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The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years

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  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #2

    I am just thinking....to me....there is only 1 or 2 Slam Dunks for this list:

    LeBron James

    Jim Thome

    Would Joe Thomas be a third no brainer? 

    But....who do you pick from there?

    There are several Indians to consider:

    Corey Kluber,   Albert Bell,  Manny Ramirez,  Sandy Alomar,  Kenny Lofton,  Omar Vizquel

    There are other Cavaliers:

    Kyrie Irving,   Brad Daugherty, Mark Price,  Larry Nantz

    The Browns have fewer.   Some of their best are right on the borderline, timewise:

    Bernie, Dixon and Minniefield, Mack and Byner. 

    Who else to consider?

    But since a decision has to be made:

    LeBron.     Thome.   Joe Thomas.   Kluber (two Cy Youngs).  Omar.

    I think these are the 5 that could eventually be HOF.  Thome already is.   LBJ and JT will be.   

  • MudflyM Mudfly wrote on
    #3

    Well, we had 3 the same....alot of the guys you listed would be a valid candidate.....my 5, before reading yours were....

    Lebron - Joe Thomas - Mark Price - Kenny Lofton - Jim Thome

    Omar and Brad Daugherty were the next up.....

  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #4

    I guess a question is:  Has Kluber been around long enough yet to warrant consideration.  

    But here is the list of multiple Cy Young Winners:

    Roger Clemens (7): 1986-87, 1991, 1997-98, 2001, 2004
    Randy Johnson (5): 1994, 1999-2002
    Steve Carlton (4): 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982
    Greg Maddux (4): 1992-95
    Sandy Koufax (3): 1963, 1965-66
    Pedro Martinez (3): 1997, 1999-2000
    Jim Palmer (3): 1973, 1975, 1976
    Tom Seaver (3): 1969, 1973, 1975
    Clayton Kershaw (3): 2011, 2013-2014
    Max Scherzer (3): 2013, 2016-2017
    Bob Gibson (2): 1968, 1970
    Tom Glavine (2): 1991, 1998
    Roy Halladay (2): 2003, 2010
    Tim Lincecum (2): 2008-09
    Denny McLain (2): 1968-69
    Gaylord Perry (2): 1972, 1978
    Bret Saberhagen (2): 1985, 1989
    Johan Santana (2): 2004, 2006
    Corey Kluber (2): 2014, 2017

    Kluber will be only 32 on April 10.....so he may not be done.  Hopefully not....as long as he is pitching for the Tribe.

  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #5

    Not sure if Ozzie Newsome should be included.    He played most of his career pre 1987.    While he played until 1990...he only averaged 32  catches a year for his last few years......so I think he would be excluded in this time frame.

    Clay Matthews?  Played 19 years,   10 after 1987  (but 2 with ATL).  I don't think I would pick him above the five I named.

  • mjp28M mjp28 wrote on
    #6

    Cleveland athletes or athletes who played in or for Cleveland? Not that many fall in both catagories.

    LeBron will go down as a GOAT, Joe Thomas as an OL was incredible, Thome and Omar are among my favorites. And who could shoot foul shots like Mark Price?

    Some Cleveland area kids did alright in college and the pros.

    GO BUCKEYES, BROWNS, INDIANS, CAVS, YSU, NAVY and yes I like ND!
    The GipperT 1 Reply
  • Dutch OvenD Dutch Oven wrote on
    #7

    Stipe Miocic?

    The GipperT 1 Reply
  • C calfoxwc wrote on
    #8

    Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.

    mjp28M The GipperT 2 Replies
  • C calfoxwc wrote on
    #9

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    😂
  • C calfoxwc

    Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.

    mjp28M mjp28 wrote on
    #10

    @calfoxwc said:

    Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.

    Bernie was an underrated quarterback in his era maybe not playing in or winning a Super Bowl might have hurt him some.

    He gave his all to the game in Cleveland. 

    GO BUCKEYES, BROWNS, INDIANS, CAVS, YSU, NAVY and yes I like ND!
  • mjp28M mjp28

    Cleveland athletes or athletes who played in or for Cleveland? Not that many fall in both catagories.

    LeBron will go down as a GOAT, Joe Thomas as an OL was incredible, Thome and Omar are among my favorites. And who could shoot foul shots like Mark Price?

    Some Cleveland area kids did alright in college and the pros.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #11

    @mjp28 said:

    Cleveland athletes or athletes who played in or for Cleveland? Not that many fall in both catagories.

    LeBron will go down as a GOAT, Joe Thomas as an OL was incredible, Thome and Omar are among my favorites. And who could shoot foul shots like Mark Price?

    Some Cleveland area kids did alright in college and the pros.

    So....who are your 5?  Or are the ones you mention them?

    mjp28M 1 Reply
  • Dutch OvenD Dutch Oven

    Stipe Miocic?

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #12

    @dutch-oven said:

    Stipe Miocic?

    And who the egg foo yung is that?

    Dutch OvenD 1 Reply
  • C calfoxwc

    Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #13

    @calfoxwc said:

    Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.

    OK....but what is it with some of you......still not through kindergarten math?   What is it about the word 5 you all do not understand?  Have you got 4 more?

  • T TexasAg1969 wrote on
    #14

    Eric Metcalf has to be considered in there somewhere. What a weapon!

  • The GipperT The Gipper

    @mjp28 said:

    Cleveland athletes or athletes who played in or for Cleveland? Not that many fall in both catagories.

    LeBron will go down as a GOAT, Joe Thomas as an OL was incredible, Thome and Omar are among my favorites. And who could shoot foul shots like Mark Price?

    Some Cleveland area kids did alright in college and the pros.

    So....who are your 5?  Or are the ones you mention them?

    mjp28M mjp28 wrote on
    #15

    @the-gipper said:

    So....who are your 5?  Or are the ones you mention them?

    Just going back 30 years it's tricky to say on the Cleveland / NE Ohio born and bred, LBJ stands out as a freaky high school to professional athlete in any sport, a Kobe like player. (Oh my original 5 yeah more start to pop up the more you think about it.)

    Expanding a bit on your original premise  Bernie Kosar? Chris Spielman? Tom Jackson? Josh Cribbs?  Played professional sports in Cleveland only?

    Maybe 50 years or all time? College? Other sports?

    I'll have to think on that one, Cleveland Heisman trophy winners? (Hint: TSUN.)

    GO BUCKEYES, BROWNS, INDIANS, CAVS, YSU, NAVY and yes I like ND!
  • mjp28M mjp28

    @the-gipper said:

    So....who are your 5?  Or are the ones you mention them?

    Just going back 30 years it's tricky to say on the Cleveland / NE Ohio born and bred, LBJ stands out as a freaky high school to professional athlete in any sport, a Kobe like player. (Oh my original 5 yeah more start to pop up the more you think about it.)

    Expanding a bit on your original premise  Bernie Kosar? Chris Spielman? Tom Jackson? Josh Cribbs?  Played professional sports in Cleveland only?

    Maybe 50 years or all time? College? Other sports?

    I'll have to think on that one, Cleveland Heisman trophy winners? (Hint: TSUN.)

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #16

    @mjp28 said:

    Just going back 30 years it's tricky to say on the Cleveland / NE Ohio born and bred, LBJ stands out as a freaky high school to professional athlete in any sport, a Kobe like player. (Oh my original 5 yeah more start to pop up the more you think about it.)

    Expanding a bit on your original premise  Bernie Kosar? Chris Spielman? Tom Jackson? Josh Cribbs?  Played professional sports in Cleveland only?

    Maybe 50 years or all time? College? Other sports?

    I'll have to think on that one, Cleveland Heisman trophy winners? (Hint: TSUN.)

    Well....sure....you are taking this in a different direction....but you have still not answered the original direction:

    First:   Who do you consider to be the best 5 athletes who have played professional sports in Cleveland since 1987.   Answer that.

    THEN....we can ask...the very good question you pose:    Who are the best 5 athletes who have come out of Northeast Ohio in the last 30 years....regardless of where they played their Pro careers.   I will have to give that one some thought.

  • mjp28M mjp28 wrote on
    #17

    Read this real quick and answer:

    The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years

    Professional? College? Amateur? Hmmmmm, doesn’t say.

    Is Desmond Howard a Cleveland athlete? I listed my 5 professional ones but could add 5 more, it's a bit subjective. 

    GO BUCKEYES, BROWNS, INDIANS, CAVS, YSU, NAVY and yes I like ND!
  • mjp28M mjp28

    Read this real quick and answer:

    The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years

    Professional? College? Amateur? Hmmmmm, doesn’t say.

    Is Desmond Howard a Cleveland athlete? I listed my 5 professional ones but could add 5 more, it's a bit subjective. 

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #18

    @mjp28 said:

    Read this real quick and answer:

    The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years

    Professional? College? Amateur? Hmmmmm, doesn’t say.

    Is Desmond Howard a Cleveland athlete? I listed my 5 professional ones but could add 5 more, it's a bit subjective. 

    How about this:    The Best Athletes produced out of Northeast Ohio....since 1980.  

    What I will say is:   someone who came out of the High School systems in NEO.

    Ergo...that would eliminate people that played for like Akron U or Kent state etc....unless they also went to HS here. (so...e.g.  that would take out Jason Taylor....HOF DE from Akron U...but who is from somewhere in Western Pa. )

  • The GipperT The Gipper

    @mjp28 said:

    Read this real quick and answer:

    The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years

    Professional? College? Amateur? Hmmmmm, doesn’t say.

    Is Desmond Howard a Cleveland athlete? I listed my 5 professional ones but could add 5 more, it's a bit subjective. 

    How about this:    The Best Athletes produced out of Northeast Ohio....since 1980.  

    What I will say is:   someone who came out of the High School systems in NEO.

    Ergo...that would eliminate people that played for like Akron U or Kent state etc....unless they also went to HS here. (so...e.g.  that would take out Jason Taylor....HOF DE from Akron U...but who is from somewhere in Western Pa. )

    mjp28M mjp28 wrote on
    #19

    @the-gipper said:

    How about this:    The Best Athletes produced out of Northeast Ohio....since 1980.  

    What I will say is:   someone who came out of the High School systems in NEO.

    Ergo...that would eliminate people that played for like Akron U or Kent state etc....unless they also went to HS here. (so...e.g.  that would take out Jason Taylor....HOF DE from Akron U...but who is from somewhere in Western Pa. )

    You're right it will open up another whole list of potential questions, all interesting and causing one to think.

    First make it easy professional or other and make it north of Columbus, eh?

    GO BUCKEYES, BROWNS, INDIANS, CAVS, YSU, NAVY and yes I like ND!
    The GipperT 1 Reply
  • The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #20

    After some research, I have come up with some names  of athletes who went to HS in NEOhio that could fit the Top 5 athletes since 1980.  I have used a few  objective criteria...and some subjective:

    LeBron James.      St. Vincent/St. Mary      I assume there will be no arguments here:

    Orlando Pace  Sandusky HS    Recent Pro Football HOF Inductee

    Desmond Howard   VASJ  HS.......simply on the basis of having won the most prestigious award in sports:  The Heisman Trophy

    Troy Smith   Glenville......ditto on the above

    Alvin Robertson   Barberton.    Olympic Gold medal winner...plus....one of only 4 players to ever officially record a Quadruple Double...and the only one in which steals was one of the stats.    (Akeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Nate Thurmond.)

    This list is based on these objective criteria..but, honestly, based on their overall athletic careers, the last three would not rightly be in this game....but it is highly difficult to say who would.   

    Other candidates:

    Basketball:

    Clark Kellogg  VASJ  

    Charles Oakley...not sure which HS...but Cleveland

    Jerome Lane...SVSM

    Larry Nance Jr.   Revere

    Steph Curry was born in Akron...but he went to HS in both Toronto Canada, and graduated from a Christian School in Charlotte NC.

    Football

    Bernie Kosar  Boardman

    Beanie Wells  Akron Garfield

    Mike Vrabel  Walsh

    Whitney Mercilus  Akron Garfield

    Antoine Whitfield  Akron Garfield

    James Harrison   Coventry

    London Fletcher  VASJ

    Chris Spielman  Massillon

    Donte Whitner   Glenville

    Ted Ginn Jr.  Glenville

    Bryan Hoyer  St. Ignatius

    Charlie Frye  Willard

    If I were to replace the three above that I mentioned, in their stead I would probably put  Kosar, Kellog, and probably Spielman in there.

  • mjp28M mjp28

    @the-gipper said:

    How about this:    The Best Athletes produced out of Northeast Ohio....since 1980.  

    What I will say is:   someone who came out of the High School systems in NEO.

    Ergo...that would eliminate people that played for like Akron U or Kent state etc....unless they also went to HS here. (so...e.g.  that would take out Jason Taylor....HOF DE from Akron U...but who is from somewhere in Western Pa. )

    You're right it will open up another whole list of potential questions, all interesting and causing one to think.

    First make it easy professional or other and make it north of Columbus, eh?

    The GipperT The Gipper wrote on
    #21

    @mjp28 said:

    You're right it will open up another whole list of potential questions, all interesting and causing one to think.

    First make it easy professional or other and make it north of Columbus, eh?

    It would be like a line from Sandusky....to Mansfield....then over to like Steubenville.

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