First sports hero

[SwatX1]

This may have already been done, so my apologies if it has, but I got the idea from topps coach talking about who his first sports hero was as a child in the "new poster to the board" thread.

So..Who was your first sports hero as a kid?

Mine was Dale Murphy from the Atlanta Braves.....followed by Ray "Boom Boon" Mancini since I was a boxer.

 

[dukiejay]

Wow. Good question....and one I've never really thought much about.

I probably don't have a sports hero, per se, but a few of the athletes I really admired growing up include Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Charles Barkley and Christian Laettner.

Individuals that have grabbed me more during my adulthood? Hmmm, for sure Coach K. I absolutely love reading anything by John Feinstein....and while he's not an athlete, he's a sports guy, IMO. (Oh yeah, if you haven't read his recent book about the 2016 Ryder Cup....it's a must.) Matt Birk, a former All-Pro center for the Vikings and Ravens, is someone I knew well growing up. He never changed once he became a star. I'd like to think I could stay grounded like that, but I understand it's easier said than done.

 

[Sgt Duke]

This may have already been done, so my apologies if it has, but I got the idea from topps coach talking about who his first sports hero was as a child in the "new poster to the board" thread.

So..Who was your first sports hero as a kid?

Mine was Dale Murphy from the Atlanta Braves.....followed by Ray "Boom Boon" Mancini since I was a boxer.

Mickey Mantle without a doubt. Back then there was only NY Yankee and Brooklyn Dodger fans in my neighborhood. The Mick and Duke Snyder of the Dodgers were everyone's favorites. OFC

 

[HonkeyT]

Larry Bird.

 

[Mac9192]

Larry Bird.

I'm with ya Honkey, Larry Legend was something.

 

[dukedevilz]

Baseball: Cal Ripken Jr
Basketball: Reggie Miller
Football: Jerry Rice
Soccer: Cobi Jones
Hockey: Mark Messier

Cal was definitely my first favorite, though. I remember getting nervous every time he was at bat; at times it was almost like I was in the batter's box with all the nerves coursing through my body.

 

[timo0402]

Joe Montana

 

[QC Dukie]

Roger Staubach without a doubt

 

[QC Dukie]

I'm with ya Honkey, Larry Legend was something.

Don’t forget, there’s another Larry Bird at unx.......big Luke

 

[Liftee]

Roger Maris. 1960 or '61.

Then probably Sam Huff or Y.A. Tittle.

First basketball player would have been Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain.

OFC (obviously).

 

[DukeDenver]

The Braves pitching staff in the 90s. I wanted to throw the heat like Mark Wohlers.

I always enjoyed Ozzie Smith.

John Stockton and Pippen for basketball. I hated Jordan as a kid, not really sure why.

 

[dukesince91]

#35 for the Dallas Cowboys
Calvin Hill

 

[LetsGoDuke301]

I really don't remember why. But I was obsessed with Rodger Craig. Then it graduated to Rice and Montana and now I am a full blown 49ers fan proud of our 0-9 record!

 

[skysdad]

This may have already been done, so my apologies if it has, but I got the idea from topps coach talking about who his first sports hero was as a child in the "new poster to the board" thread.

So..Who was your first sports hero as a kid?

Mine was Dale Murphy from the Atlanta Braves.....followed by Ray "Boom Boon" Mancini since I was a boxer.

Great hero to pick Murphy. He was more than just a great player. One great individual. OFC

 

[Lavar5150]

Pete Rose

 

[hart2chesson]

Bob Verga, #11, Duke University sharpshooting guard.

OFC

 

[Stevo-910]

Was a huge baseball fan at 4 or 5 years old. good ol wgn cubs. Ryne Sandberg was my 1st sports hero. Actually went to Cooperstown when he was inducted into the hall of fame.

 

[Duke937]

Chipper Jones or Roger Clemens!

Grew up a Braves fan in the 90’s. Spoiled I know. Only time I ever made it to Turner Field was his last home game. Pretty cool.

Roger Clemens is from here in Dayton. My mom works with his cousin. I was like 7 or 8 and he gave us tickets behind home plate at old Tiger stadium to watch him pitch when he was with the Blue Jays. Met him after the game. Didn’t know who he was really at the time but he ended up being pretty good lol

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

Emmitt Smith.

 

[SwatX1]

Great hero to pick Murphy. He was more than just a great player. One great individual. OFC

Agree 100% Sky.....the Murph was total class. I believe he just needed two more homeruns to get into the hall. I really wanted him to make it.

 

[topps coach]

Bobby Verga best shooter we ever had jersey should be in rafters.Remembet a write up in a preseason magazine which said what the Cougars do for offense is wind up a machine called Verga

 

[Adamandchangin]

Two letters... MJ.

 

[Adamandchangin]

Curt Schilling for the Red Sox. On a side note anyone seen Sammy Sosa lately? OMG.

 

[youngman42]

Great question. Very tough choice here as my sports “heroes” all came on at about the same time. And they became more heroic as my degree of interest in all sports evolved between the mid 60s and early 70s. I’d probably say Joe Namath (I bet my dad $1.00 that the Jets would beat the Colts in SB III). A close call over Wilt Chamberlain.

About the same time, though, I also loved several Rams - Roman Gabriel, Merlin Olsen, and Deacon Jones. And OJ was right there. In MLB I‎t was Don Drysdale (first athletes I knew were he and Koufax when I lived in SoCal in the early-mid 60s). As a kid I was probably the most passionate though about Bill Walton. Even had a #32 UCLA fake jersey. But I had a Deacon Jones SI Poster on my wall.

Anyone remember those SI posters they gave out with a subscription? Very cool.

 

[HogsOfTheRoad]

Michael Jordan.
Christian Laettner.

 

[skysdad]

Johnny Unitas and Mickey Mantle. OFC

 

[gottagonow]

Mine were all mostly baseball players. Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Sandy Koufax among others. I quit having sports heroes when I was about 12 to 13 years old. Johnny U and Sonny Jurgensen and George Blanda were my football players.
Hero is just too strong a word for me but there have been many I greatly admired.

 

[jrtplaya]

Michael Jordan & David Justice.

 

[smashmouth5]

Rickey Henderson

 

[SwatX1]

Michael Jordan & David Justice.

I am a big Braves fan. Never had anything against Justice, but never was really a huge fan either....however, I appreciated the HELL out of that game 6 home run against the Indians!!!

 

[jrtplaya]

I had one of his jersey shirts when I was a little kid and I wore it everywhere ha.

 

[Dukeman]

The Mick.

 

[SwatX1]

I had one of his jersey shirts when I was a little kid and I wore it everywhere ha.

Man that '95 team had some serious talent!!...Start with the pitching staff...Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Pena, Wohlers....Then the bats!! Chipper, Justice, Javy Lopez, Crime Dog....Klesko...Grissom...Wow!!

 

[skysdad]

The Mick.

I posted above that Mickey and Johnny Unitas were my hero's. Also someone posted that in all respect that he really doesn't have sports hero's anymore because they aren't hero's and I agree with him. I think it was gottagonow. But what they were to me was someone who had a job that I would love to be able to to. Both of mine weren't perfect men but I looked so forward to seeing them play on t.v. ever so often. The coverage wasn't like it is now. I remember how tough a man Johnny was and my biggest memory about the Mick was when he was giving a speech while he was sick and he said something like this about being an example to young kids. He said something like a lot of kids tell me that they want to be like me. He then said don't be like me. I'm not what you want to be. Thinking of it brings a small tear to my eye. Hero's maybe not but indeed I sure admire them. OFC

 

[gottagonow]

Sky thats a pretty decent perspective you have there. Those guys were just much larger to me than todays sports celebrities. It sure could be the TV coverage today because if they are great today they are on TV every night it seems. It used to be we had to wait until Saturday to watch baseball and the only basketball on was the NBA, only about 5 or 6 different teams. I am really glad we get to watch our Blue Devils each game though.