# What one athlete would you award a championship to? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 2, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621 "2017-08-02T12:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/21 "2017-08-02T19:28:27Z")
If, by “winner’s trophy,” you mean an Olympic gold medal: Mary Decker. While she did win at least one world championship gold (1983, IIRC), when it came to the Olympics, she was “too young in 1972, too injured in 1976, too American in 1980, too close to Zola Budd in 1984, and too old after that.” ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/22 "2017-08-02T19:33:46Z")
Well, you know, I’d pick Alexander Ovechkin, but there’s still hope. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/23 "2017-08-02T19:43:20Z")
I know I’m picking two, but these are two of my absolute favorite athletes over the years. Larry Fitzgerald. What a class act he has been over the years, the exact opposite of the diva wide receiver. Tony Gwynn. A great hitter that was stuck on mediocre Padres teams for years. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/24 "2017-08-02T20:24:15Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Good picks here too, but Bernie Kosar got his ring – as a backup on the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII team, 30-13 over the Buffalo Bills. Ah, yes, how could I forget that Bernie led the Cowboys to the NFC championship over the 'Niners and took a knee to win a Super Bowl after the ultimate football genius, Bill Belichick, cut him from the Browns? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/25 "2017-08-02T20:36:28Z")
Tony Romo, Jim Kelly or Ai Fukuhara. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/26 "2017-08-02T20:51:23Z")
I would give a US Open to Phil Mickelson and Sam Snead. Phil has finished 2nd 6 times in the US Open. Sometimes he has given it away, and sometimes it was taken away. Sam Snead has 82 wins on the PGATour, but no US Open. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/27 "2017-08-02T20:59:00Z")
No no no. Team sports championships go to teams, not individuals, by definition. Awarding team sports championships to individuals misses the point. Rant over. Resume your previously scheduled insane thread. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/28 "2017-08-02T21:08:28Z")
Another vote for Ted Williams. An example of an athlete who had an amazing career without ever winning a championship. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/29 "2017-08-02T22:03:17Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > No no no. Team sports championships go to teams, not individuals, by definition. Awarding team sports championships to individuals misses the point. Rant over. Resume your previously scheduled insane thread. How about taking all the 2014 World Series rings, melting them down, and making one giant one for Madison Bumgarner? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/30 "2017-08-02T23:35:41Z")
Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal. Oh so close in 1962. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Ah, yes, how could I forget that Bernie led the Cowboys to the NFC championship over the 'Niners and took a knee to win a Super Bowl after the ultimate football genius, Bill Belichick, cut him from the Browns? Ouch, thanks a lot, **Barkis**. 🙂 And do tell, what happened the following year? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/31 "2017-08-02T23:46:28Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > Along those lines, Ron Santo. Preferably via time machine so he could receive it while alive, unlike his HOF induction. Not only was he a great player, but he was such a fan and just exuded joy for his beloved Cubs and baseball in general. Even after diabetes had taken his legs away. > > And, because he’s my all-time favorite ballplayer–Ryne Sandberg. You beat me to it. That’s almost exactly what I came in here to say. Sandberg was my first celebrity crush and Santo was my Dad’s favorite ballplayer. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/32 "2017-08-02T23:47:25Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Tony Gwynn. A great hitter that was stuck on mediocre Padres teams for years. Good call. I support this. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/33 "2017-08-02T23:54:11Z")
Craig Biggio (though I’m tempted to cheat and add Bagwell). ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/34 "2017-08-03T00:46:14Z")
Ty Cobb ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/35 "2017-08-03T11:15:45Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > Ty Cobb The lawyer? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/36 "2017-08-03T11:33:17Z")
Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah Jazz. ETA: **madsircool** already got them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/37 "2017-08-03T11:35:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The lawyer? Can’t hit the curveball. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/38 "2017-08-03T11:44:13Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Can’t hit the curveball. I don’t get it, can you explain? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/39 "2017-08-03T11:54:05Z")
Dare I say it? OJ Simpson. Man, oh man could The Juice run! He was a joy to watch. But he played on terrible teams. The Bills never won their division, and they went to the playoffs just once, in the 1974 season, losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champios, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the only playoff game of his career. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621/40 "2017-08-03T12:06:06Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I don’t get it, can you explain? Trump’s new White House special counsel is named Ty Cobb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-athlete-would-you-award-a-championship-to/792621.md?page=3)