Sorry, Rick. In the Lou, the King of all Sports Guys is a man I like to refer to as the Wizard of Oz –
Ozzie Smith.
Now I’m here in Phoenix. Honestly, the sports scene is fairly new out here, so heroes haven’t really had a chance to cultivate in the 5 or so years they’ve had hockey and baseball. Plus, the (football) Cardinals are such a joke, there’s really no hero there.
Probably the biggest hero Phoenix has known is Dan Majerle from the Phoenix Suns.
I’d think Earl Campbell would rule the roost there, too, from his UT days (I’m a UT law grad, so I’m a bit biased). Though if we include coaches, the undisputed king of Austin is Darrel Royal.
I just wanted to point out that both of these fine sportsmen graduated from my high school.
I bask in their reflected glory.
It would be a close vote between Brett and Buck O’Neil (Negro Leagues). Buck’s da man!
Indianapolis - Reggie Miller or Peyton Manning
I did my undergrad at Baylor, and while Johnson is huge, everyone still talked about Mike Singletary.
I was there for Grant Teaff’s last game, and if we’re counting coaches, he’d be the guy. Which is proof that even if you don’t win that much, you can become beloved by just sticking around for a really long time.
If you’ll allow a B-more native to pitch in, Johnny U is still the most venerated sports figure here, with Ripkin a close second and a guy named Brooks Robinson third. There is a definite generational split on this one, with those 30 and over generally prefering Unitas/Robinson/Ripkin and those under 30 in the Ripkin and then the other two camp. A related catagory of sports-related-but-not-atheletes would likely include Rex Barney, Chuck Thompson, and Arthur Model.
[QUOTE=cckerberos]
Admired, but not beloved. If fact, until a few years ago, he didn’t go to Boston. Apparently, despite being the anchor on 11 title teams, he had a sour relationship with the people of Boston.
There was a lot of racism thrown his way in the 60s. Apparently someone even broke into his home and defecated in his bed.
I’m sure this behavior made him angry in general and he couldn’t embrace even the fans who loved him.
There was a great Frank Deford/SI article on this subject back in the late 90s. I wish I could find it.
Come to think of it, the most *beloved * athlete in Boston today may well be Jerry Remy, “The Rem-Dawg”, although as an announcer, not an infielder. This kid Brady is sure making a play for it, but needs to have a less buttoned-down public persona (although that is certainly the Patriots’ style), and live here year-round, before he can be beloved.
Since I don’t really follow any other sports besides hockey, I’ll just list (off the top of my head) the names I’d associate (in a positive light) with the major hockey towns…
Boston - Bobby Orr, Cam Neely, Ray Bourque
Chicago - Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita
Detroit - Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman
Edmonton - Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier
Los Angeles - Wayne Gretzky (who made it possible for THREE teams to exist in California; I can’t see how L.A. sports fan couldn’t think highly of him)
Montreal - Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur
New York - Mark Messier (for the Rangers fans), Bryan Trottier (for the Islanders)
Philadelphia - Bernie Parent (though he was a great player for the Flyers, I have a hard time seeing Bobby Clarke being “beloved”)
Pittsburgh - Mario Lemieux
Toronto - Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark (I can’t believe I can’t think of any older players…)
I apologize for leaving out so many NHL cities that have been around for so long. Being a big hockey fan, I can think of some great players for each of those teams, but since I don’t live in those cities, can honestly get a feel for which players would be “beloved” by the citizens. And I’ve probably neglected some big names from the teams I did list…
Anyhoo…
Central and southern *rural * Indiana, yes. Northern Indiana, it’s probably Knute Rockne or other Irish-related athlete. Indianapolis is Manning, Reggie Miller or the most recent 500 winner.
He lets his figurative hair down a little when talks to Nik Carter of WBCN in his weekly phone calls during the season. Nothing crazy, but he unbends a little.
You are right, Jerry Remy is probably pretty high up on the list.
Caveat: I only know baseball.
NY: I would say either Jeter or Piazza, depending on which team you like. I don’t know that there is one guy to choose from; New Yorkers aren’t going to agree. (Yes, you could argue Ruth, Di Maggio, etc but if you mean in this generation, I think it would have to be someone actually still playing.)
Chicago: For some unfathomable reason, Sammy Sosa is a near-god around here. Do you know how many dogs named Sammy there are, especially on the North side? I don’t understand the attraction myself, but there you go.
It’s a similar story for Hank Aaron in Atlanta. I think he still harbors a lot of anger for racism he encountered in the 60’s and 70’s. (I understand he has saved hate mail he received while chasing Ruth’s record.) The anger is understandable, but it’s a shame it has interfered with his relationship with his fans. Fans would like to embrace him, but he keeps his guard up, which makes it hard. I think Aaron has a stronger emotional attachment to Milwaukee than to Atlanta.
I disagree with RickJay’s pick of Mays for San Francisco. I remember seeing on a SportsCentury (or some ESPN show) that Orlando Cepeda was held in higher regard in San Fran, because Mays was thought of as a New York Giant, and Cepeda was San Fran’s “own.”
As for Chicago, Ditka has got to rank in there somewhere. I know there’s a lot of competition, but the Super Fans were funny for a reason; it isn’t like they were exaggerating that much. (mini Ditka vs. the Giants: who would win?) Another one for Chicago is Ron Santo.
For current New Yorker, it might be Jeter, but if you were asking 9 or 10 years ago, or if the Rangers didn’t keep missing the playoffs, it would be Messier by far. Messier won a Cup for the Rangers and he really seems like he fits in with the city.
Green Bay: I’ve never been there, but how could it not be Brett Favre?
Portland: Dr. Jack (if we’re counting coaches), or maybe Walton? Was Bill Walton all that popular?
Kansas City: I have to agree with whoever said Buck O’Neil. It is amazing how popular that guy is throughout the northwest Missouri.
I’d have to agree. If the fans had any say in it, the Ravens would be playing in Johnny Unitas Stadium. Trust me, no one’s lobbying to change the Oriole’s ballpark name to Cal Ripken Stadium.
(Yes, I know he built his own ballpark and named it after himself. I’m talking about Camden Yards.)
For Vancouver I think it would be Trevor Linden. Runners up: Stan Smyl and Richard Brodeur.
If we’re gonna count coaches, Adolph Rupp is above everyone. As far as athletes, while Man O’ War does have a road named for him (and used to have a hockey team named for him as well), we’re really partial to several former UK players from both the basketball and football teams. The biggest would probably be Jamal Mashburn, Tim Couch, Kenny “Sky” Walker and Dermontti Dawson. Oh, and all of the Unforgettables.
Re: St. Louis.
Basketball and football are right out. The Blues haven’t been a force in 30 years, and I don’t even know when the Hawks skipped out. The football Cardinals are almost beneath mentioning.
Now, as for the baseball Cardinals, something I pay a bit of attention to, as you might guess, I’d say that the order goes probably:
Stan Musial. He’s more “classic” because he’s older, he played 22 years there, plus he hit .330 at the age of 41 (and that’s a genuine number, too, with 433 at-bats). He’s got a solid rep for a being a wonderfully friendly guy. My dad spotted him in line at Lambert Field in the early 70s I think, and got the guts to approach him. Stan had a pen out of his pocket before he was even asked for an autograph.
Ozzie Smith. Smith also is a wonderfully nice guy. I got my hat signed by him when his college dedicated part of the baseball complex to him, and he must have spent 45 minutes signing things just because people wanted them. It’s hard to argue with 13 straight Gold Gloves. He’s arguably the best defensive player ever.
3.Bob Gibson. He’s almost the definition of power pitcher, but he was the kind of guy to tell you to step back from the table while he was eating. He’s the guy you’d want at your back in a dark alley, but it lowers his lovable-ness.
Lou Brock/Mark McGwire. Lou played there for way longer, but Mark became a rock star while he was playing in St. Louis. People were seriously following him home.
Dizzy Dean? There are so many stories to tell about him, and they all show him to be a real nut. Plus, he was a broadcaster there for a long time after he had to retire.
I’d add one more name to that list that might actually place as high as 3rd:
Jack Buck, long-time Cardinals announcer.
By the way, I’d still argue that Ozzie Smith is #1 on that list, if ever so slightly. 
Nothing personal, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch to consider Lexington a “major city”. The closest you’ll get to a major city in Kentucky is Louisville, and then you’re probably talking Muhammed Ali.