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 7:16 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^
If you are from saginaw, you also forgot Serena and Venus Williams, Sam sword, shonte peoples, Jason Richardson, Ed belfour, Charles Rogers (pre-lions burnout), and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:06 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
A couple more: Marc Macon, Stu Schweigert, the Roberson brothers, Shonte Peoples.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:31 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^
Shawn and Brian Thompson (Saginaw Nouvel)
Roy Manning (The High)
Jenny Ryan (UM women's BB PG from Saginaw Nouvel)
Mark Macon and Tory Jackson (if you count BV as "Saginaw")
Alfonso Boone former NFLer
Kenyon Martin notably of the New Jersey Nets
Terry McDaniel, former NFLer
Big Dan Severn! former MMA heaveyweight
Draymond Green (YTDG)
September 9th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^
Sorry, but Pipkins is definitely from Saginaw and considers it his hometown, even though he didn't play HS football there.
http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/08/michigan_football_commit_ondre.html
September 9th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^
For a city of modest size like Saginaw, it's really produced its fair amount of athletes amongst others (i.e. Stephen Lynch, Stevie Wonder).
Also, I haven't seen anyone mention Blair White, one of the few Spartans I have ever thought highly of. Upstanding guy that went from being a walk-on to an All-Big 10 WR and then the NFL, where he was impressively productive with Peyton throwing to him.
September 9th, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^
September 15th, 2012 at 12:48 AM ^
I've tested the water from the Saginaw River; definately many, many things in it.
Seriously though, the Saginaw water treatment facility is both awesome to look at and produces some of the best tasting tap water I have ever had.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:10 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
then Andy Greene and Anthony Bass
September 9th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
Washington, DC - Kevin Durant, Elgin Baylor, Sugar Ray Leonard
September 9th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:13 PM ^
Tampa, FL:
Gary Sheffield, Hulk Hogan, Dwight Gooden, Tino Martinez. Probably some others I'm forgetting.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:13 PM ^
Clearly it's Carl Tabb/Jeremy Jackson, keeping the #17 Huron tradition alive.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
Charlie Lau, Grant Long and Fred Russell were all, at one point, residents of Romulus. Actually, my grandfather was a childhood friend of Lau.
That being said, I grew up in Saline and graduated two years ahead of Bobby Korecky, who went to Michigan and pitched for the Diamondbacks and Twins for brief stints. I think he is in the Blue Jays organization now.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
West Bloomfield, MI - Devin Funchess. Basically the same town and we want the funch is gona be Michigan's best TE in a very long time
September 9th, 2012 at 9:23 PM ^
Devin is from Farmington Hills, but I know, close enough. Really though, West Bloomfield is free to adopt Drew Stanton.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^
September 12th, 2012 at 4:33 AM ^
Not really a Sports Figure, but I heard Jeff Daniels caught a winning touchdown pass against my home town (Saline) quite a few years back...
September 9th, 2012 at 7:21 PM ^
Chipper Jones, mike gillislee(Gators running back) and Tra Thomas (probowl OT).
September 9th, 2012 at 7:22 PM ^
Saline, MI
Chris Baker (MSU TE, went on to play in the league for a bit)
Bobby Korecky - UM Baseballer, played in MLB for a bit
QB Sheridan
September 9th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^
fuck yes, sheridan
September 9th, 2012 at 7:24 PM ^
a local teen became a legend when he scored four touchdowns in one game... the game winner over Spare Tire Dixon...
jdon
September 9th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^
Goose Gossage and Vincent Jackson
September 9th, 2012 at 7:26 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 8:21 AM ^
Red Grange and Kent Graham?
September 9th, 2012 at 7:26 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^
David Schmidt (Baseball)
Other notables,
The Dodge brothers (Auto)
Arron Montgomery Ward (Former Retail chain)
Tommy James (Music)
September 20th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
My mom is from Niles, and she saw Tommy James in his garage when he was a no one.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:29 PM ^
Derek Jeter and Greg Jennings
September 9th, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
Darren Sharper hold my diccckkkkk
September 9th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:30 PM ^
Rod Woodson, Anthony Spencer, Bernard Pollard, DaMarcus Beasley and Lloy Ball
September 9th, 2012 at 7:31 PM ^
Wait, I'm from Saginaw. Brandon Graham? Where is that coming from? He was born and raised in Detroit. You, sir, are disqualified.
The real Saginaw list is Woodley first. Yes, Pipkins was here for a while. I hate to give credit to former Spartans, but Jason Richardson made some money. Numerous other players, many Spartans, did some nice things in high school/college (like Charles Rogers, DeAnthony Arnett, Stu Schwiegart) but haven't translated it into pro success. Arnett may still do something special, but he made the same horrible mistake (turning down UM) twice.
Kenyon Martin was born here. Sam Sword is from here as well. Maurice Jones is from here. Probably the least known because he's only 5'7", but he's very exciting to watch on the basketball court. He's the point guard at USC. Oh, there was also some Draymond kid here too.
For the Frankenmuth guy.....uh, Brad Redford? Might be the closest thing you've got.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^
Mark Macon wasn't the best pro, but he balled in high school and college.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:33 PM ^
Anthony Kiedis
Two of the very best in their industry.
September 9th, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^
September 9th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
It's amazing Staley was a TE in high school.