My Top 10 Sports Heroes: Out of Sight, but Not Out of Mind

Sports media is usually very repetitive with its remembrance of sports legends. But there are some who aren't mentioned among the legends, and some of those who are mentioned are often over shadowed by the "endorsement hogs". Here, I won't bore you with a lot of stats, just a recollection of the greatness of my sports heroes. Some played for multiple teams during their careers, but I identify with the team that is most prominent in my mind. If you were too young to have seen these athletes perform live, treat yourself to some old sports video to witness the talent for yourself. Your dad, uncle or grandpa (maybe grandma too) can endorse the 10 names below. Oh...there will be plenty of sarcasm in this article because I have sports convictions. Political views will be axed. You know what I mean.

Here are MY top 10 sport heroes who have been out of sight, but not out of MY mind:

Number 10: Duane Thomas - Running Back, Dallas Cowboys

I am not a Cowboys fan. The term "America's team" is certainly a misnomer, and most football fans outside of Dallas would agree. Tony "D" (Dorsett) is my second favorite ex-Cowboy. Mr. Thomas is numero-uno. He was a bruiser that had a whole lot of attitude. Practice wasn't one of his favorite pastimes, but when his number was called, he gave the opposing defense a beat down. He blew off the media and his teammates, but he was one of the greatest running backs to ever play football. His name is forever engraved in the Super Bowl VI books.

Number 9: Adrian Dantley - Small Forward, Utah Jazz

When I think of "AD", Popeye immediately comes to mind. He wasn't a big man nor was he a brute like Bluto, but when he had had enough, he ate his spinach and that's all she wrote for anyone that angered him. Dantley wasn't a bully like Mo' Lucas or Cedric Maxwell, he was a quiet beast. I grew up a UCLA basketball fan, watching them destroy opponents through the sixties and most of the seventies. AD was the key player to end the Bruins famed 88 game winning streak. He quickly became the enemy. But when he reached the NBA and had a short stint with the Lakers, he became one of my heroes. He didn't make the NBA 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team, but he should have.

Number 8: John Jefferson - Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers

I use to call Art Monk "Money". When you needed big plays, a touchdown, or respect from the defense you just call number 81. I called number 83 John Jefferson "Mo Money". All quarterback Dan Fouts had to do was throw the ball in the vicinity of Jefferson. There is no way that anyone can convince me that this man wasn't telepathic. He willed poorly thrown footballs right into his hands, causing the defender to cry for mommy.

Number 7: Dwight Stones - World Record Setting High Jumper

He "flopped" better than Dick "Fosbury Flop" Fosbury himself. Stones won a zillion National Championships and held the world record three-times. Long and lanky, he reminds me of Conan O'Brien and Orel Hershiser.

Number 6: Carl Lewis - Nine (9) Times Olympic Gold Medal Winner

Stats are necessary to plead the cause for Mr. Lewis. These days, Olympic greatness is measured by the number of gold metals an athlete wins. Carl collected 9 gold medals and 1 silver medal in four different Olympics. Indubitably, one of the greatest Olympians for all times, he owned the sprints and long jump, and his feats won't be matched. Com'mon man! Give Carl his due!

Number 5: Graig Nettles - Third Base, New York Yankees

He is quite simply "a thief". He stole my heart. Not the kind where I was in love with him or anything like that, HE STOLE MY HEART! My hometown Dodgers were putting a hurtin' on the Yankees in the '78 World Series. After winning the first two games in LA, game 3 seemed like a cake walk, until line drive, sure run scoring hits up the third base line were stolen by Nettles. He hurt me man. All I can say is he had to be a magician. It was all an illusion. He hurt me to the core. That Yankees team won the series that year, and the previous year against the Dodgers, converting me to a Yankees fan forever.

Number 4: Diego Maradona - Attacking Midfielder, Argentine Football

I wanted be Diego Maradona. Hell, every man wanted to be Diego Maradona. He was a world class athlete, good looking (according to the ladies), defied all the rules, rock star persona, had lots of money, a jet setter playboy, and Porsche` driver. Tell the truth, back in the day every man alive wanted a Turbo Carerra. Despite his political views, he was hard to stop on and off the field. Pele` = Bill Cosby. Diego = Eddie Murphy. Dig what I'm saying?

Number 3: Kenny "The Snake" Stabler - Quarterback, Oakland Raiders

Left-handed quarterbacks always seemed odd to me when I was a kid. They still do. It was acceptable to me if he were a Raider. I lived and breathed the Raiders back in the day. Snake had to grow on me at first, but seeing him mutilate defenses with two minutes left in a game on a regular basis was simply beautiful. He owned Monday Night Football and a place in my sports memory for all times.

Number 2: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Center, Los Angeles Lakers.

Kareem? Everybody knows Kareem. Well, let's chew on a little fat here. Remember, I'm an old school Bruins fan, a devoted Lakers fan, and I love to loathe the Celtics. That's my favorite contribution to society. But I love the Celtics' fans because they loathe us too. Okay, enough already. Michael Jordan is not the greatest player to ever play the game. Abdul-Jabbar is. And he doesn't get enough credit. He annihilated college opponents. In fact, he changed college basketball. He immediately dominated in the NBA, and I'm sorry Magic, I love you man, but you would not have won those five diamond rings without Kareem. The dude is the NBA's all time leading scorer, and he played until he was 87 years old. He wasn't really 87, but close. Jordan won 6 rings "just like Kareem". The hype over Bird and Magic, Russell and Chamberlain, West and Oscar Robertson is justifiable, but so is the argument for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest NBA Player ever. Check (mate).

Number 1: Gale Sayers - Running Back, Chicago Bears

I never saw Jim Brown play, but I remember Gale Sayers. Now that Adrian Peterson is making his awesome mark on pro football, Gale Sayers is finally getting some press. You see, "AP's" style is a lot like Mr. Sayers. Have you ever listened to Herbie Hancock music? Musically, he can gracefully and skillfully take you in every direction like no other jazz composer. Gale Sayers orchestrated some "wonder full" runs. He couldn't have been caught by any tiger, lion or cheetah let alone a human football player. He was that good. OJ, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, Emmit, and scores of others were very good, but Mr. Sayles was one of a kind. With Sayers on offense, and Dick Butkus on defense, why didn't the Bears win any Super Bowls in those days? I loved football with all my heart as a kid, and I loved watching Gale Sayers. When Gale Sayers' career ended to a knee injury, I cried.

I hope at the least that you enjoyed my choices. Many more are running through my mind.