Toaster Oven

Who are your top Five Favorite players, of any sport, any time period. Leave comments, questions one tastes, oh and give reasons why.


1. Jerry Rice, WR, San Fransisco 49ers
First.Autograph.Ever, that's all I need to say. I still have the picture, card and helmet he signed.

2. Michael Jordan, G/F, Chicago Bulls
I grew up in Chicago, he was our savior. Everyone wanted to be like Mike, also I have his namesake so I kinda have to like him.

3. Frank Thomas, 1B/DH, Chicago White Sox
Again being from Chicago, he was the main frame of the Chicago White Sox, also he made Albert F****** Belle seem feasible.

4. Roberto Luongo, G, Florida Panthers
The Blackhawks sucked, ass, every year. I attached to the Panthers. Now, however, they're one of the worst teams. I loved Luongo though. He was the best thing that ever happened there.

5. Mark Buerhle, SP, Chicago White Sox
2005.World.Series.Champions. That's all we needed to know

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Balla

1. Steve Young 49ers- first favorite football team...

2. jerry rice 49ers - help make one of the greatest football teams

3. terrel ownes 49ers - also helped to make one of the greatest football teams

4. jason kidd nj nets - just on of the best basketball players of our time

5. Tracy mcgrady houston rockets - another one of the greatest basketball players of our time

Freak

The Panthers were terrible with Luongo! Not that he didn't stand on his head for them every night, but he never made the playoffs there. You can't possibly say he alone was better for the franchise than their Finals run way back when (especially given the piss-poor return they got for him in the Canucks trade). Now he's maybe the best goalie in the world, and he's on my team, hahaha...

Anyway, my five:

1. Brett Favre: So this is pretty timely and all, but it's a landslide anyway. I started watching football in 1994, latched on right away as a third-generation Packers fan, and watched the guy transform into one of the all-time greats. I consider myself impossibly lucky to be able to say I've never ever gone a week of football without having Brett Favre to root for.

2. Marvin Harrison: He's been a cornerstone of my fantasy football team every year since we started seven years ago. One of the most exciting players in the world to watch on the field, and easily one of the most likeable off of it.

3. The 1993 Toronto Blue Jays: I can't just pick one; they were such an awesome squad altogether. John Olerud, Paul Molitor, Joe Carter, Robbie Alomar, Juan Guzman, Pat Hentgen, Duane Ward, Tony Fernandez, Devon White, Ed Sprague... and on and on.

4. Doug Gilmour, Felix Potvin, Wendel Clark: I was a Leafs fan in the early-mid 90s before I moved out west.

5. Pavel Bure: The most exciting hockey player I've ever watched.

And just for kicks, five guys I'm lovin' right now:

1. Ryan Braun
2. Andre Johnson
3. Matt Holliday
4. Jake Peavy
5. Kevin Bieksa

Toaster Oven

In my mind, Luongo was an A+ Goalie with the Panthers, and he's an A+ goalie with Canucks. I hate Bure, for obvious reasons though. Joe Carter's Homer is one of my favorite Moments. As far as players i'm lovin' now

1. The Minnesota Boys: Laurence Maroney, Marion Barber III, Phil Kessel, Thomas Vanek, Kyle Okposo, Erik Johnson, Matt Spaeth and Jeff Frazee.
2. Fransisco Liriano
3. Matt Holliday
4. Chris Young
5. Ryan Braun

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Tyler Durden

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!

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A throne is just a bench wrapped in velvet

Dr. Giganto

1. Paul O'Neill, Yankees - Every Yankee fan in the 90's loved him. He always put together great at-bats, and we always got a kick out of it when he took out his furstations on the water cooler

2. Charles Oakley, Knicks - He was just an absolute bad-ass, a terror on defense and rebounds, and he had a jumper from the top of the key that always seemed to go in when the Knicks needed a big bucket

3. Derek Jeter, Yankees - For obvious reasons

4. Mariano Rivera, Yankees - Because it's so goddamn cool when he enters the game to "Enter Sandman"

5. Jeremy Shockey, Giants - He's so dreamy

Honorable mentions to Lawrence Taylor and Patrick Ewing

Non-NY players:

1. Greg Maddux - Being a gigantic nerd, I always loved how nerdy-looking Maddux was the nest pitcher of his time without an overpowering fastball, splitter, slider, or curve. He got by on location, a change-up and smarts

2. Chad Johnson - My man-crush on Ocho Cinco is almost reaching Jeter/Shockey proportions

3. LeBron James - Not only is he one of the best players in the NBA, it seems like he has a really good head on his shoulders, and he's not really letting the fame go to his head.

4. Ron Artest - Maybe he counts as a NYer since he's from here and went to St. Johns, but whatever. I've always been a big fan of his, and I've been disappointed every time he's acted like a jackass. Still, I just cant bring myself to dislike him

5. Vladimir Guerrero - Everything about him is just so cool to me. The way he's so quiet. His awkward batting stance. His violent swing. His cannon of a right arm. Even his name is fucking cool.

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Slim

My Reason are because I am a homer
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Nolan Ryan
Pudge
Tony Romo
Troy Aikman
Jason Witten

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Tyler Durden

I think you pronounce it "hommer"

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A throne is just a bench wrapped in velvet

Slim

are you trying to give me little grammar lessons so I will sleep with you?

Because it is working....

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Jayman

In no particular order:

1. Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions: Watching him as a kid/teen got me hooked into football in the first place. The guy could stop on a dime and just change directions. Simply amazing. It's a shame the Lions couldn't even do anything playoff-wise when he was on the team.

2. Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox: I was a huge fan of his as a member of the Sox, he truly was "The Big Hurt". I still have his jersey stashed away somewhere.

3. Steve Yzerman - Detroit Red Wings: The cornerstone of the Wings for the past 20 years. The guy played the game so well, and was a great leader. He helped bring the Wings out of the gutter to one of the best in the late 90's/early 00's.

4. Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls: Come on now, this is no contest. Watching this guy on the court was like magic (no offense, Mr. Johnson). He was seemingly unstoppable. Will go down as the best. Ever. I loved going to Pistons/Bulls games during the 90's just to watch Jordan kick our asses.

5. Tom Brady - New England Patriots: Been following him since his days at Michigan. I don't really think I need to say much else about him.