|
Post by spankyupinclass on May 19, 2023 18:05:54 GMT -5
Gone at 87. For me, Jim Brown was the best football player who ever lived. Bold statement for sure but he went on to be an activist for several issues. Played 9 seasons for the Cleveland Browns. Brown ran over and around tacklers. I was lucky enough to watch Jim Brown when I was a youngster even though it meant running over my Dallas Cowboys.
|
|
|
Post by PonyGirlJCM on May 19, 2023 18:27:54 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by merasmag on May 19, 2023 19:15:01 GMT -5
i saw on the news-rip foxy
|
|
shoes
UpInClass Steward
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by shoes on May 20, 2023 19:06:11 GMT -5
I loved and admired Barry Sanders throughout his Lions career. Barry's father thought Jim Brown was the best (running back) ever and having watched him growing up, I have to agree. One of a handful of celebrities I have met (all on airplanes or at airports. I have his autograph on a boarding pass.
|
|
|
Post by spankyupinclass on May 20, 2023 19:37:29 GMT -5
That's way cool shoes. I'll trade ya a game worn jersey of Alex Karris for your....lol...just kiddin brother... I may be way off base here but did you ever watch Al Kaline play?
|
|
shoes
UpInClass Steward
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by shoes on May 21, 2023 17:44:32 GMT -5
That's way cool shoes. I'll trade ya a game worn jersey of Alex Karris for your....lol...just kiddin brother... I may be way off base here but did you ever watch Al Kaline play? Watched Al Kaline play in person many times. Hit for average, with pretty good power, excellent baserunner though he didn't steal bases. He almost always got to third from first or home from second on a single. Sublime right fielder with range and a strong accurate throwing arm. Second only at fielding the position to Roberto Clemente in my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by spankyupinclass on May 21, 2023 19:34:04 GMT -5
ok...how about this...ever see Mark the Bird pitch? Pretty good pitcher but as I recall didn't pitch many seasons. I have been to Detroit one time. I have never been so cold in my life! You guys are about a 3 iron from Canada as I recall.
|
|
shoes
UpInClass Steward
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by shoes on May 22, 2023 11:31:43 GMT -5
Yes to the Bird, it was a short but fun time. As with many other pitchers over the years what started with a leg injury turned into a sore arm. The legs are so critical to pitching.
Detroit is very close to Windsor Canada, just a tunnel or bridge away. I grew up in and returned to the other side of the state, in Kalamazoo, just 38 miles from the beaches of Lake Michigan
|
|
|
Post by spankyupinclass on May 22, 2023 12:31:27 GMT -5
Well, I can't hit a 3 iron 38 miles but I knew it was close to Canada. How about Denny McClain? See him pitch? I know he was a great pitcher but isn't his claim to fame he had 30 wins the year he won the Cy Young Award?
|
|
shoes
UpInClass Steward
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by shoes on May 22, 2023 14:52:50 GMT -5
Denny went 31-6 in 1968 , the first to win 30 since Lefty Grove in 1931(1968 was year of the pitcher), and won the "other" game in the 1968 World Series- that was the year that Mickey Lolich won 3. They were a great right handed/ left handed pitching duo. After Mickey retired he opened a donut shop where he made the donuts himself. He had enjoyed a few of them even during his pitching years as you could see by his oversized gut. He famously retorted to claims about his being out of shape with: :"you don't pitch with your stomach."
Denny was a sketchy character off the field and rumors were that he pissed off a mobster who had someone stomp on his foot. The injury and an off field issue resulting in suspension. (I forget what it was officially attributed to) cost him half the season in 1970. He had followed up his brilliant 68 season with another great one in 1969, and a second the Cy Young that year, sharing it with Mike Cuellar. As soon as he was eligible to pitch on July 1, 1970 the Tigers rushed him back to start in his first day (no rehab starts in the minors back then). A full house of 50,000 was on hand, but he was never the same. After baseball he played keyboard/piano in some lounges around Detroit and briefly hosted a local talk show. He was married (ended in divorce) to Hall of fame Shortstop Lou Boudreaux's daughter Sharon.
|
|
|
Post by spankyupinclass on May 22, 2023 17:10:26 GMT -5
Thanks for that shoes! His after baseball life has some close characteristics to the Raging Bull. Jake LaMotta. Lou Boudreaux brings back fond memories. Hell of a shortstop I believe. And then the Motor City gave us Dennis Rodman...lol...
|
|