don't expect to get drafted into the NFL.

And they certainly don't expect to play 14 glorious seasons for the Broncos in Denver, where they have painted his name on the stadium wall, lest anyone even dare to forget it.

On top of that, they absolutely, positively don't expect to vault from that life into an even better one, as a TV star paid to talk about something he'd just as quickly talk to you about for free.

So you might look at this as a small price to pay.

As he homes in on age 50 with the same enthusiasm as when he used to home in on opposing wide receivers, Jackson can afford to be cavalier about the pain, which he acknowledges will only get worse with each birthday.

"Yeah, I hurt," he says. "But it was a privilege to do it -- one that is not had by many people. I used to work in front of 75,000 people . . . and all of them were pretty crazed to watch me do my job."

People are still crazed to watch Jackson do his job. Only now they are not just confined to Mile High Stadium in Denver. Every weekend, Jackson's mug goes out to millions of football followers via ESPN, which has had the good sense to give him the second chair on its Sunday NFL coverage since 1987.

More than just a mellow yin to Chris Berman's perennially discombobulated yang, the former U of L star is the voice of wisdom in the circus that is the National Football League. These days, he is arguably the most respected pro-football analyst on television, a refreshingly honest, opinionated man in a medium that has always valued the sizzle over the steak.

"If you play hard, if you play correctly, there are certain things that are going to happen to you," says Jackson, finally. "That's just the way life is."

Tredici · 11-14-2004, 03:50 PM

Another absolute class act. The Pink Panther...

Alex English was the NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980s and retired as the seventh-leading scorer with 25, 613 points. After being underutilized by the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers during his first four years in the league, English became the most explosive member of a high-powered Denver Nuggets team that consistently ranked among the league's top-scoring clubs.

English dominated during the 1980s. During his 10 full seasons in Denver he played in eight straight All-Star Games, won a scoring title, averaged more than 23 points nine years in a row and led the Nuggets to nine consecutive postseason appearances (although never to the Finals). The sleek, 6-7 forward became the first player ever to string together eight straight 2,000-point seasons. And he led the Nuggets in scoring seven times en route to becoming the franchise's all-time top scorer.

English played in eight straight All-Star Games.

The soft-spoken English let his on-court performances do the talking; he was never one to boast of his abilities or draw attention to his achievements. When he did speak, it was always with eloquence. In fact, English had three books of his poetry published. Also, during his playing days, English appeared in a sensitive role in the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck, a film about the threat of nuclear war that starred Gregory Peck and Jamie Lee Curtis.

While Julius Erving, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson garnered much of the attention during the era, English quietly assembled one of the most impressive playing records in NBA history.

"I'm not so flashy, not so boisterous. I'm low-key. My job is to do the job I'm supposed to do," English once said. "There are people who don't see it. But they aren't paying attention."

Although English was never a media darling, those in the know were well-acquainted with his brilliance. NBA scout Marty Blake told the Dallas Times Herald in 1990: "The thing that hurts Alex, at least when you try to compare him with the greats, is that he isn't flamboyant. And his nagging problem is that he doesn't get much recognition. [But] I've been associated with 18 players who made the Hall of Fame, and I think Alex is one of the great ones."

Rock Chalk · 11-14-2004, 04:22 PM

Beat me to Alex English Tredici. When I saw this thread I was going to say him first and foremost because he above all others got me to watch basketball with interest. Alex was a very under-rated stud.

Big Country · 11-14-2004, 05:19 PM

To me, the most underrated basketball player ever, Oscar, The Big O, Robertson. If memory serves me right, he is the only player to ever average a triple double for a season. Of course I never saw him play, since I'm only 19, but man...nobody ever remembers him. Here's to you Oscar

http://www.nba.com/history/players/robertson_bio.html

PatsWin2002 · 11-14-2004, 05:32 PM

Bobby Orr #4

The best player to ever lace up a pair of skates IMO. He revolutionized the game. His +/- of +124 in 1971 is still unbelievable.

In 1974 the top 4 point-getters in the NHL were all Bruins - all because of Orr.

1 Phil Esposito, Boston............145
2 Bobby Orr, Boston................122
3 Ken Hodge, Boston................105
4 Wayne Cashman, Boston............ 89

* Inducted into Hockey's Hall of Fame (1979)
* Won 2 Stanley Cup Championships
* NHL First-Team All-Star (1968-1975)
* NHL Second-Team All-Star (1967)
* Won Calder Memorial Trophy (1967)
* Won Norris Trophy (1968-1975)
* NHL Plus/Minus Leader (1969-1972, 1974, 1975)
* Won Art Ross Trophy (1970, 1975)
* Won Hart Trophy (1970, 1971, 1972)
* Won Conn Smythe Trophy (1970, 1972)
* Won Lester B. Pearson Award (1975)
* Canada Cup All-Star Team (1976)
* Canada Cup MVP (1976)
* Won Lester Patrick Trophy (1979)
* Participated in 7 NHL All-Star Games

Plus, he's always been a gentleman - a perfect role model.

azbroncfan · 11-14-2004, 08:49 PM

John Stockton
Classy guy who never took credit for what he did and never cared about stats even though he put up a ton of them. Regular guy that you see at your local bar. Money in the clutch. Not afraid to pick guys twice his size. Never held out or complained about his contract.

10-02-2004, 10:19 PM	#1
Clockwork Orange Persona Non Grata I seen him! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,438	Player appreciation thread We spend plenty of time and threads bashing players we dislike or have no respect for. I wanted to start a thread that was just the opposite. A thread to express your respect and admiration for your favorite athletes. Doesn't matter what sport it is (this is the other sports board anyway) so feel free to laud the praise on whoever you like. I started the thread, so I'll start. Joe Sakic The leading scorer (1402 points) in Quebec/Colorado franchise history. The only member of the franchise to ever score 500 goals (currently 542) Has played in the NHL All-Star game 11 times Captain for over a decade in which he helped lead his team to 2 Stanley Cups. Lead Canada to their first Olympic Gold Medal in nearly 50 years in Salt Lake, 2002. Was named Outstanding Player of the Olympic Tournament. Winner of the NHL's Hart Trophy (league MVP), Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), Pearson Award (MVP as voted on by the players) and Lady Byng Trophy (Sportsmanship & Gentlemanly play). *Shares the NHL record for career playoff overtime goals (6) with the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Easily a first ballot Hall Of Famer and the owner of the best wrist shot I've ever seen, Sakic has to be considered one of the greatest players of this generation. You da man Joey.

10-22-2004, 12:11 AM	#6
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	Great comic, CO! And thanks for the stats help too! I knew most of them, but I'd probably forget something important in my excitement and make myself look like a clown. Last edited by Mtbrncofn; 10-22-2004 at 12:13 AM..

10-22-2004, 12:25 AM	#7
Pezman Livin the dream Andy did you hear about this one? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Smoggy SoCal Posts: 9,833 Adopt-a-Bronco: DJ Williams	Always respected Junior Seau for being such a warrior... and even if he single-handedly disrupted the Broncos offense, that mofo was one bad dude to have to matchup against in his hayday... and from the Nuggets, Michael Adams, and Bill Hanzlik... Two great players who always seemed to be everywhere in the game when they were needed. And boy were they fun to watch! Especially Kamakazii Hanzlik! Great memories __________________ Sitting on a beach, earning 20% Last edited by Pezman; 10-22-2004 at 12:28 AM..

11-14-2004, 05:19 PM	#15
Big Country Solid Starter Dexter Jackson--Future Mr. Olympia Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 184	To me, the most underrated basketball player ever, Oscar, The Big O, Robertson. If memory serves me right, he is the only player to ever average a triple double for a season. Of course I never saw him play, since I'm only 19, but man...nobody ever remembers him. Here's to you Oscar http://www.nba.com/history/players/robertson_bio.html Last edited by Big Country; 11-14-2004 at 05:47 PM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-02-2004, 10:29 PM	#2
Breck Bronc Roland Deschain The Gunslinger Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,058	There's not a better choice than Super Joe Sakic . One accomplishment that is not on your very good list is Joey's 2004 All-Star Game hat trick and MVP. The man has done almost everything in hockey and Denver is so lucky to have him and the Avalanche.

10-05-2004, 08:43 PM	#3
Clockwork Orange Persona Non Grata I seen him! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,438	"Le Magnifique" Mario Lemieux. In my opinion, simply the greatest hockey player of all time. The guy dominated the league while playing through back injuries so painful that he needed help just to lace up his skates. Came back to lead the league in scoring and win the Hart Trophy after battling Hodgkins disease. Saved hockey in Pittsburgh twice. I will miss him when he finally retires for good.

10-21-2004, 10:51 PM	#4
Mtbrncofn Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bigfork, MT Posts: 8,558	I missed this thread somehow, but I am not surprised to see who's on it. Way to go, CO. Great choices. Of course, mine would be Peter Forsberg. I can't ramble off stats like CO can, but just because the guy is an all around stud. I love his work ethic, his fiery play, his incredible talent.....I could go on and on. I mean come on, what other player can come back from being lost the whole season to injury and be the leading scorer in the playoffs? And how awesome is it to watch him pull a wrap around on some unsuspecting schmuck goalie, or better yet, one who knows its coming and gets beat?! I too, would like to put in a vote for Super Joe. The guy is the epitome of classiness in sports.

10-22-2004, 06:35 AM	#8
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	Thomas "Hitman" Hearns AKA The Motor City Cobra The first man to win championships in five weight classes. A skilled boxer, but also a great action fighter, Hearns never had a boring fight. He was respected as much for his class outside the ring as his fearsome prowess within. Tommy's son Ronald Hearns is an undefeated middleweight prospect, fighting out of the same Kronk Gym that spawned his father's brilliant career.

10-22-2004, 07:19 AM	#9
bendog Marginally Continent David Bowens, he'd be an upgrade Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 19,935 Adopt-a-Bronco: David Bowens	Floyd Little.

10-27-2004, 11:55 PM	#10
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895

11-14-2004, 11:36 AM	#11
Clockwork Orange Persona Non Grata I seen him! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,438	Earl Boykins. Smallest player (5 ft. 5 in.) to score 30+ points in a game in NBA history. Carmelo Anthony said it best when asked about Boykins, "He's got the heart of a lion, that's all I can say about Earl."

11-14-2004, 03:46 PM	#12
Tredici Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 10,010	Tiny Tom Jackson. Always voted "Most Inspirational" by his teammates. Doesn't and hasn't ever acted like a broadcast Flava Clown. Tom Jackson, right, a former player for the University of Louisville and the Denver Broncos, worked ESPN's "NFL Countdown" and "NFL PrimeTime" Sunday with Chris Berman. Photo by PAM SPAULDING BRISTOL, Conn. -- When you see him walk, you can almost see every blow that his body absorbed during 14 years in the NFL, and the countless hits that came before that in the college and high school arena. This is a damaged man. When he played football, he was known for his bursting speed and a shiftiness that made NFL quarterbacks earn their fat paychecks week after week. Now, Tom Jackson climbs from his chair with a wince, then perambulates in lurching, hitching fashion down the hall. The good Lord, they say, has a sense of humor. He gives you the glory, the fame, the riches. The punch line comes in the form of crumbling hips, arthritic joints and knees that the surgeons can no longer fix. "Every step that I take, every day, is painful," begins Jackson. "When I'm playing with my girls, sometimes they rough me up, and it's painful. I've thought about it a lot. . . . and I wouldn't trade a second of what I did." Because guys from Cleveland who end up at a college football backwater like the University of Louisville after being deemed too small for the Big Ten don't expect to get drafted into the NFL. And they certainly don't expect to play 14 glorious seasons for the Broncos in Denver, where they have painted his name on the stadium wall, lest anyone even dare to forget it. On top of that, they absolutely, positively don't expect to vault from that life into an even better one, as a TV star paid to talk about something he'd just as quickly talk to you about for free. So you might look at this as a small price to pay. As he homes in on age 50 with the same enthusiasm as when he used to home in on opposing wide receivers, Jackson can afford to be cavalier about the pain, which he acknowledges will only get worse with each birthday. "Yeah, I hurt," he says. "But it was a privilege to do it -- one that is not had by many people. I used to work in front of 75,000 people . . . and all of them were pretty crazed to watch me do my job." People are still crazed to watch Jackson do his job. Only now they are not just confined to Mile High Stadium in Denver. Every weekend, Jackson's mug goes out to millions of football followers via ESPN, which has had the good sense to give him the second chair on its Sunday NFL coverage since 1987. More than just a mellow yin to Chris Berman's perennially discombobulated yang, the former U of L star is the voice of wisdom in the circus that is the National Football League. These days, he is arguably the most respected pro-football analyst on television, a refreshingly honest, opinionated man in a medium that has always valued the sizzle over the steak. "If you play hard, if you play correctly, there are certain things that are going to happen to you," says Jackson, finally. "That's just the way life is."

11-14-2004, 03:50 PM	#13
Tredici Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 10,010	Another absolute class act. The Pink Panther... Alex English was the NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980s and retired as the seventh-leading scorer with 25, 613 points. After being underutilized by the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers during his first four years in the league, English became the most explosive member of a high-powered Denver Nuggets team that consistently ranked among the league's top-scoring clubs. English dominated during the 1980s. During his 10 full seasons in Denver he played in eight straight All-Star Games, won a scoring title, averaged more than 23 points nine years in a row and led the Nuggets to nine consecutive postseason appearances (although never to the Finals). The sleek, 6-7 forward became the first player ever to string together eight straight 2,000-point seasons. And he led the Nuggets in scoring seven times en route to becoming the franchise's all-time top scorer. English played in eight straight All-Star Games. The soft-spoken English let his on-court performances do the talking; he was never one to boast of his abilities or draw attention to his achievements. When he did speak, it was always with eloquence. In fact, English had three books of his poetry published. Also, during his playing days, English appeared in a sensitive role in the movie Amazing Grace and Chuck, a film about the threat of nuclear war that starred Gregory Peck and Jamie Lee Curtis. While Julius Erving, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson garnered much of the attention during the era, English quietly assembled one of the most impressive playing records in NBA history. "I'm not so flashy, not so boisterous. I'm low-key. My job is to do the job I'm supposed to do," English once said. "There are people who don't see it. But they aren't paying attention." Although English was never a media darling, those in the know were well-acquainted with his brilliance. NBA scout Marty Blake told the Dallas Times Herald in 1990: "The thing that hurts Alex, at least when you try to compare him with the greats, is that he isn't flamboyant. And his nagging problem is that he doesn't get much recognition. [But] I've been associated with 18 players who made the Hall of Fame, and I think Alex is one of the great ones."

11-14-2004, 04:22 PM	#14
Rock Chalk Cheeky Bastards Laus Deo Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Backside of the Internet Posts: 29,940 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Harris	Beat me to Alex English Tredici. When I saw this thread I was going to say him first and foremost because he above all others got me to watch basketball with interest. Alex was a very under-rated stud.

11-14-2004, 05:32 PM	#16
PatsWin2002 Giggity Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: South of Boston Posts: 6,270	Bobby Orr #4 The best player to ever lace up a pair of skates IMO. He revolutionized the game. His +/- of +124 in 1971 is still unbelievable. In 1974 the top 4 point-getters in the NHL were all Bruins - all because of Orr. 1 Phil Esposito, Boston............145 2 Bobby Orr, Boston................122 3 Ken Hodge, Boston................105 4 Wayne Cashman, Boston............ 89 * Inducted into Hockey's Hall of Fame (1979) * Won 2 Stanley Cup Championships * NHL First-Team All-Star (1968-1975) * NHL Second-Team All-Star (1967) * Won Calder Memorial Trophy (1967) * Won Norris Trophy (1968-1975) * NHL Plus/Minus Leader (1969-1972, 1974, 1975) * Won Art Ross Trophy (1970, 1975) * Won Hart Trophy (1970, 1971, 1972) * Won Conn Smythe Trophy (1970, 1972) * Won Lester B. Pearson Award (1975) * Canada Cup All-Star Team (1976) * Canada Cup MVP (1976) * Won Lester Patrick Trophy (1979) * Participated in 7 NHL All-Star Games Plus, he's always been a gentleman - a perfect role model.

11-14-2004, 08:49 PM	#17
azbroncfan Ring of Famer Angry guntoting,meateating AMERICAN Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 8,669 Adopt-a-Bronco: TEBOW	John Stockton Classy guy who never took credit for what he did and never cared about stats even though he put up a ton of them. Regular guy that you see at your local bar. Money in the clutch. Not afraid to pick guys twice his size. Never held out or complained about his contract.