Top 25 Athletes

Being a sports editor for three publications (technically 10), one would wonder why I don’t have any listings referencing my favourite athletes from the 32 years of my life.

For your perusal, here are the top jocks, not necessarily from my favourite teams: Saskatchewan Roughriders, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Blackhawks, Cincinnati Reds or Toronto Raptors, but you get the gist.

25.
Who: Martina Hingis Born: Sept. 30, 1980, Košice, Czechoslovakia Sport: Tennis, Women’s Tennis Association When: 1995-2007, 2010-11 Why: I began my tennis fandom back in the mid-90s when the Swiss Miss was taking off in the Women’s Tennis Association. Yes, I realize she was born in the former CSSR. Do the Stastnys ring a bell?
24.
Who: Ozzie Smith Born: Dec. 26, 1954, Mobile, Alabama Sport: Baseball, San Diego Padres/St. Louis Cardinals When: 1978-1996 Why: I am certainly not a Cardinals fan, given my baseball team competes with them in the NL Central, still who didn’t love this back-flipping shortstop who put in a day’s effort at the athletic position.
23.
Who: Clyde Drexler Born: June 22, 1962, New Orleans, Louisiana Sport: Basketball, Portland Trail Blazers/Houston Rockets When: 1983-1998 Why: During the height of MJ, I bucked the trend of rooting for #23 and cheered for “The Glide” who donned #22. One of the best stealers in the game, anyone taking on this shooting guard one-on-one would be in for a surprise.
22.
Who: Wally Joyner Born: June 16, 1962, Atlanta, Georgia Sport: Baseball, California Angels/Kansas City Royals/San Diego Padres/Atlanta Braves/Anaheim Angels When: 1986-2001 Why: I played first base while growing up, and even though my loyalties as a kid were to the Reds I appreciated the talents of players like Joyner and Will Clark.
21.
Who: Jerome Williams Born: May 10, 1973, Washington, DC Sport: Basketball, Detroit Pistons/Toronto Raptors/Chicago Bulls/New York Knicks When: 1996-2005 Why: Junkyard Dog was a personality that drew many fans to the Raptors cause during his two-season stint with the Purple Pack. I was no exception.
20.
Who: Andre Agassi Born: April 29, 1970, Las Vegas, Nevada Sport: Tennis When: 1986-2006 Why: My dad watch John McEnroe battle it out with Jimmy Connors, and in my day I would witness Andre Agassi vie for the top spot with by-the-book Pete Sampras.
19.
Who: Steve Nash Born: Feb. 7, 1974, Johannesburg, South Africa Sport: Basketball, Phoenix Suns/Dallas Mavericks When: 1996-present Why: Though he was born in South Africa, Nash is as Canadian as they come, and who doesn’t like a fellow Canadian schooling Americans at a sport they think they own? After all, the game was created by a Canadian.
18.
Who: Ana Ivanovic Born: Nov. 6, 1987, Belgrade, Serbia Sport: Tennis When: 2003-2016 Why: I’ve been a big fan of tennis, and typically the women’s tennis during the Aughts was more interesting. Ivanovic started coming into her own during the 2007 season when she made the French Open finals.
17.
Who: Kirk Gibson Born: May 28, 1957, Pontiac, Michigan Sport: Baseball, Detroit Tigers/Los Angeles Dodgers/Kansas City Royals/Pittsburgh Pirates When: 1979-1995 Why: I always remember that home run he smacked off Dennis Eckersley that won the Dodgers the World Series, but I also vaguely recollect the trouble he gave the Blue Jays while he played with the Tigers,.
16.
Who: Jonathan Toews Born: April 29, 1988, Winnipeg, Manitoba Sport: Hockey, Chicago Blackhawks When: 2007-present Why: The Blackhawks nation waited 49 years for their team to bring them back a Stanley Cup and their captain was none other than the centre, Mr. Serious.
15.
Who: Lou Whitaker Born: May 12, 1957, Brooklyn, New York Sport: Baseball, Detroit Tigers When: 1977-1995 Why: Part of the 1984 World Series Detroit Tiger roster I always remember Magnum PI wearing his Tigers hat and the passing references to baseball. The Tigers during that span were an exciting team to watch. The team’s second baseman was no exception to that.
14.
Who: Craig Hartsburg Born: June 29, 1959, Stratford, Ontario Sport: Hockey, Minnesota North Stars When: 1978-1989 Why: During the ’80s there was a great number of players in the NHL that were unmatched, Larmer, Bossy, Sandstrom and then defenceman Hartsburg who played on the 1987 Canada Cup.
13.
Who: Maria Sharapova Born: April 19, 1987, Nyagan, USSR Sport: Tennis, Women’s Tennis Association When: 2001-present Why: Regardless of her svelte appearance, the Russian tennis star, whose roots can be traced to her father befriending Yevgeny Khafelnikov’s dad, actually wins tennis tournaments, unlike the popular Anna Kournikova.
12.
Who: Reggie Miller Born: Aug. 24, 1965, Riverside, California Sport: Basketball, Indiana Pacers When: 1987-2005 Why: Who doesn’t like a player who can lead his team deep into the playoffs with the likes of Jalen Rose, Dale Davis, Mark Jackson, Rik Smits and Austin Croshere. Not to forget Chris Mullin too.
11.
Who: Steve Larmer Born: June 16, 1961, Peterborough, Ontario Sport: Hockey, Chicago Blackhawks (Black Hawks)/New York Rangers When: 1980-1995 Why: I’m a Blackhawks fan, so when the squad made runs for the Cup in the early ’90s, I was all about the team, one that included Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, Dominik Hasek, Chris Chelios, Steve Smith and Steve Larmer.
10.
Who: Drew Brees Born: January 15, 1979, Austin, Texas Sport: Football, San Diego Chargers/New Orleans Saints When: 2001-present Why: It feels odd being a fan of a player that’s born in the same year as you, but being a Saints fan, Brees has brought a new joie de vivre to a team with a pied past of losing. He brought back the spirit to a city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
9.
Who: Barry Larkin Born: April 28, 1964, Cincinnati, Ohio Sport: Baseball, Cincinnati Reds When: 1986-2004 Why: One of the best shortstops ever, in my humble opinion, he was part of that World Series team in 1990 and played through the Griffey Jr. Curse years from 200-2007.
8.
Who: Dale Hawerchuk Born: April 4, 1963, Toronto, Ontario Sport: Hockey, Winnipeg Jets/Buffalo Sabres/St. Louis Blues/Philadelphia Flyers When: 1981-1997 Why: To be honest, your favourite players don’t have to play on your favourite teams. So, while growing up, watching the Canada Cup series in 1987, Hawerchuk became a player I wanted to see in Chicago.
7.
Who: Ed Belfour Born: April 21, 1965, Carman, Manitoba Sport: Hockey, Chicago Blackhawks/San Jose Sharks/Dallas Stars/Toronto Maple Leafs/Florida Panthers When: 1989-2008 Why: Though the Hawks came up short in 1992, one reason why they got that far was Belfour. He also buoyed his Chicago ice denizens to the Western Conference finals in 1995.
6.
Who: Eric Martin Born: Nov. 8, 1961, Van Vleck, Texas Sport: Football, New Orleans Saints/Kansas City Chiefs When: 1985-1994 Why: I first started watching the NFL when Bobby Hebert was tossing the ball to this guy, Eric Martin. I quickly became a fan of the Saints, a team that also had Craig Heyward, Ruben Mayes and Morten Andersen.
5.
Who: Paul Ysebaert Born: May 15, 1966, Sarnia, Ontario Sport: Hockey, New Jersey Devils/Detroit Red Wings/Chicago Blackhawks/Winnipeg Jets/Tampa Bay Lightning When: 1987-1999 Why: Who here can admit to owning a Paul Ysebaert jersey, but not with Detroit? How about Chicago. I like the workhorse players.
4.
Who: Jesse Barfield Born: Oct. 29, 1959, Joliet, Illinois Sport: Baseball, Toronto Blue Jays/New York Yankees When: 1981-1992 Why: Growing up as a young kid, meaning under 10, I didn’t know too much about the world, so the hometown Jays were the team. Barfield was my favourite player. Can’t give you much more because I was six at the time.
3.
Who: Eric Davis Born: May 29, 1962, Los Angeles, California Sport: Baseball, Cincinnati Reds/Detroit Tigers/Los Angeles Dodgers/Baltimore Orioles/St. Louis Cardinals/San Francisco Giants When: 1984-2001 Why: Sure hockey players come back from battle scars, Hodgkins Disease. But Davis came back from colon cancer, in the ’90s. Still, I remember him in the World Series, 1990.
2.
Who: Paul Molitor Born: Aug. 22, 1956, St. Paul, Minnesota Sport: Baseball, Milwaukee Brewers/Toronto Blue Jays/Minnesota Twins When: 1978-1998 Why: Just for his sportsmanship and calm, collective demeanour in leading the Brewers, a team, for a time, that I liked along with the Jays. That was before I discovered the National League.
1.
Who: Mats Naslund Born: Oct. 31, 1959, Timra, Sweden Sport: Hockey, Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins/SEL When: 1982-1990, 1994-95 (NHL) Why: My dad was a Habs fan. Maple Leafs were the enemy, and eventually, a mutual enemy when I defected from the Rouge, Bleu et Blanc once I grew into my own personality. So, when the Canadiens were winning, I liked the 5’7″ winger that was a workhorse.