NFT: Best pro athlete's you've ever seen in person?

I saw Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Bill Russel, Wayne Gretsky, Bobby Orr, Dr. J, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Muhammad Ali, Joe Namath, LT, Bo Jackson, and Joe Montana. I could never name them all, like Reggie and all the 64, 77,78,96-2001 Yankees, all of the 1968-1974 Knicks, the Ewing Knicks, the Parcells and Coughlin Giants, and all their opponents. Sorry, but the question is too hard for 1 answer, and I have been to way too many games, and seen too many greats for a single answer.

Obviously Eli, but Saquan when he went off in DC a few years ago was fun. OBJ when he made that amazing TD grab in DC was special. Osi I remember in 2010 was talking all kinds of shit during the commercial break and came back to sack the QB on the very next play.

Roger Clemons, Jeter, a lot of those prime Yankees teams actually. And then Phillies / Mets of the late 80s early 90s. I have a Mets autograph ball from that era with some great players on it.

His nephew played hockey at UMass and I would see him from time to time. Never more than a friendly hello but it was still nice to hear. UMass hockey in the national championship Saturday. Team was a basement dweller when I was there in the 90’s.

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My dad met James Lofton when he was in Med school.

I was completely blown away but how fast he was. For me that speed never fully translated to TV.

Baseball- Mantle, Seaver, Gooden, Reggie Jackson was memorable, Gary Carter

Football- LT was the best, Walter Payton’s at Soldier Field and Earl Campbell at the Astrodome was special, and when I was a boy Tarkenton impressed my but he probably isn’t really that great an athlete in the grand scale.

Hockey- Mike Bossy

Basketball- Larry Bird, Bernard King, Ewing

Power Lifting- Bill Kazmaier

I’m certain I saw many others on visiting teams for all four major sports that I’m not recalling that should make the list.

I should have seen OJ break 2000 yards against the Jets. We had tickets to the Giants and then my dad got offered the Hets tickets so he left the choice to me, and I chose my beloved Giants, but looking back on the historical significance of the first player to break 2000 I probably should have picked that game.

Maybe Darryl Strawberry?

Giants - Strahan/Sehorn?

In comment 15214812 Jim in Forest Hills said:

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Maybe Darryl Strawberry? Giants - Strahan/Sehorn?

Strawberry was a terrific athlete I definitely should have listed him as well. Good call!

I think they were at a Trade Show

Mays as a SF Giant

Will Chamberlain as a laker

Football, Peyton Manning, LT, Walter Payton

Gretzky as an oiler vs devils just after he referred to them as a Mickey mouse organization.

was stunningly quick.

when we sat right behind the basket for a Celtics game. For me seeing him up close was amazing. He was so quick and athletic for a person that size where I was probably no more than 20 feet away from him was amazing. I have been there in the stadium for a lot of Giants games but being so close made such a difference.

My seats at Metlife are pretty close to the field so when we go up to the front during warmups, it's amazing seeing all of them. They look like real people instead of a uniform on TV

Early round match in the French , but still it was Rafa at Roland Garros. Did not disappoint.

that some of you go to live your lives sound like forrest gump's.

Muhammad Ali when he spoke at my college. Unbelievably, I lost it a long time ago :( As a teen, I went to a Mayor's trophy game at Shea, which got rained out. Walking through the parking lot back to the subway, I passed the Yankee team bus and Mickey and Roger were having beers.

When my old man drug the family to a Billy Graham event at the Vet back in the early 90's. The same night Jerome Brown died.

I saw the Stanley Cup Islander teams with Bossy, Trotts, Potvin et al, the Willis Reed/Frazier/Bradley/DeBush Knicks, the Rangers with Park/Gilbert/Ratelle. Also had Dave Winfield come over to the stands during BP and toss a ball up to my young daughter.

In comment 15214875 Bill in UT said:

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Muhammad Ali when he spoke at my college. Unbelievably, I lost it a long time ago :( As a teen, I went to a Mayor's trophy game at Shea, which got rained out. Walking through the parking lot back to the subway, I passed the Yankee team bus and Mickey and Roger were having beers.

I saw Ali at the Pittsburgh airport, he got a standing ovation as the crowd parted for him to walk by with his entourage - and he wasn't very sure on his feet at this time, but he wouldn't accept any help from anyone or get in a cart or anything, and was graciously acknowledging the crowd. this was shortly after the '96 Olympics torch lighting. I was star struck. Some people had tears in their eyes.

Next question...

Martin Brodeur
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Michael Strahan

as in watching that individual participate, that was the
drift I got...that's why I said 'next question' for listing
a Bobby Orr, best athlete I have ever seen in person!
He was so damn special, he really was, too bad his career
was short-circuited with the knee problems.

and Harry Carson. Sat Next to Yogi Berra on a water taxi for a long ride and chat. Whitey Ford sat a few seats down.

getting on the same plane as I was

Went to 1986 US Open at Shinnecock and to several Westchester Classics in that time frame. Went to SLC winter Olympics, downhill and SuperG. Saw Peekaboo Street. Spent a few days at Keysone, CO with the Maher brothers as our personal instructors and dinner guests(they'd been hired by my friend for his 50th birthday gathering). Met Stein Erickson at a Deer Valley event.

In comment 15214883 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 15214875 Bill in UT said: Quote: Muhammad Ali when he spoke at my college. Unbelievably, I lost it a long time ago :( As a teen, I went to a Mayor's trophy game at Shea, which got rained out. Walking through the parking lot back to the subway, I passed the Yankee team bus and Mickey and Roger were having beers. I saw Ali at the Pittsburgh airport, he got a standing ovation as the crowd parted for him to walk by with his entourage - and he wasn't very sure on his feet at this time, but he wouldn't accept any help from anyone or get in a cart or anything, and was graciously acknowledging the crowd. this was shortly after the '96 Olympics torch lighting. I was star struck. Some people had tears in their eyes.

I saw him in '67 or '68 at an anti-war rally at U. Buffalo. It was during his hiatus from boxing

Dodgers/Giants, with Willie/Garagiola/Al Dark/Maglie/Wilhelm/ and The Duke/Hodges/Campanella/Pee Wee/Lasorda/and Jackie Robinson. I fell asleep during the game, which went into extra innings. I was 5 :)

Then some cool experiences:

I got to shake Jim Brown's hand as a youngster as he was being honored at Manhasset H.S. (his H.S.) where Syracuse (his school) versus Hobart in lacrosse was being played.

Played CYO with Tom Gugliatta and then played against him later in H.S.

While in college, Dave Robinson spoke at a leadership class I was taking and later that day came over to the gym where a bunch of us were playing hoops. Did a two hand reverse dunk, talked with us a bit and watched us play. Super cool guy.

Almost certain I played against Clarence Jones. Years later I realized he played for the Giants.

Reggie Jackson
Gary Carter
Mike Schmidt
Andre Dawson
Ozzie Smith
Chipper Jones
Jeter

That's all I can think of now.

and he was just from a different planet. He oozed athleticism, skill and confidence.

Rodger Federer was/is one of the best moving athletes I've ever seen. The ease in which is gets into position to strike a tennis ball is genius.

Used to go to a lot of fights in the '90s and Roy Jones, Jr just owned a boxing ring with his athleticism.

I had the pleasure of meeting Muhammad Ali. It was incredible to me.

Also spent the day with Jackie Joyner for a project I worked on.

Lastly, I was in Atlanta and literally walked into John Elway coming off an elevator. John Fox was with him.

golf tournament at his home course in the late 90's.

I followed a threesome of Lemieux, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky.

Jordan and Lemieuex big hitters they made fun of Wayne Gretzky all day as they waited for him to take his second shot.

on the green we'd see Dan Marino, John Elway, and Mark Rypien putting while we waited for Jordan, Lemieux and Gretzky to make their approaches.

Tons of great athletes at the event, all hanging out with the crowd and having fun (Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, Mark Recchi, and many more who I can't remember, Rick Rhoden won it - I guess he's a legitimately good golfer.

None of this was during "their sports" though

Larry Fitzgerald, I saw in 2005 against the Giants and was just wowed by his athleticism and how good of a player he was. He was wide open and no one on the Giants defense was near him on many plays.

Michael Vick, I was amazed at how fast he was in person and this was in 2012 or 2013.

Jermaine O'Neal, when I went to a Nets game in 2004 or so and sat very low and got to see how good of a player he was for that game.

Ovechkin for the Capitals, Wayne Gretzky but he was near the end of his career in 1997, Bonds, Jeter, Rodger Clemens, never got to see Shaq Lebron Kobe or MJ.

In comment 15215066 Route 9 said:

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Larry Fitzgerald, I saw in 2005 against the Giants and was just wowed by his athleticism and how good of a player he was. He was wide open and no one on the Giants defense was near him on many plays. Michael Vick, I was amazed at how fast he was in person and this was in 2012 or 2013.

Michael Vick is still fast! Link

Jordan, Gretzky, LT, Brady, deGrom

Oh yeah I saw Brady in 2019 at the Thursday Night Football game.

The game the Giants lost by 3 scores and it was a good moral victory.

That man could literally leap like an amphibian

I'm glad I got "old" as I did and went to as many games as possible when it wasn't a big pain in the ass. I've only been to one professional sporting event (Giants at Bengals) since December 2019.

It sucks but it's not really worth the hassle anymore. I got to see every band I like live and I attended way more games than I thought I ever would.

I don't care much about these newer guys like the old ones. Judge and Jones are definitely not on the same level as Jeter and Eli.

Glad I got all that stuff under my belt before things got annoying.

I was just a kid, but my mother was friends with (don't kill me!) Donald Grant, so I went into the Met's clubhouse and I have a picture of "The Franchise" and me in the Met's dugout.

I'd be happy to attach it, but not sure how to plant a jpeg in the comment box (old dog, new trick, LOL)

Ralph Macchio, winner of the All Valley Under 18 Karate Championship. He was pushing 40 at the time and looked like he could still compete in the under 21 tournament.

Unfortunately he doesn't meet the OP's criteria, he never went pro.

In comment 15215313 RickJames said:

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Ralph Macchio, winner of the All Valley Under 18 Karate Championship. He was pushing 40 at the time and looked like he could still compete in the under 21 tournament. Unfortunately he doesn't meet the OP's criteria, he never went pro.

Banzai, Daniel-san!

Baseball: Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial
Football: LT
Hockey: Patrick Roy
Golf: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead

He and Babe Ruth had one thing in common: they could be completely dominant over a long period without training. I really wonder what both of them would have been like if they worked out hard.

He and Babe Ruth had one thing in common: they could be completely dominant over a long period without training. I really wonder what both of them would have been like if they worked out hard.

with Jerry and Harry Lorraine. I found it imposing being greeted by a 6'8 human being.

But the best athlete I ever saw was William Roberts. Yes, the former OG forthe Giants.

I saw him play basketball at a charity event in Portsmouth RI right after SB XXV (when everybody up there were still Giants fams) and I have to this day, never seen a man that big move so fast. This guy was leading the break like Julius Randle and finishing with dunks. He could shoot too! Lol. If it was another basketball player, I wouldnt have cared. But this was a power Guard flying around the court. I was stunned.

at the US Open between Vitas Gerulaitis and John MacEnroe in 1979

so I guess that qualifies

O.J. Anderson.