# Who is the "Face of the Franchise" for each major sports team in your city? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058 "2012-10-27T17:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/41 "2012-10-29T04:18:10Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Not Steve Largent or Dave Krieg? As an outsider, I’m surprised that it’s not Gary Payton for the Sonics, too. I would say Largent as well. What about Dennis Johnson or Jack Sikma? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/42 "2012-10-29T05:49:51Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Atlanta > > Present: > Braves - Chipper Jones? (retired this year) > Falcons - Matt Ryan > Hawks - Josh Smith > > All-time > Braves - Chipper or Henry Aaron > Falcons - Matt Ryan > Hawks - Dominique Wilkiens I lived in Atlanta for most of my life and I would choose (for all-time, you’re spot on for the present imho): Braves - Hank Aaron (for pitchers, it would be Phil Niekro (even over my beloved Maddux - Niekro was the one bright spot on a lot of craptacular teams)) Falcons - Steve Bartkowski Hawks - Dominique (but I’d love to give a shout out to Tree Rollins merely because of his name and the fact that he was my favorite Hawks player when I was growing up. He was a defensive beast, still ranked top-10 all-time in blocked shots.) ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/43 "2012-10-29T13:30:14Z")
Not having grown up here, I’m not a fan of any team but ill give Toronto a crack. Current: Leafs: Kessel Jays: Bautista Raps: Jonas Valanciunas. Hasn’t played a game, either. Argos: Having not ever seen a game…Chad Owens? All time: Leafs: Should be Keon but knowing this city it’s Domi or Darcy Tucker Jays: Carter Raps: Vince Carter was huge for a few seasons Argos: Pinball ---
**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:** [October 29, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/44 "2012-10-29T13:48:34Z")
Indianapolis (current/all-time): Pacers: Roy Hibbert/Reggie Miller Colts: Reggie Wayne\*/Peyton Manning\*\* \*No, it’s not Andrew Luck. Reggie Wayne is the veteran on this team, and he’s done an amazing job as defacto team leader. He’s stepped up even more since the Chuck Pagano leukemia diagnosis - it’s been really impressive. \*\*I’m not sure we can call Peyton the all-time face of the Colts right now, seeing as how he’s currently in Denver playing lights-out football. It’s cheating, but I’d probably go with Jim Irsay, the owner. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/45 "2012-10-29T14:35:45Z")
Orlando Magic: I guess it’s now Jameer Nelson, though really Dwight Howard will remain the face of the franchise until we get good again. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/46 "2012-10-29T14:52:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > For Washington DC, the currents are easily: > > Redskins: RG3 > Wizards: John Wall > Capitals: Alex Ovechkin > Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman > DC United: I’m not familiar enough with them to name even a single current player. Agreed on all counts except Nationals. I really don’t follow baseball, but Strausburg is definitely the best known. I’ve seen him in a ton of commercials. Hell, I remember seeing ESPN talk about his pitch count every day for the last several weeks of the season. > [@](#): > > All-time, that’s where it all gets less clear: > > Redskins: John Riggins, maybe Joe Theissman or Sonny Jurgensen? > Wizards: probably Wes Unseld > Capitals: still Ovechkin > Nationals: still Zimmerman > DC United: I’m going to go with Marco Etcheverry For the 'Skins, though I think most Redskins fans will probably have more fond memories of Riggins, Theissman and Sonny are more present in the media in general and working in broadcasting, so they’re more recognizeable as all-time great Redskins. However, unless it has to be a player, and the OP doesn’t stipulate that, I’d go with Joe Gibbs for all-time. He’s the one person most associated with the glory days. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/47 "2012-10-29T15:03:08Z")
I’m 200 miles from Dallas, and root mostly foir New York teams, but since no one has tried to identify “Face of the Franchise” players in Dallas… Rangers: Josh Hamilton, even though he MAY not stay there much longer Cowboys: Tony Romo. He USED to embody the fans’ high hopes for the Cowboys; now he embodies all they think is wrong with the Cowboys Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki Stars: Loui Eriksson, by default ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/48 "2012-10-29T15:27:06Z")
> [@Stringer](#): > > Chicago > > Current: > > Cubs: lol Maybe Kerry Wood? I have a hard time thinking of _anyone_ on the Cubs who would be the face of the franchise. Kerry’s close though he retired a couple years ago. He did just do a Discount Double Check commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/49 "2012-10-29T16:05:35Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Chicago: > > Cubs: I guess I’d have to say Anthony Rizzo. > White Sox: Adam Dunn > Bulls: Derrick Rose > Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews > Bears: Jay Cutler > > All time: > > Cubs: Ernie Banks > White Sox: Frank Thomas? > Bulls: Michael Jordan > Blackhawks: Bobby Hull > Bears: Walter Payton > [@Stringer](#): > > Chicago > > Current: > > Cubs: lol > White Sox: Paul Konerko > Bulls: Derrick Rose > Bears: Brian Urlacher > > All time: > > Cubs: Ernie Banks > White Sox: Frank Thomas > Bulls: Michael Jordan > Bears: Walter Payton Disagree on a few of these. Current Cubs: Anthony Rizzo All-Time Cubs: Ernie Banks Rizzo is probably the closest thing we’ve got because of the hype, but it’s basically by default. Would have been Wood before he retired; then Dempster until he got traded. Garza is the best player on the team and I think there’s a chance, if they decide to build around him, that he could be the guy but generally it’s tough for Pitchers to be the face since they only play 30 odd games a year. Banks is a obvious choice, but for a team with such a long history you could probably make a hell of a case for a lot of guys who aren’t as telegenic. Current White Sox: Paul Konerko All-time White Sox: Carlton Fisk Konerko is a no-brainer. He’s probably a Hall of Famer and is the only guy on the team right now who’s likely to have his number retired. The All-Time guy is quite a bit tougher to nail down. I think it’s Fisk just because most Sox fans looks back with nostalgia on those 80s teams far more than they do on the current crop. Frank Thomas has a case but he’s too damn unfriendly to be a “face” guy. Konerko can make a really good case to be the All-Time guy too. I’d like to offer up Joe Jackson as both the best Sox of all time, but I suppose the die-hards wouldn’t want a Black Sox being the face even if it’s justified. Current Bulls: Derrick Rose All-Time Bulls: Michael Jordan No need for comment on either. Current Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews All-Time Blackhawks: Bobby Hull There are both pretty safe bets, but you could make a case for some other folks at both. For current Sharp, Keith, Hossa and Kane all could get some run over the Captain because he’s sort of lacking in personality. Hull too is a bit of a safe choice, but with guys like Mikita, Roenick, Chelios, Belfour, Esposito, Savard and others it’s a real dog fight. Current Bears: Brian Urlacher All-Time Bears: Dick Butkus As much as I like (and hate) Cutler, he’s not the face of the franchise. He gets an inordinate amount of TV time and media faux-stories written about him, but he’s not the face. Even with Urlacher slipping into old-age he’s still the face of the Bears, not really a contest. Even with Briggs, Melton, Peppers and Tillman surpassing him on the field Urlacher is still the guy taking the call from the President in February. _Knock on Wood_ As for All-Time, this is a really, really tough one. You could say Ditka and you’d be right. You could say Sweetness and you’d be right. You could say Sayers and be right. Hell, for a lot of people it’s probably still the Fridge and Jimmy Mac. For others it might be Buddy Ryan, Bronko Nagurski, Mongo, George, Grange or Luckman. I can’t argue against any of them. But for me Butkus is probably the guy that personifies all that other stuff. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/50 "2012-10-29T16:14:51Z")
Cubs: What about Jeff Samardzija? I’m not a Chicago guy, but is he in the discussion? [QUOTE=Omni] Konerko is a no-brainer. He’s probably a Hall of Famer [/QUOTE] Not a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/51 "2012-10-29T16:28:29Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Cubs: What about Jeff Samardzija? I’m not a Chicago guy, but is he in the discussion? He could get there if he puts up a couple All-Star seasons. The Notre Dame roots are a advantage for him, but as I mentioned above it’s especially tough for pitchers. Take a guy who’s passed the hype stage through the over-hyped stage through the disappointment stage and back to the maybe-we’ve-got-something stage and it’s especially tough. Right now Rizzo is all kittens and bubblegum since he hasn’t really had a chance to disappoint in a Cubs uniform yet. > [@](#): > > Not a chance. Different conversation, but we’ll see what the post-steroid era brings. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/52 "2012-10-29T16:55:07Z")
I’m a New Yorker, but since I’m a Royals fan and no one has done Kansas City yet, I’ll offer: Current Royals - Alex Gordon Chiefs - Derrick Johnson All-Time Royals - George Brett (as big a “DUH” as there is in this sort of discussion) Chiefs - Len Dawson ---
**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:** [October 29, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/53 "2012-10-29T18:10:28Z")
You’d go Gordon over Butler or Hosmer? It’s a close one. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/54 "2012-10-29T18:14:53Z")
Butler’s a good choice, too. I’d have said Hosmer if he hadn’t screwed the pooch this past season. I’m not all that worried that his sophomore slump means he’ll never get better again, but I can’t see him as “face of the franchise” at the moment because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/55 "2012-10-29T18:15:13Z")
No one’s done the LA Lakers yet, so… Current: Kobe Bryant All-time: I think it’s impossible to pick just one. Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Kareem, Magic, etc. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/56 "2012-10-29T18:15:30Z")
Since I didn’t do an ALL-TIME face of the Dallas Franchises… Rangers: Definitely Nolan Ryan, even though he didn’t pitch for the Rangers long. Interestingly, he’s ALSO the face of the Astros, for whom he didn’t pitch that long. Cowboys: Roger Staubach, by a mile Mavericks: Probably still Dirk Nowitzki Stars: Mike Modano ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/57 "2012-10-29T18:30:34Z")
**astorian** -Dorsett or one of the “triplets” may also be contender, maybe Lily (the original Cowboy) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/58 "2012-10-29T19:00:24Z")
Cincinnati: Current: Bengals: AJ Green or Andy Dalton Reds: Joey Votto All Time: Bengals: Anthony Munoz Reds: Pete Rose ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/59 "2012-10-29T19:15:14Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Mr. President, I agree with your picks, though I may go with Alan Page for the Vikings. Who would you choose if the North Stars were included? I considered Page, but Tarkenton reinvented the QB position. He was essentially the first West Coast quarterback. The North Stars are fairly easy: Broten. Yeah, Ciccarelli’s the Hall of Famer, and Modano is probably the best player in the organization, but Broten was the face of the team, especially to a fan base that had watched him literally from the time he started high school. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058/60 "2012-10-29T19:35:14Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Since I didn’t do an ALL-TIME face of the Dallas Franchises… > Rangers: Definitely Nolan Ryan, even though he didn’t pitch for the Rangers long. Interestingly, he’s ALSO the face of the Astros, for whom he didn’t pitch that longo I’d pick Bagwell or Biggio for the Astros. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-face-of-the-franchise-for-each-major-sports-team-in-your-city/639058.md?page=4)