The Best 5 Cleveland Athletes of the Last 30 years
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This was a survey being done on the radio this morning: Name who you think are the Best 5 Athletes to come out of Cleveland in the last 30 years. So...for this you can fudge I think perhaps one year and go back and include anyone who has played here since 1987.
Who are your choices?
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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.
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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, 2017Kluber will be only 32 on April 10.....so he may not be done. Hopefully not....as long as he is pitching for the Tribe.
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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.
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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! -
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Bernie Kosar - he was profoundly brilliant in football mental gymnastics.
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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.
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?
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Stipe Miocic?
Stipe Miocic?
And who the egg foo yung is that?
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Eric Metcalf has to be considered in there somewhere. What a weapon!
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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?
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.)
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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.)
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.
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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.
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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.
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. )
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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. )
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! -
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.
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