I spoke to this on my radio show this afternoon, but am curious as to what you think…
With the Manny Ramirez mess unfolding yesterday, dealing another HUGE black eye to the game of baseball, I’m fed up (so is Andy I. if you read a little farther down the page).
I needed to remember why I LOVE sports. And in many ways, the things I adore are personified by Iowans. Hard working, clean role-models. But who is the best of the best?
My personal top 5 of all time break down into three categories — no brainers (first 3), best of the rest (next two), then a LARGE group of ”CLOSE, but not quite.” You can follow that up with Future Stars — people who aren’t in the discussion yet, but could be down the road. Here’s my list:
No Brainers
1. Dan Gable
2. Bob Feller
3. Nile Kinnick
Best Of the Rest
4. Kurt Warner
5. Zach Johnson
CLOSE, but not quite (in no particular order)
Shawn Johnson
Lolo Jones
Gary Thompson
Fred Hoiberg
Roger Craig
Tim Dwight
Cap Anson
Future Stars (may get there someday)
Michael Annett
Harrison Barnes
Scott Clemmensen
Dallas Clark
Ryan Sweeney
Who’s on your list?
-Garman
What about Kyle Korver, atleast on the future stars (esp. if you include Michael Annett on that list).
Good call. Not sure how I left him off. But he’s going to need a HUGE bump to crack the Top 5.
Jay Berwanger, Dubuque Senior High School graduate, won the First Heisman Trophy in 1930. Has to be one of the top five. He played college football for University of Chicago.
Fred Hoiberg, Roger Craig, Gary Thompson, Dan Gable are THE TOP FIVE.
If Korver gets a consideration, Kirk Hinrich needs consideration. Nate Kaeding should be considered. Bobby Hansen. Shawn Johnson probably should’ve cracked the top five.
Doreen Wilber, Olympic Gold Medalist, Munich 1972. Not only a great athlete, but set the standard for behavior, modest, humble, and kind, what a true Olympian should be.
If Hinrich and Korver are on there you have got to put Casey Blake on there. Not only for his work in MLB but for his accomplishments in all 4 sports at Indianola High School.
Urban “Red” Faber. Baseball Hall of Famer
Can’t believe Casey Blake didn’t get mentioned as a future star….
If Korver and Hinrichs are on it, you have to put Casey Blake on it.
Kurt Warner is a Super Bowl MVP and sure-fire Hall of Fame quarterback in the most popular sport in the country, how is he not number one. I’m sorry, but that fact alone forces this list down a few notches in credibility.
It’s not just that Warner has been a successful NFL QB, but it’s his background story. Stocking shelves at Hy-Vee, struggling early in the Arena League and then catching break after break to get a start for the putrid St. Louis Rams.
Dan Gable certainly accomplished incredible feats, but in all due respect, his sport was wrestling. Outside of this state and probably Iowa City and Ames, nobody cares about college wrestling. I don’t know how many of you filled out NCAA Tournament Wrestling Brackets, but it probably wasn’t many.
Nile Kinnick has a great story, so I’d be much more obliged to put him up there next to Warner. Zach Johnson is in the proper place as one good tournament doesn’t compare to a great career. Warner should’ve been No. 1. The stage doesn’t get any bigger than the one he’s been on.
in five years the list will be
1. Harrison Barnes 2. Shawn Johnson 3. Dan Gable 4. Zach Johnson 5.Kurt Warner