CSNbbs

4 figures who best define Memphis sports history. Candidates selected from the other thread.

I thought Big Jack was mentioned in the other thread. :/

we should get 8 votes.

Because the question is who best "defined" Memphis sports history i went with

Finch - major impact as a player at Melrose HS, player at Memphis State and coach at Memphis (even had his own ice cream LOL)
Lawler - owned Memphis during his hayday and was the center of wrestling in the mid-south. responsible for numerous sellouts at mid-south coliseum. He was the closest thing to a big "pro sports" celebrity during his time as an active wrestler
Dudley - brought the Liberty Bowl to Memphis producing great matchups, especially in the 70s and 80s. USC's John McKay and Bama's Bear Bryant coached their last college games in it
Heisley - brought Memphis the first and only major pro sports franchise to town. The cache that brings to a city is big and when it's successful we've seen what it can do to the city

I went with

Spook Murphy..legendary Tiger football coach, and athletic director.
Led our first era of great Tiger football.

"Clean"Gene Bartow led Tiger hoops to its only unblemished Final Four or national championship season, along with Finch, Kenon, etc.

Keith Lee led a resurgent Tiger basketball program to a #1 ranking under Dana Kirk.

DeAngelo Williams led Memphis football to a brief resurgence in the early 2000's...I'd like to think that that brief taste of success, along with Tommy West's exit speech got us to where we are today with Tiger football.

to be fair, an argument could be made that there are more than 4 great people of sports in Memphis history.
Missing are names like Bob Rush, Jack Eaton, Coach Rex Dockery, Keith Butler, Issac Bruce, Lance Russell for instance.

People will remember most of the other list...but why Bob Rush?
3 time Memphis football All American center, played 9 years of NFL football, being a 1st round pick of the San Deigo Chargers
.

Isaac Bruce. Good catch, so to speak.

Where’s John Daly?

(06-13-2018 07:51 AM)TigerTimmy Wrote: [ -> ]Where’s John Daly?

Or Jack Eaton.

My write in was for Win Wilfong

As far as sportswriter types go, I think woody Paige is a memphian

Anthony Miller should be an honorable mention, he's born and breed a tiger and will be for life.

(06-13-2018 07:51 AM)TigerTimmy Wrote: [ -> ]Where’s John Daly?

Arkansas....snicker snicker

(06-13-2018 08:15 AM)dan o Wrote: [ -> ]My write in was for Win Wilfong

Thought about Wilfong. 2nd Tiger All American. Averaged over 20 points and 12 rebounds per game his last 2 seasons. Led Tigers to 1st national prominence when Tigers were runner-up in '57 NIT tourney. MVP of NIT. Drafted 4th overall in '57 NBA draft. On the '57-'58 St. Louis Hawks team that beat Bill Russell and Bob Cousy in the NBA Finals, didn't start but played in every game. Celts won 8 straight NBA titles after losing this series to the Hawks.

(06-13-2018 08:11 AM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-13-2018 07:51 AM)TigerTimmy Wrote: [ -> ]Where’s John Daly?

Or Jack Eaton.

I think Big Jack is a great option. Unfortunately, the poll feature only allows 16 selections. I went with those who had the most mentions in the other thread.

Are the faces going to be carved on Mount Moriah?

(06-13-2018 03:55 PM)Eagle4Christ Wrote: [ -> ]Are the faces going to be carved on Mount Moriah?

Graffitied on the Wing Guru building.

Love him or hate him Cal has to be there. Made Memphis a national brand for first time since Dana’s run, spearheaded the viability of the TSF with his Basketball program that generated over $200M revenue under Cal and set many team records including one that most college basketball writers think will never be broken: the 64 game conference winning streak.

1 Larry - no one meant more to Memphis sports that #21

2 Tim McCarver - 2x all star, 2 x world series champ. Maybe best baseball color commentator in recent memory

3 Penny - icon in Memphis and the NBA

4 Cary Middlecoff - best in the world at his sport. 2x US Open Champ, Masters Champ, PGA Champ... and in the PGA Golf Hall of Fame

(06-13-2018 08:56 PM)Marc Mensa Wrote: [ -> ]1 Larry - no one meant more to Memphis sports that #21

2 Tim McCarver - 2x all star, 2 x world series champ. Maybe best baseball color commentator in recent memory

3 Penny - icon in Memphis and the NBA

4 Cary Middlecoff - best in the world at his sport. 2x US Open Champ, Masters Champ, PGA Champ... and in the PGA Golf Hall of Fame

Mechanically deduced and yet so enlightening.


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Maybe a sports wall of fame

Hoops

Football

Baseball

And more