Which Sports Figure (current or in history) Would You Want To Spend An Hour With?
frankhardy
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in Sports Talk
I got this idea from the "Favorite Athlete" thread. This thread is different, though. Which sports figure (athlete, broadcaster, coach, etc), current or retired, living or deceased, would you want to sit down and talk to for an hour.
I can think of a few that would be great to sit down with for an hour and chat with.
Number one on my list, I think, would have to be Buck O'Neil. If you have ever seen him interviewed, you would agree with me. He just passed away a few months ago. I first knew of him on the Ken Burns documentary "Baseball" (fabulous, by the way). That man is one of the greatest story tellers that I have ever heard, and he was very, very passionate about the history of baseball.
As far as broadcasters go, I would love to sit down with Bob Costas. For some reason, he just seems to be a normal guy, yet has a boyish passion for the game of baseball. It is a shame that he can't do play-by-play for the game he loves because NBC's sports doesn't have baseball. Another is Jack Buck, just because I grew up listening to him every night of the summer.
I just thought of this one - but I would also love to sit down with Connie Mack. Can you imagine the conversations you could have with a man that managed in baseball for over 50 years?
Those are just some that come to mind.
Jackie Robinson would be another, as well.
I can think of a few that would be great to sit down with for an hour and chat with.
Number one on my list, I think, would have to be Buck O'Neil. If you have ever seen him interviewed, you would agree with me. He just passed away a few months ago. I first knew of him on the Ken Burns documentary "Baseball" (fabulous, by the way). That man is one of the greatest story tellers that I have ever heard, and he was very, very passionate about the history of baseball.
As far as broadcasters go, I would love to sit down with Bob Costas. For some reason, he just seems to be a normal guy, yet has a boyish passion for the game of baseball. It is a shame that he can't do play-by-play for the game he loves because NBC's sports doesn't have baseball. Another is Jack Buck, just because I grew up listening to him every night of the summer.
I just thought of this one - but I would also love to sit down with Connie Mack. Can you imagine the conversations you could have with a man that managed in baseball for over 50 years?
Those are just some that come to mind.
Jackie Robinson would be another, as well.
Shane
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Wow, that's a tough one, because of so many.
But, when it comes down to number 1, I would
have to say LOU GEHRIG.
Tony
KalineFan
Perk...not that I don't agree with you about the skills of Willie Mays, but he is one of the most arrogant people you will ever meet in your life. I would rather be locked in a room with starving pit bulls and have raw meat tied to my genitals than have to spend an hour with him! Just my opionion!!
With that in mind, I would like to hear Babe Ruth's take on Barry Bonds.
Wow, and what an opinion it is!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>60 minutes is not alot of time.
With that in mind, I would like to hear Babe Ruth's take on Barry Bonds. >>
That is a good one. Can I sit in and listen?
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Joe Kelley was my grandfather's uncle and played at the turn of the 20th century. The stories my grandfather told me about him and baseball are all fuzzy now (Joe Kelley was one of the first cheaters in baseball--used to hide baseballs in the outfield grass. A ball would get hit deep and amazing he'd come up with the ball and throw the guy out at second). Just to get an hour with him and find out what it was like back then...
Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12
Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
I was sitting behind homeplate and chatting with some of the locals and they pointed to an elderly gentleman a few rows in front of us and they said "do you know who that is?" I of course didnt, and they told me that's Buck O'Neil, he played in the Negro Leagues, you should go say Hi, he's a real nice guy. LOL. So. I went up to him and said hello, explained that I was an Indians fan and was in town to watch my favorite team.
The seat next to him was empty and he invited me to sit down with him. He told me that he was a roommate of Satchel Paige and regaled me with stories about the old times, covering for Satchel when he was stepping out with the ladies etc. having to sleep in the hallway because Satche was "entertaining" all night.
He was truly an ambassador to the game. Damon was a budding star for KC back then, still raw, but Buck said "this kids got loads of talent, I hope that we can hold on to him" I was blown away by this mans friendliness and generosity. No lie, I sat with him for well over an hour that day chatting about baseball and so many other things. It saddens me that the HOF did such injustice to this man and he STILL got up there and made that speech at the HOF dinner.
grr.
Anyhoo, if you get the chance another great guy is Bobby Doerr, what an amazing, friendly down to earth person. Met him at a card show where Ted Williams and Yaz were signing, he was the odd man out and they had him signing in a basement room! I had a ball with Ted and YAz and I wanted his signature too since they were all in the HOF. No line he was just sitting there; no staff from the event, like he was totally forgotten. He was extremely cordial and was more than happy to give some time. Class act all the way.
ciao for now! gotta wrap some presents.
Leo
I would be more honored to spend time with somebody like Benjamin Franklin or Robert McNamara, as they would have some very enlightening and interesting first hand experiences and knowledge to share on truly important matters in history and mankind. You get a glimpse of what McNamara would have to offer when you see FOG OF WAR. I would love to hear the stuff he knows and feels that he does not offer up publicly.
it is very appropriate to consider which sports figure we might enjoy spending a short one-hour time peroid with, and quite a difficult choice no doubt.
I have had the pleasure in the past, on different occassions, of speaking with a Heisman winner, Johnny Lattner, a former NBA star and anouncer, Johnny Kerr, and a well respected sportscaster, Jack Brickhouse. Fortunately each was at least an hour in somewhat informal surroundings. Very enlightening to say the least.
Connie Mack was mentioned prior, and I think it would be quite interesting to hear some tales and opinions from a fellow with that much time in baseball. Since baseball is my favotrite team sport, I think I would also go with a manager, perhaps Casey Stengel or Leo Durocher, to get a little more into the 60s and 70s, and they did go way back as players as well.
<< <i>(Joe Kelley was one of the first cheaters in baseball--used to hide baseballs in the outfield grass. A ball would get hit deep and amazing he'd come up with the ball and throw the guy out at second). >>
The 1890s -- particularly the mid-1890s -- were quite the era of cheating, and Kelley's Orioles of those years were the most prolific cheaters in the league. The outfield grasses were allowed to grow long, and the Orioles players knew where the balls were planted. The infielders (particularly 3B John McGraw -- yes, that John McGraw) used to grab the belt of runners trying to advance, to hold them in place. According to legend, this worked until one runner on third unfastened his belt while standing on third. As the runner went to tag up on a deep fly, McGraw grabbed the belt and the runner sprinted for home...with McGraw left holding the belt. Apparently, not long after this, MLB added a third base umpire who could see stuff like this going on.
Steve
<< <i>Anna Kournikova
Steve >>
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<< <i>
<< <i>Anna Kournikova
Steve >>
What would you do with the other 57 minutes?
<< <i>60 minutes is not alot of time.
With that in mind, I would like to hear Babe Ruth's take on Barry Bonds. >>
that would go something like this.
" hell, if they had that stuff around when I was playing, I would have taken it 10 times a day!
I don't blame him a bit. I did all kinds of illegal stuff and bent every rule in the book, we all did
if we wanted to be good.
but then again, last I heard, he has never been tested positive for anything,
nor has he been convicted of anything except in the court of public opinion
and you know how I feel about the damn press... they all suck and are full of liars trying to sell papers!"
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Anna Kournikova
Steve >>
What would you do with the other 57 minutes? >>
Wished he had picked that Arizona softball player instead.
Dennis Rodman
"How about a little fire Scarecrow ?"
can u pick one out for me, pleeeeeze?
TIA
rd
edit: or Lou Gehrig
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
<< <i>Wished he had picked that Arizona softball player instead. >>
You mean Jenny Finch?
I would love to spend an hour with her
<< <i>
<< <i>Wished he had picked that Arizona softball player instead. >>
You mean Jenny Finch?
I would love to spend an hour with her
She does do some amazing stuff with soft balls, huh?
Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12
Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)