| Re: Your Top 5
Okay, let's get some more "outside the U.S" influence into this list -
1) Shane Warne - Australian cricketer, spin bowling legend and stallion like conqueror of nurses everywhere. Seldom can a man that has caused such grief to my fair nation be held in such high regard. Plays hard, lives hard and is the single reason why cricket went from being a "never watch" sport to a "frequent watch" sport for me.
2) Ian Wright - Striker for my beloved (lowly) Crystal Palace from 1986ish to 1992ish. A priveledge to watch him develop from headless chicken to ice cool finisher and a man that contributed largely to many of my personal favourite football moments. Including, coming on as a sub in an FA Cup Final against Man Utd, his first appearance after four months out with a broken leg and, with his first touch, skipping past 2 defenders and scoring. A god!
3) Michel Platini - Largely based on one tournament, the unbelievably fantastic 1984 European Championships won by France in their own country. Platini, an attacking midfielder, scored in all five games in this tournament. In the opener he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Denmark. Next game up he scored a hat trick against Belgium in a 5-0 win (a perfect head, left foot, right foot one too). Next up, he scored a hat trick again, this time against Yugoslavia. A hat trick in 17 minutes with his side 1-0 down in the 2nd half. In the semi-fnal he scored the decisive winner in the last minute of a 3-2 extra time win against Portugal and lastly he scored directly from a free kick in the final against Spain to lift the trophy as captain. Five games, two hat tricks, nine goals and captain of the host winning nation. What a tournament.
4) Barry John - Welsh Rugby Union fly half known as The King (long before Jerry Lawler!). A humble man who had achieved everything by the age of 27 and retired. I've only seen his matches on tapes but he was incredible to watch and I'm sure would have adjusted his game accordingly to be just as fantastic today. The leading light of the British Lions only tour victory over the All Blacks. Rumour has it he decided to retire when a young girl curtsied to him making him feel embarassed at how sporting prowess was being interpreted. Not one for todays cult of celebrity!
5) Sugar Ray Robinson - Finally an American. Oh sure, he went and spoilt his legacy a little by going on too long (as does pretty much every US boxer) but his two bouts with Duran, his battles with Benitez, Hearns and Hagler too ensure that he is a true boxing great. Nearly all the matches went to dramatic finishes, the kind of which Sly Stallon would have written! |