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

or Julius Erving

When Plax and the Giants were in that protracted quiet period of whether he was going to sign the offer or not as a FA he was literally sitting right next to my wife and I at an outdoor bar at Atlantis Bahamas. The guy was chiseled and looked huge, like comic book arms, and not the skinny looking 6’6” guy we usually see in pads. I wanted so bad to ask him if he was going to sign with the giants but didn’t feel it was right while the guy was on vacation. When I got up to leave after sitting next to him for 10 mins I just said “I’m a big giants fan”. He gave me a head nod.

I met LT in 2019. I was in New York for business and was heading to dinner. I walked right by him smoking a cigar in front of the Roosevelt Hotel. I circled back to get a pic with him. Best business trip ever 😂

I saw Jordan in person at MSG in '92 or '93. Griffey Jr. as a Mariner in '96. I saw Pedro twice, once at Fenway & another time in Baltimore. Football wise...Brady (once), Favre (once), Rodgers (once)...Giants wise, multiple times...Strahan, Eli, Tiki.

Pretty regularly in Franklin Lakes.

He crushed us

1985 (?) Walter Camp Award time - all the all-america players congregate in new haven for the award presentation and I was young, but there used to be a ton of public/fan events in New Haven and my great uncle was the athletic trainer for Yale so got into some of them.

Brady at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo...

and Lemieux in hockey. LT in football. MJ in basketball (but I loved watching AI play live). Baseball? Griffey Jr, Bonds, Mariano Rivera, Maddux, Clemens, Doc Halladay.

also in Jan or Feb 1988, saw Edmonton at Isles. sat against the glass in a box. Gretzky was hurt and didn't play, but MY GOD I never saw a team skate and move like those Oilers. Peak Messier and co. Sitting that close was a blur.

He was worth the price of admission.

In comment 15214683 pjcas18 said:

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1985 (?) Walter Camp Award time - all the all-america players congregate in new haven for the award presentation and I was young, but there used to be a ton of public/fan events in New Haven and my great uncle was the athletic trainer for Yale so got into some of them.

to clarify, this wasn't in a game if that's what you were only looking for.

If it's just in game then Jordan, Shaq, Bird, LT, Gretzky, Lemieux, Trout, Gooden, Strawberry, and others.

but my claim to fame in this area might be my local youth hockey team (Hamden, CT) when I was in squirts played the Hartford Whalers alumni in a local charity event - including "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe.

He was probably 60 at the time, but so what, I played hockey against Gordie Howe.

So I was in between jobs and decided to go to a matinee movie. Its empty and I paying for my popcorn and soda. I turn away from the counter and there they are (plus Whittens wife I guess). A cute Cowboys double date when they though no one would be there.

Jessica Simpson looked immediately away, like leave me alone. Romo looked right at me with his "shit-eating grin", all decked out in a leather jacket and white T-shirt. Almost like saying please recognize me. Whitten could care less.

I did a once over, recognized who they were, said Go Giants, and walked away.

some awesome pickup basketball and ball hockey games with most of the guys on the Oilers during that time (Gretzky, Mess, Kurri, Coffey).

during the glory years, I got to an early season game at Yankee Stadium and got to see Clemens pitch against Pedro. That was awesome.

I ran into Tommer once while walking through the East Side on the way home from work. I'm sure I posted about it here at the time, with all the old, tired jokes. No big deal. Just reglar. Around the same time, I saw Plax hanging out in the lobby of the McGrawHill building (he must have been doing a radio interview upstairs or something- he was already out of football). I went over to say hi and did his signature bow TD celebration, and he looked at me like I was an alien.

In comment 15214700 NoPeanutz said:

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during the glory years, I got to an early season game at Yankee Stadium and got to see Clemens pitch against Pedro. That was awesome. I ran into Tommer once while walking through the East Side on the way home from work. I'm sure I posted about it here at the time, with all the old, tired jokes. No big deal. Just reglar. Around the same time, I saw Plax hanging out in the lobby of the McGrawHill building (he must have been doing a radio interview upstairs or something- he was already out of football). I went over to say hi and did his signature bow TD celebration, and he looked at me like I was an alien.

For me the match-up was Clemens (as a Red Sock) versus Randy Johnson in Arlington.

something weird in my brain, I guess.

It was Clemens v Ryan.

and the Giants during the Simms/LT era.

If not in a sporting event, I shook hands with Arnold once and at that time he was at the top of his sport.

Best random athletic feat I still remember is Jason Sehorn hopping the restraining fence at UAlbany

bean Mike Piazza that game at Yankee Stadium...

Player ive ever seen, but best individual performance I ever saw in person was Osi’s 2007 game at home against the eagles. He could do anything he wanted to that tackle, and there was nothing they could do to stop him. Chants of “eagles suck!” Rang out from the stands. Really fun night.

.

Michael Strahan
Roberto Alomar
Mats Sundin
Tiger Woods
Roger Federer

(In each major sport)

but I guess Mike Trout might be the answer for me too. I've seen him a couple of times at Yankee Stadium over the years. It's really amazing how damn good Trout has been for so long.

I saw Dominik Hasek at MSG when he was with the Sabres, most dominant NHL Goalie ever. He's kind of like Hockey's Pedro Martinez, who I also saw at the Stadium and is up there.

I honestly don't go to many live sporting events besides baseball games. As a diehard basketball fan, I've actually been meaning to buy tickets for the next time the Lakers come to NY so I can see LeBron James in person.

I've seen a lot of baseball greats since the mid-80s over the years...saw ARod in his Rangers days hit 2 bombs in a game in Anaheim, saw Bonds hit one into the water the one time I saw a game in SF. I recall seeing a Yankees-Red Sox game in 86 or 87 where Mattingly and Boggs had about 8 hits between them, which was amazing

I saw Griffey at Fenway in a Red Sox-Mariners game, probably summer of 97 or 98. He hit a mammoth home run to right-center, a couple singles, and seemed like he covered every inch of the outfield running down several fly balls and line drives

More than any other, that was the time I walked out of the ballpark thinking wow, I just watched one of the greatest players of all time

...

In comment 15214700 NoPeanutz said:

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during the glory years, I got to an early season game at Yankee Stadium and got to see Clemens pitch against Pedro. That was awesome. I ran into Tommer once while walking through the East Side on the way home from work. I'm sure I posted about it here at the time, with all the old, tired jokes. No big deal. Just reglar. Around the same time, I saw Plax hanging out in the lobby of the McGrawHill building (he must have been doing a radio interview upstairs or something- he was already out of football). I went over to say hi and did his signature bow TD celebration, and he looked at me like I was an alien.

That's funny...I saw Plax at a Chinese restaurant in Totowa NJ (where I think he lives) a few years ago...I was having lunch with a client, he was at the bar. I did a double take, he's hard to miss, which he noticed, but resisted the urge to go try and talk to him.

As I left, I looked his way again, and he smiled and nodded, as if to say thank you for leaving him alone

1. In the 60's the Alou brothers playing the outfield for the (then) El Paso Sun Kings. 2. In 1971 I saw the Dallas Cowboys play the New Orleans Saints that featured Roger Staubach, Archie Manning, and Duane Thomas. 3. In July 1975 I saw Catfish Hunter pitch against Jim Palmer, Orioles won :(. 4. In both 1978 and 79, Larry Bird playing against my NMSU Aggies. 5. Reggie Jackson hitting a monstrous homerun to centerfield against the Rangers in 1980. 6. 2011 - Our Giants beating the Dallas Cowboys featuring Eli Manning and company.

Side dishes: MJ, Kobe, Duncan. C. Paul. Gooden, Jeter, Brett, Munson, Reggie, Schmidt. Giants 85 team, 2007 Week two thrashing at the hands of Favre, 2018 home opener with SB’s first NFL TD.

RG3 his rookie season against the Gmen, Ricky Davis the Bball player or Tiki for me

Here in Denmark I would say Eric Djemba Djemba the soccer player.

DRose in a preseason game.

Baseball - Mantle, Mays, Seaver, Palmer, Frank Robinson, Yaz, Bench, Rose, Ripken jr., Brett, Rickey Henderson, Munson, Reggie, Guidry, Gossage, Mattingly, Jeter and more.

Football - Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Namath, Bob Lilly, Staubach, Joe Greene, Bradshaw, Swann, LT, Harry Carson, Bo Jackson, Montana, Rice, Lott, Riggins, Reggie White, Dan Fouts, Marino, Marcus Allen and more.

Hockey - Orr, Park, Ratelle, Gilbert, Gretzky, Messier, Leetch

Basketball - Willis, Clyde, DR J, Earl Monroe, Wilt, West, Kareem, Oscar, Magic, Bird, Jordan

Golf - Nicklaus, Tiger

Tennis - McEnroe, Borg, Connors, Nadal, Federer

.

In comment 15214750 arniefez said:

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Baseball - Mantle, Mays, Seaver, Palmer, Frank Robinson, Yaz, Bench, Rose, Ripken jr., Brett, Rickey Henderson, Munson, Reggie, Guidry, Gossage, Mattingly, Jeter and more. Football - Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Namath, Bob Lilly, Staubach, Joe Greene, Bradshaw, Swann, LT, Harry Carson, Bo Jackson, Montana, Rice, Lott, Riggins, Reggie White, Dan Fouts, Marino, Marcus Allen and more. Hockey - Orr, Park, Ratelle, Gilbert, Gretzky, Messier, Leetch Basketball - Willis, Clyde, DR J, Earl Monroe, Wilt, West, Kareem, Oscar, Magic, Bird, Jordan Golf - Nicklaus, Tiger Tennis - McEnroe, Borg, Connors, Nadal, Federer

My list is similar except delete Golf and the later part of Tennis, and add soccer - Zidane, Messi and others.

At rancho park golf course in l.a......still looks like he could play, very broad shoulders, willie McGinnis at lax, bigger than l.t....jerry clooney in New Jersey train station, he is tall.....

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.

.

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.