OT: Greatest sports figures from your hometown?
It's kind of a slow day today, so I thought i'd throw this out there.
Seeing Bennie Oosterbaan's #47 jersey get unretired and donned by Jake Ryan got me thinking about this.
I'm from Muskegon and graduated from Muskegon High School, Bennie's alma mater. UM's Terrance Taylor, USC's Ronald Johnson, and MSU's Earl Morrall all called Muskegon their home.
Watching Oosterbaan get acknowledged instilled in me a great deal of pride not only for my high school, but my entire community. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and watch arguably the greatest all-around Michigan athlete of all time get to play.
So what about you all? The MGoWorld is a vast one, filled with many a MGoPeople. Who are some of the greatest sports figures from your hometown/town?
September 9th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
Arlington Heights, IL: Brian McBride, Jonathan Spector, and Tommy Zbikowski
September 9th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
I'm from Frankenmuth, so i'd have to say me.
Wait... Beer pong is a sport right?
September 9th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^
Jim northrup.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
Michael cherry -msu basketball 2000
Dan the beast Severn- UFC fighter, when it was all ppv also an extra in "Rudy"
Scott Brayton- Indy car racer killed in Indy 500 practice 97
September 9th, 2012 at 7:47 PM ^
He and the rest of the Severn's are from Montrose. My hometown.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:39 AM ^
Steven Cherry was a bench warmer at State. Don't for get 3 major league umpires. Jeff Kellogg, Tim Welke, and Bill Welke.
September 10th, 2012 at 2:52 AM ^
I'm from St. Louis. It's almost certain we have crossed paths
September 9th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^
Totally dating myself here, but I was in HS (BGHS) with Brian McBride. Didn't know him but I have yearbooks with proof.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:08 PM ^
Yeah, I'm BG Class of 2006 myself. My older brother (way older) was two years behind Brian and played on the soccer team with him.
My junior year, we went to the State Finals for the first time since Brian was there. At the time, he was playing socer in England and he called us during our pep rally to cheer us on. That was pretty awesome.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:31 PM ^
Hersey?
September 10th, 2012 at 1:18 AM ^
Roberto Clemente. I'm from Puerto Rico and so was he. I get he's not from my hometown per se' but he lived close enough (as you probably know, PR is a small-ish island).
September 9th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
Glen Rice, Mark Ingram, "The Flintstones", Claressa Shields, Chris Byrd...
September 9th, 2012 at 6:59 PM ^
He's a pretty good goalie.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^
Chris's sister Lori Byrd was a great BBall
Player
September 9th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
All of them, and of course Thomas Rawls!!!! Soon.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
Don't forget the Flint Tropics and Jackie Moon.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:45 PM ^
Jim Abbott, Rick Leach, JaVale McGee, and Terry Crews too.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
I can't believe I forgot him.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
Here's two more from Flint that some of you old timers will remember: Terry Furlow and for the real old timers, Paul Krause.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:46 PM ^
Also, Carl Banks
September 9th, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
Romeo, MI: Kid Rock is the only person from Romeo anyone would know.
So yeah...
September 9th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
Wasn't Terry Mills from Romulus?
September 9th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^
Yes, he was, but Romulus is about an hour south of Romeo.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
Remember Fred Russell...
Went to Iowa...
Was pretty damn good if I do recall...
September 20th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
I know Fred.. There was a time I remember being able to tackle him :). Most of us couldn't. He's a Facebook friend if mine still and when I visit my Mother I still see him down the street.
Terry mills
John and Grant Long as well.
September 9th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
My mom went to your school. Muskegon High School class of '65.
But back to the OP, I'm in Dearborn so I'm going to cheat a little and go just a couple blocks from where the city ends to claim Tyrone Wheatley. I've driven past his high school many times.
Gary Danielson also went to high school in Dearborn but I don't think I want to claim him.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:23 PM ^
What about Derek Lowe?
I think Edsel Ford had a few hockey players too...
DC had a lot more notable guys... Jim Hermann, Bill Mccartney, Pat Shurmur, but I don't think any actually lived in or were from Dearborn.
Just good old D-Lowe.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^
The Gronkowski family. They lived a few houses down from my family. Chris was in most of my classes in middle school - he's actually fairly intellectual. One of my friends lived in the house behind them. Every summer, she would have a pool party for her birthday. And every summer, the Gronkowski's would jump fence and pelt us with water balloons starting a water war. ~15 girls vs Gronkowski brothers? No chance. It freaken hurt to get hit. And they were still kids then.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^
You from Williamsville, NY?
September 9th, 2012 at 8:24 PM ^
Indeed. Well, born in Ann Arbor and moved later on. You a Western New Yorker?
September 10th, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^
Yep. South Buffalo.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
Jackson, MI. Tony Dungy and Antonio (sigh) Bass
September 9th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
Beat me to it.
Yes that is about all.
Antonio has a younger brother that is in HS now, he may be pretty good.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:37 AM ^
I sure hope he has better luck than Antonio. Sigh is an
understatement I guess.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
That is exactly what I was going to say. Including the (sigh)!
September 9th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
Steve Kampfer should get a shout out too.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^
Dave and Mike Hill, wearing the familiar ALRO hat. Dave did better in the PGA Tour, but Mike really came into his own in the Seniors Tour, tying for Tour Player of the Year in 1991. (I had to look that up.)
EDIT: See Blue Delt beat me to it way down below. Sorry. Late to the party.
EDIT 2: More brothers: Gary & Tony Krupa. Went to school with Tony, but had no idea until I got to NY and read it in the Times that they were national water skiing champions. Guess the kids with cottages at Clark Lake would've known.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:56 PM ^
What happend to Bass? I saw him at a DC bar for the 'Bama game (CSB), so I wonder if he lives out East
September 9th, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^
That's about as good as it gets from Hudsonville, Michigan.
I live in Benton Harbor now and it was very cool to see Joique Bell get a TD for the Lions today (BH native and Wayne State alum). Wilson Chandler and Destiny Williams are also BH alums.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
whoa, someone else from Hudsonville! those two are definitely the biggest. my dad went to HS with John Vander Wal (i think John was two grades below him).
September 9th, 2012 at 7:05 PM ^
Emmitt Smith, Roy Jones Jr., Derrick Brooks, Justin Gatlin, Trent Richardson, Etc... Good ole Pensacola, FL.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
Deion Sanders. Fort Myers, Florida
September 9th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
Birmingham michigan, shawn Conway. didnt turn out well
September 9th, 2012 at 9:48 PM ^
Ian Gold, Kris and Cullen Jenkins. All three played at Belleville High.
September 10th, 2012 at 1:49 AM ^
Jenkins brothers were born and grew up partially in Ypsi... and I have the teeball picture to prove it.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
Chicago Bears safety Aaron Webster is a Groves alum (went to cincy).
Jeff Kastl was Seaholm's QB. And I think we could claim any DCD or Brother Rice grad.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^
was a year behind me in HS in NY.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
did you go to grade school with him too? if you did you also went to school with Anthony Cumia from the Opie and Anthony Show.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
we lived in different parts of town, different grade schools.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:10 PM ^
LaMarr Woodley. Brandon Graham. Ondre Pipkins.
LLOYD BRADY