"This One's For John" — Finally a Champion

The Game Room
41

What about Shane Battier of the 2012 Miami Heat. He’d been in the NBA longer than Moses Malone had been when he won his first NBA championship. In fact Malone played more years without a championship after winning one than before he won one. Are there any others on the list like that?

42

I’m looking for arguments for a player to be included in the list, as opposed to arguments of the type player A persevered longer than player B before winning, so why is B on the list while A is not? If A belongs, then simply add him/her.

Battier belongs. Good points, don’t ask. But also, Malone stays.

And Baker, excellent call for Dan Jansen. I remember his Olympic struggles before hefinally won gold.
Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
43

No I wasn’t saying Malone didn’t belong, just that it’s interesting that he went on so much longer after finally getting his championship. You’d expect most guys to keep on winning or not have much career left. Thus my question.

44

And as an Aussie I should suggest Aussie Joe Bugner who in 1998, at the age of 48 after 31 years in the ring, became the oldest man to win a world title, the WBF version of the heavyweight crown - by defeating former WBA World Heavyweight Champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith. He won when Smith dislocated his shoulder while punching him.

45

But, WBF is not one of the 3 big titles is it. It’s WBA, WBC and IBF. With WBO a step down and the rest mostly fringe ones.

46

Oh, okay, got ya. Yeah, after 11 seasons he finally won a championship. He then went on to play 12 more seasons. I do not know off-hand if others on the list were like that.

Here’s the list again.
Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
47

If you’re looking at boxers, Jersey Joe Walcott(real name Arnold Raymond Cream) finally won the heavyweight championship (the only one at the time) at age 37. He had lost title fights to Joe Louis twice, and Ezzard Charles twice before finally taking the title from Charles in 1951, more than 20 years after he started fighting professionally.

48

This list needs some Cubs on it, but alas…

49

:slight_smile:
I agree. The Cubbies are way overdue.

50

Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
  42. 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State University*
  • Really Charlie is just standing in for Bobby Bowden.
51

Gene Makowsky. Offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, starting in 1995 when he was drafted out of the U. of S. Huskies. This was during the bad years for the roughriders franchise, often missing the playoffs (quite a feat, in a league with only 8 or 9 teams).

O-line men tend not to have a long career, given the punishing nature of the position. Makowsky was still playing eleven years later, in 2007, when the Riders won the Grey Cup. By that time, he was one of the leaders in the locker room, and was asked by the team to give “the speech” on field after their last practice the day before the game.

When the Riders won the Cup, the Commissioner of the League presented the Cup to Geno, as representative of the team, not the QB or the coach, leading to this iconic photograph which ran on papers all over Canada the day after the game.

Geno continued playing for four more years, including two more Grey Cup appearances, before retiring with the most games played by any player for the Roughriders. He now serves as MLA in the Saskatchewan Legislature.

52

That’s a great photo of Makowsky with the Grey Cup, Northern Piper.

Zakalwe, I moved your asterisk note.Hope you don’t mind.

I briefly mentioned Steve Young of the 1994 SF 49ers upthread, getting the monkey off of his back. Young played 10 seasons in the NFL before winning his Super Bowl. He was one of the most talented athletes on that team, and it was frequently said he was one of the fastest runners if not the fastest runner on the team (including wide receivers). Young was often the most accurate passer in the NFL during his seasons. He finally got his Vince Lombardi trophy, and Super Bowl MVP, in Sper Bowl XXIX.

Young has a regular show on local sports radio here near San Francisco, on KNBR 680. I love his spots, his observations and his stories. He’s smart and articulate and yet a humble and down-to-earth guy who relates the essence of highly-competetive moments and human character with ease.

Young has said on his radio show that he has a slight regret about that monkey off of his back comment, and that he’s grateful for being brought to the 49ers, and if he had to sit on the bench behind a starter, to watchand learn from Montana was not a bad way to go.
Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
  42. 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State University* (* - Really Charlie is just standing in for Bobby Bowden)
  43. 2007: Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
  44. 1995: Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
53

Leaving aside how his career ended:

Joe Paterno wins a NC in 1982, after almost 20 years, and a couple of undefeated seasons, at Penn St.

54

True enough, however Paterno wasn’t an athlete.

55

Guy who lead the Portland Trailblazers to two NBA Finals in three years during the most competitive stretch in NBA history as well as leading (along with Akeem Olajuwon) the University of Houston to two straight Final Fours (as well as being part of the reason Portland took Sam Bowie over MJ in the '84 draft as they thought “we’re all set in the exciting guy who can dunk” department), Clyde Drexler finally got a ring and got out of MJ’s shadow (kinda), winning the NBA title in 1995 (against Shaq’s Magic) during Jordan’s sabbatical in a rare “gunning for one late in his career” success story.

Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
  42. 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State University* (* - Really Charlie is just standing in for Bobby Bowden)
  43. 2007: Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
  44. 1995: Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
  45. 1995: Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets
56

Frank Bruno is on the list and not Jersey Joe Walcott?!?!

57

Lothar Matthias. Twice a beaten finalist in a FIFA WC. Won it in 1990 as captain of West Germany.

58

I’ve added Matthias to the list.

Championship Year | Athlete | Team (as applicable)

  1. 1983: Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
  2. 2011: Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
  3. 2001: Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche
  4. 1998: John Elway, Denver Broncos
  5. 2002: Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
  6. 2001: Goran Ivanisevic, N/A (Tennis, specifically, Wimbledon)
  7. 1986: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  8. 1998: Dale Earnhardt @ the Daytona 500
  9. 2013: Tony Kanaan @ the Indy 500
  10. 2004: Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. 1995: Rickey Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  12. 1982: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers
  13. 2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondacks
  14. 2007: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
  15. 1989: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  16. 2006: Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
  17. 1972: Jerry West, LA Lakers (he is “The Logo”)
  18. 1975: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
  19. 1992: Imran Khan, Pakistan
  20. 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, India
  21. 1998: Mika Häkkinen, McLaren
  22. 2009: Jenson Button, Brawn GP
  23. 1994: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  24. 1999: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
  25. 2000: Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
  26. 2002: Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
  27. 2008: Michael Strahan, NY Giants
  28. 2006: Gary Payton, Miami Heat
  29. 1983: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
  30. 1981: Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Boston Celtics
  31. 2013: Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
  32. 2012: Juwan Howard, Miami Heat
  33. 1997: Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
  34. 1964: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
  35. 1994: Gary Plummer, SF 49ers
  36. 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
  37. 1924: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators
  38. 1995: Frank Bruno, WBC Title
  39. 1994: Shahbez Ahmed, Pakistan
  40. 1994: Dan Jansen, US Olympic team
  41. 2012: Shane Battier, Miami Heat
  42. 1993: Charlie Ward, Florida State University* (* - Really Charlie is just standing in for Bobby Bowden)
  43. 2007: Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan Roughriders
  44. 1995: Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
  45. 1995: Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets
  46. 1990: Lothar Matthias, West Germany