Who are your favorite athletes?

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Reason I'm bringing this up is a friend brought back a memory from my freshman year of high school basketball. The coach was trying to distract us a bit, asked who my favorite basketball player was. Made the free throw while saying Andrei Kirilenko without any hesitation.

(Guess I forgot how to embed a video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwI06YzO-j8 )

2003-2006 stat averages: 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.7 steals

Not the same player he once was, but I love his feel for the game and how well he uses his long arms (about the only trait we share). One of the most versatile players of the decade and one of three (I believe) players in history to record a 5x5 (which he's done three times). My own playing style was loosely inspired by his, among others.

So all of you, let's hear who some of your favorite athletes are.

 

Richie McCaw - what a machine. How does this guy keep running for 80 minutes to always be where the ball is?
Kenenisa Bekele - unbeatable over 5,000m and 10,000m. Watch a YouTube of the kick he puts on in the final lap. Unreal.

 

I would say simply personally, because I like them, or a selection of sports (I'll let you guess the sports)..

Sachin Tendulkar
Lawrence Dallaglio
Alex Ovechkin
Rafael Nadal
Freddie Flintoff
Jason Robinson
Paul Scholes
Jonny Wilkinson
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Richard Hill

 

Sachin Tendulkar - big yes. What a legend.
Jason Robinson - let's not go there. You know my thoughts on that ballet dancer.

 

Dennis Bergkamp

No attitude, professionalism and one of the most skillfull players ever to grace the pitch.

 

Yeah, Dennis was pretty awesome. I also like Edwin van der Sar very much.

There's an other athlete who's name I still mention, but that's more of a lingo-practical utterance, when I face a dreadful conundrum. "What would Brian Boitano do?"

 

Of the athletes I've seen play:

Willie Mays
Henry Aaron
Johnny Bench
Frank Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Roger Staubach (in spite of him playing for Dallas)

 

Matthew Le Tissier, and Alan Shearer. Both retired now.

 

Rawgrim... I love you. Gay sex is on the cards, with posts like that!

 

Wayne Gretzky. I am not a big sports fan (primarily because I hate arrogant jocks), but this guy was a gentleman through and through. Skilled, gracious, and totally not full of himself, the guy has such a reputation for being a great human being it's not even funny.

On a similar note, GSP. He's confident, but not a jerk about it. Nothing makes me happier than when he defeats some trash talking douche.

 

Doug Gilmour. Very skilled two-way center, small guy who could play like a 200-pound power forward. He and the Leafs were great in the early 90's.

Teemu Selänne. Incredible scorer throughout his career. 40 years old and still going strong. Professional in and out of the rink (minor rally accidents don't count )

Dirk Nowitzki. I have a thing for big players who can shoot threes, probably because I like to think myself as one.

Jari Litmanen. I've made my share of jokes about his numerous injuries, but he's the best Finnish football player ever. Not the most media friendly player - when he played in Ajax you couldn't tell if he was speaking Dutch or Finnish in an interview.

 

Cory Everson... what a body.

 

George St-Pierre of the UFC has to be my all-time favorite. Not only is he the best pound-for-pound athlete in his sports, he's also very humble about it. And it's funny to see a guy with these muscle be all shy when interviewed.

In hockey, I have to admit Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton have always been favorites of mine.

 

My favourite would be Paul Flynn. A similar type player to Le Tissier, he lazed about up front producing moments of sheer brilliance and carried his team, until a crop of good youngsters emerged just at the end of his career. Here's his audacious goal to turn around the 2004 Munster final with his team a man down:



Next in Ken McGrath, making a vital catch in the same match. Note how Ken puts his hand up where his opponent is swinging for it with the hurl. Ken has picked up plenty of injuries from his playing style over the years and once cut a cast off his arm so he could play when the doctor refused to. Below it is an example of his scoring ability.




Big Dan was generally a cult figure rather than a great athlete but for a few years he was incredible, picking up a hurler of the year award despite only making the semi finals. Wonderfully off the ball interviews as well. "What went wrong for you last year Dan?" "I was in love." "And you're going well this year?" "Aye, I've given up the women."



Other heroes of the Deise include:
Tony Browne (still one of the fittest men on the pitch at 37)
John Mullane (mentallist)
Brick Walsh