| 06 June 2007
The question was posed to me by a young man (who some say is the Sean Glennon of Fantasy Baseball) "With AI gone now, who's the best sports athlete/player in Philly?" It is an intriguing question with plenty of candidates. Well, first let's consider the teams and possible candidates from each.
In order of my favorite teams:
- Phillies: Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels
- Eagles: Brian Westbrook, Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb
- Sixers: Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller
- Villanova: Scottie Reynolds
Phillies
Now, as I watch my Phillies down 0-2 in the bottom of the 6th at Shea Stadium (0-1 to LoDuca with 2 outs), I see a lot of athletes that have a combination of speed, power, and hand eye-coordination. From youngster Michael Bourn, touted as the fasted player in the Phillies organization to 3rd deck-hitting Ryan Howard. From the heart of Aaron Rowand running through walls for his team to the gun that is illegally being mistaken as Shane Victorino's arm. But 3 get the top nominations for best Phillie athlete.
Chase Utley is at the top. He has a rare combination of power and speed. He can hit 30-40 homers a season and probably swipe 20 bags as well. And very few players play as hard as he does. Many fans feel he embodies the heart of Philly with his daily approach and style of play.
Jimmy Rollins also gets a nomination for his similar power/speed combination. What can't be overlooked is the fact that Jimmy has been playing in the Majors since 2000, when he was 22 years old. He also sits with the most NL Allstar appearances for the current Phillies but could be tied when Utley is voted in and he is not. And there is the fact he just hit a 3 run homer to take a lead in the game that influences the decision.
Cole Hamels is the Phillies ace, and how can you be an ace and not be in the running for top player/athlete. Hamels has been in tops for majors in both Wins and K's all season, and is sitting at the top of the early list for NL Cy Young. Cole also deserves an Allstar appearence this year as well. And what's best, he hits very well for a pitcher.
Eagles
Next comes the Eagles. E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! Plenty of candidates exist here as well. From the Freak, Jevon Kearse and his fearless pass rush to Jeremiah Trotter and his balls to the wall, attack the gap play. "The Kid" Shawn Andrews holding down a fierce OL to newly arrived QB heir Kevin Kolb, who established a very good college resume at Houston.
But the list starts, and possibly ends, with Brian Westbrook. Very few running backs in the league can juke, speed, catch, and generally make you look like an idiot like BW can. He was snubbed with Pro Bowl votes (Tiki you should have given it up since you didn't deserve it) and will be the focal point of a more balanced Eagles offense.
Of course, there is the leader on the other side of the ball, B-Dawk. He hits like a hammer and literally flies after defenders (see the NY Giants game). And he's been as reliable as any FS in the NFL for many years.
And then there is the franchise QB. McNabb has his injury issues, yes, but he also has his skills. He is a master of the West Coast offense. He can avoid defenders for unusual amounts of time allowing his receivers plenty of time to get open. He has a Cannon to launch the football down field as well. If only he could stay healthy!
Other
Like I said, I know nothing of Hockey and since we don't have a player like Sid the Kid to get my interested, things will probably remain that way. And Basketball has fewer options. For the Sixers, the only two real candidates are Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller. Iguodala (the rightful 2006 NBA Dunk Champion) has high-soaring, eye-popping moves that are truely athletic. He also has a good jump shot and can handle well for a forward. Miller on the other hand is a true general. He know how to guide the team and single-handedly is responsible for the Sixers dropping at least 8 spots in the NBA Draft (he improved our team too much after we got rid of Iverson.) An honorable mention for basketball goes to Villanova's Scottie Reynolds, per a fellow Blogger of the North End Zone. A young player who improved over the season, he holds the single game scoring record for a Villanova freshman.
So who is the top athlete? I leave that up to you to decide. But Philly has some great players that can capture the fateful fans attentions and imaginations. Oh, and don't forget, we hold claim to 70 year old Rocky Balboa who can still kick ass in the ring against players 1/3 his age!
- TheVTRocketScientist -
| < Prev |
|---|
