Give me some names of some gutsy players-any sport. These are guys that made themselves a good career by hustle and want-to. I'll start the list with a few of my favorites:
1. Bill Bates, Dallas Cowboys: This guy was my hero. I can still see him running down on punt coverage ready to blow somebody up. He was never the fastest or strongest guy on the field, but he was always the hardest working and most willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. Football needs more guys like Bill Bates.
2. Lenny Dykstra, Mets/Phillies: When your nickname is "Nails", you know you're tough. This guy was a thrill to watch, even though I often rooted against him. This guy never left the field with a clean uniform.
3. Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic/other NBA teams: I didn't follow Darrell's career after he left Orlando, but when this team had Shaq and Penny Hardaway, this was the one guy who came in off the bench and disrupted everything that the other team tried to do. Charles Barkley once said that Armstrong reminded him of "a little peter gnat-you want to crush him but you can't see him, much less catch him".
These are my 3 favorites-there are many more who should be mentioned. Give me a story or two.
I always liked Rocky Blier who blocked for Franco Harris on those great Steelers teams. He wasn't the biggest or the fastest, he just did his job and never stood up and said "Look at me..." If I'm not mistaken he was a Viet Nam Purple Heart recepient as well. Don't know where he is today, but always thought a lot of him even though I'm no Steelers fan...
jj...good topic. This question always makes me think of one guy...Steve Tasker. I'm a Dolphins fan, and I well remember him. I'll throw in a Dolphin that lasted over 10 years on guts...Jim 'Crash' Jensen. QB who played special teams, and even caught over 50 passes in a season.
Dwind...your Niners used to have their own Blier. Tough little guy named Bill Rings, I believe.
When it comes to guys making the most of what God gave them,the name that comes to mind is Bill Laimbeer.He couldnt jump or run but to go along with his floor burns(Bill turnd taking charges into an art form)he gave you a double double almost nightly.His basketball IQ is also off the charts as evident by his multiple coaching championships.Im sure this will get mixed reactions,im lookig forward to hearing them.Peace
Bill Brown and Dave Osborne who shared RB duties for the MN Vikings back in the day when you brought your lunchbox to work...not your Bentley. Sure...back then there were a lot of players who did that...but I got to watch these guys so there ya go!!!
To me Larry Bird should always top this list. Bird couldn't jump off the curb and would lose a footrace with my grandmother. But he worked on his stroke and continued to raise his basketball I.Q. to become one of the greatest players in the game.
People don't view him as an over achiever, but based on his physical skills, he proved to be a star among stars in a league where speed, and verticality are supreme.
In the NFL, Wayne Chrebet tops my list of recent players. Although a case could be made for Steve Largent.
