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 7:42 PM ^
Yeah and I remember I could outbench him. Now he could break me in half over his knee.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
Doesn't he still hold or at one time held the school record for 400m hurdles?
September 9th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
Columbus, IN - Tony Stewart, Stevie Brown, Gunner Kiel
September 9th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Cummins guy?
I just went to Columbus IN for a buddy's wedding...
September 10th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
Yeah, been working at cummins since last June. Graduated from michigan last spring (mechanical engineering)
September 9th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
We have had two pro players. Jared Boll from the Blue Jackets, and Bryan Bulaga from the Packers both are from here.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
Bay Village, OH - Brad Friedel
September 9th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^
...Nick Sheridan?
Actually it's probably Chris Baker, the Sparty and NYJ TE.
Coach Hoke's daughter was in my graduating class though! So can we claim him by proxy?
September 12th, 2012 at 4:44 AM ^
I posted this earlier.. I graduated with Chris... and he actually caught T. Brady's 200th Career TD pass.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^
Ken Morrow, played hockey for team USA in 1980 and was part of the miracle on ice. Also won a few stanley cups with the New York Islanders i believe
September 9th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
Don't forget Tim Thomas. He graduated from DHS in 92 or thereabouts.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
Also Barry Stokes. Played for EMU then was a journeyman lineman in the NFL for a while
September 9th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
Paw Paw, MI
Jason Babin- NFL 1st Rounder, Current Philadelphia Eagle
Don Moorehead- Michigan QB, 69-70
Charlie Maxwell- Former Detroit Tigers Great, Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
September 9th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^
Last I knew, Derrick Mitchell was the top prospect in the Phillies organization.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Born there or played their highschool career there? Being from NYC I had no idea which athletes were from New York, so I looked it up and found that Michael Jordan was born in New York but moved when he was a little kid. And then as I was reading further down the wikipedia list of famous people from NYC, I found that Vince Lombardi was born and raised in Brooklyn, so he's probably the biggest sports figure from my home town, no need to read beyond the "L"s.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
Cincinnati
Ken Griffey, Jr., Pete Rose, Roger Staubach.
For the U of M from Cincinnati category: Barry Larkin, Vada Murray, B.J. Askew, DeHart Hubbard, Sam Stoller.
There's probably a few others I'm missing.
September 9th, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^
You can add A.J. Williams in a few years.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:43 AM ^
And Joe Bolden
September 10th, 2012 at 12:42 AM ^
Mister Simpson lol.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
Johnny Wangs
September 9th, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
Not a sports star, but so was Bruce Campbell!
My HS (Bishop Foley) was apparently good at pumping out female athletes, but not much on the guys side. Only D1 player I remember was former MI TE Mark Campbell. Had a couple of really good soccer players there when I was a student, including two or three who got D1 scholarships.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
Lapeer for the win! He's really all we have though.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^
You also have that recent massive $300 Million Powerball winner....did he buy the town yet?
September 9th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^
Apparently he's moving back there so all of the money goes with him.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
he can afford to buy the state....
September 10th, 2012 at 8:25 AM ^
No doubt, heard the Waltons like to sell stuff for cheap
September 9th, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^
Willard, Ohio: Charlie Frye.
least thats where I was was born anyways
September 9th, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^
Despite going to MSU, Brad Van Pelt is without a doubt the most famous sports figures to make it out of my hometown.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:54 PM ^
You must be from Owosso. I'm from Flint. Agreed, Van Pelt was special. Too bad he passed away a few years ago.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
I'm from Owosso, too. The high school also had memorabilia from a BMX rider who's name I will never in a million years remember.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:24 PM ^
Ah, how could I forget about John Tomac! My dad actually went to high school with him.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^
Thanks for the name. I don't know if you remember the display but there were jerseys and photos and no name in sight. Always drove me nuts.
September 11th, 2012 at 12:18 AM ^
Owosso reppin'
September 9th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
I'm from Detroit this may be kind of hard to answer. Do you want to narrow this topic down to one sport. That might make it a little easier.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
Jim Brown
September 9th, 2012 at 8:08 PM ^
Ken Howard (The White Shadow). He's not an actual sports figure, but he did play one on TV.
September 9th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^
same dude
September 9th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^
Agree with Tony Dungy. Would add Dave and Mike Hill - both PGA Tour winners. John Hankerd played football for ND - does that even count?
September 9th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
San Anselmo, CA: Vernon "Lefty" Gomez; hall of Famer from the Yankees. Joe DiMaggio also used to play poker in my neighbors pool house, and OJ Simpson was held to just 50 yards rushing in 30 attempts at the local high school back in his day
September 9th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^
Midland. Backus.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^
Drew Miller is in my middle school yearbook but he moved I think in 7th or 8th grade.
Mark Messner was from here but he played HS football at Catholic Central, which I believe that Wyatt Shallman is actually from Hartland too. It's also rumored that Mike Modano lived in Hartland for a little bit while growing up.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:00 PM ^
Partial list:
Brent Alexander
Jerome Bettis
Kevin Brooks
Dave DeBusschere
Braylon Edwards
Larry Foote
Jalen Rose
Brian Sikorski
John Smoltz
Bob Welch
Chris Webber
September 9th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
Frank Zombo, and Pete Chryplewicz both from Sterling Heights Stevenson. I played with Frank for one year and he was our top WR and is now a 3-4 LB for the Packers.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:05 PM ^
Portsmouth,Ohio
Branch Rickey
Gene Tenace
Al Oliver
Don Gullett
September 9th, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
Don't forget Chuck Ealey. 35 consecutive wins as D1 QB at Toledo still a record.
And, the Detroit Lions were born in Portsmouth.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:08 PM ^
Actually I think he was from Lambertville, but whatever. Same township.
Chris Morris (MSU center and currently playing for the Titans)
September 9th, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^
However not the same high school, as I went to Mona Shores.
I suppose you could also say that Ryan Van Bergen is from Muskegon. His hometown, Whitehall, is only about 15 miles north of Skeetown.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^
John Geisler former Michigan LT and first round pick of the Miami Dolphins.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:10 PM ^
Dhani Jones
September 9th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^
Jason Hansen
Mark Rypien
John Stockton
Ryne Sandberg
Adam Morrison