Who was your favorite athlete as a child?

Question

Mine was Mickey Mantle.

Answer 1

Bobby Orr

Answer 2

Micky was a dandy but my favorite was and still is Stan the man Musial who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. Micky was starting his career big time about the time Musial was closing his down. If the two had played for the same team at the same time wouldn`t that have been a hell of an offense with Musial batting 3rd and Mantle batting clean up. There has been some real good ones come a long since Mantle and Musial but it is just hard not to be biased when comparing them to your childhood heroes.

Answer 3

Hands down...it's Michael Jordan. I truly wanted "to be like Mike". I would watch his commercials and actually believe that I could fly. He's one of the reasons why I played Pee-Wee basketball when I was a kid and then 3 years from 7th-9th grades. I read books about him, searched his life on the 'net, and stayed glued to ESPN when he and the Bulls were winning. No one was more upset than me when he retired (the 1st time) and no one was happier than me when he returned and did another 3-peat.

Answer 4

There were two actually. As a child, I was deeply touched by the story of the friendship of professional football players Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo, as described in the book I am Third, and the movie Brian's Song. They were both incredible athletes and incredible people who dared to publicly cross racial boundaries.

Brian Piccolo stood by Gayle Sayers even at those times when Sayers felt discouraged and was ready to give up, while recovering from a sports injury. Piccolo pushed Sayers. He egged him on. He believed in him. Gayle Sayers stood by Brian Piccolo as he was dying. After Piccolos' death, Sayers publicly declared, "I loved Brian Piccolo," in tears, at a time when due to the racial climate and gender expectations this was just not done. They were so bonded.

As a child, I adopted Brian Piccolo's philosophy of life and filial love as my own.

God is first.
My friends are second.
I am third.

Thus the name of the book: I am Third.

Nowdays I would change that to:

God is first.
My friends are gifts from God.
We are all students and teachers to one another.
We are all one.

Not as poetic but more true for me at this stage in my life, thanks to Buddhism and esp. A Course in Miracles. Yet the original seed of absolute love and respect for my friends was planted by the late great football player Brian Piccolo.

Answer 5

Ted Williams

Answer 6

Mary Lou Retton...gymnastics

Answer 7

Michael Jordan

Answer 8

Steve Mortimer. The Bulldogs great. Although Sterlo was a better play, Turvey was my favourite

Answer 9

Michael Jordan...

Answer 10

Ronald McDonald