My Dad's List of Favorite Athletes Is Cooler Than Yours
If you are a fan of sports, you are likely a fan of the stars who play them, too. Whether you cheer for some or all of the industry's top athletes, you most likely have a select group that includes only the ones you love the most.
This, of course, is far from a new development. Before us, our fathers had favorite athletes, too.
My father, for example, was basically born a sports enthusiast—in 1949—and looked to the 1960s, '70s and '80s for athletes to embrace.
And just like the rest of us crazies, he had very specific standards for those he grew to cherish. Though my father's favorite athletes played a wide array of sports and for many different teams, they all emerged from a similar mold, one that set each athlete on a path toward bold transcendence.
For my father—and I'm sure many others—athletic achievement surely mattered but wasn't everything. Every bit as much, he valued one-of-a-kind game-changing athletes, specifically those who had dynamic personalities and made lasting impressions. In short, he was drawn to the stars who had that extra "it" factor, the ones who were more than athletes and bigger than their respective sports.
He pulled for Arnold Palmer, who with his infectious and relatable personality helped moved golf in a new direction, from a sport for the elite to a sport for everyone.
In a similar vein, my father also fell for Jim Brown, who—at the time—was not only the best running back in the world but one of its best and most principled men, too.
And even today, as he remains as big a sports fan as ever, the athletes my father favors have at least some connection to those he embraced generations ago.
Shaquille O'Neal, for instance, was as powerful and unique a presence off the court as he was on it. And the same could be said about Tim Tebow, who lured my father in not just with his bulldozing runs and timely throws but with his humble and enlightened mission away from the gridiron, which the legendary leader always put into proper perspective.
With these profound giants in mind, we've created a longer list of 10 in an effort to celebrate and honor Father's Favorite Athletes.
Most made their mark in generations past, though some of my father's favorite stars rocked the sports world far more recently. But even through their distinct differences, they were essentially the same: like no one else seen before.
Did we forget anyone?
Muhammad Ali
1 of 10
My father wasn't the only man to root for Muhammad Ali during his prime.
Let's be honest: There was a lot to like about the former champ.
From flash and style in the ring to charisma and substance out of it, Ali was truly the total package.
More than just a legendary boxer, Ali was a transcendent personality, too, who entertained the masses when he wasn't making profound political and social statements.
Like the rest of my father's favorite athletes, Ali was much more than that; he was an American icon with deep historical significance during a period of infamous tumult and world-altering change.
Larry Bird
2 of 10
Like Ali, Larry Bird was a one-of-a-kind athlete, too, transcending the hardwood in the 1980s.
Though he didn't possess the dynamic personality demonstrated by some of my father's other favorites, Bird remained unique nonetheless and approached his sport admirably, the right way.
Overcoming a relative lack of athleticism with fundamentals, intelligence and the best jumper around, Bird was the NBA's best representation of the "everyman" and gained a mass following as a result.
Of course, he was an all-time great champion, too—a three-time NBA champ, to be exact—and demonstrated the extent to which hard work and dedication could make up for a perceived lack of innate talent.
Sure, it may have been a lie—he was a true NBA legend, blessed with great size, rare coordination and the sweetest of sweet strokes—but the average fan saw a part of themselves in Bird, which—unless you were a Laker fan—was quite appealing.
To his most passionate fans, Larry Legend stood as far more than a simple basketball player; he was the symbol for life's most wholesome and humble values, and was clutch to boot.
Shaquille O'Neal
3 of 10
We exit the '70s and '80s for a moment to highlight a more modern representation of my father's rooting tendencies.
Though a whole lot younger, Shaquille O'Neal embodied many of the same characteristics that were valued and embraced decades prior.
Larger than life and the game, Shaq was an unparalleled athlete—mobile, agile and skilled despite being uniquely huge—with an infectious personality.
On the court, O'Neal dominated opponents in a physical manner never seen before and—on his way to four NBA titles—stood as his generation's most impactful talent.
More importantly, in between games, The Big Aristotle defied odds and expectations, proving to be one of the smartest, most insightful and instantaneously quotable athletes in all of sports, doing so at a time when others were comparatively tight-lipped.
Just like the other athletes on our list, there was much more to Shaq than the game he played.
While his dunks moved baskets, his personality moved the needle.
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Dan Marino
4 of 10
As a unabashed Miami Dolphin fan at the time, it's not all that hard to understand why my father so passionately loved Dan Marino, who was clearly the best and most influential player in franchise history.
And while he wasn't quite as transcendent off the field as some of the other athletes on our list—though, we should at least acknowledge, he won the 1998 NFL Man of the Year award and has appeared in multiple movies, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective—Marino was a historically transcendent talent on it.
At a time when offenses seldom looked downfield, Marino used a cannon-like arm, the quickest of quick releases, exceptional vision and a rare football sense to take the game where it had never gone before.
“We’ve become accustomed to those kinds of statistics with this current generation of quarterbacks,” says Jim Lampley, the broadcaster and television personality who did pre- and postgame work at the 1985 Super Bowl, per Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated.
“Back then, if you completed 18 of 35 passes, you had a whale of a game. But we hadn’t seen anybody throw it the way Marino could. He’s the first guy I remember who could make the back-shoulder throw. He had a unique arm. Unbelievable velocity.”
Of course, hindsight is 20-20, but even in the moment, men like my father and Newsweek's Pete Axthelm knew they were witnessing something special.
"Marino is not just what some coaches call an impact player, a man who drastically alters the personality of the team," wrote Axthelm. "He is a quantum-leap player who is changing the entire nature of his art."
And Axthelm's words would prove prophetic: By the time he was ready to call it quits, Marino had cemented himself as the most prolific quarterback in NFL history, exiting the game as its all-time leader in touchdown passes (420), yardage (61,367), completions (4,967) and attempts (83,58).
In the end, Marino never had as much to say off the field as athletes like Ali or O'Neal, but on the field his game spoke volumes, and my father listened intently.
Arnold Palmer
5 of 10
At a time when most golf fans pulled for the legendary Jack Nicklaus, my father actually preferred Arnold Palmer.
Again—in keeping with the theme—his love for Palmer was derived from far more than simple results.
More specifically, it wasn't that Palmer won; it was how he won.
He brought his dynamic but accessible personality everywhere he went—golf course included—and was as exciting a golfer as any around.
Stylistically, Palmer was bold, never conservative. He always went for broke and was a master at coming from behind.
Most importantly, though, The King transformed the game. His humble past and approachable disposition helped rid golf of its somewhat discriminatory feel, opening the sport's doors to upper-class and working-class folk alike, my father included.
Tiger Woods
6 of 10
Sure, Tiger Woods has made his fair share of mistakes, but even now he remains one of the most popular athletes in the world.
And when he was playing his absolute best, from atop the golfing world, no one could resist rooting for the fearsome feline.
Just like my father's other favorite athletes, Tiger—his brand and personality included—was bigger than his sport, bringing golf to the casual masses like no other athlete could.
He did so with an unprecedented sense of flair, fire and athletic determination, ensuring that golf was forever a "sport" and never just a "game" again.
His skill and power were captivating for sure, but it was the mental edge he brought to the course that inspired envy and admiration.
At his best, Tiger was the kind of golfer fans loved to watch, and the type of warrior we all hoped to emulate.
Pete Rose
7 of 10
Before he introduced us to all the skeletons living in his closet, Pete Rose was one of the most popular athletes in sports.
And honestly, it's pretty easy to understand why.
Simply put, he played baseball the way, as kids, we're taught to play any sport: full effort all the time.
No one cared about the game more than Rose. No one dug deeper or hustled harder than Rose, who —not coincidentally—quickly became known as Charlie Hustle. And no one accomplished more: He still holds the all-time record for total hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215).
In an astonishing 24 seasons, Rose won three World Series rings, three batting titles, an MVP award and two Gold Gloves, all while earning 17 All-Star appearances at an unfathomable five different positions.
Though his image has been tarnished since his illustrious playing days, Rose nonetheless remains one of the most prolific and popular players in baseball history. He accomplished it all—and inspired those watching—by playing the game harder and with more passion than anyone had before.
Tim Tebow
8 of 10
Consistent with my father's other favorite athletes, Tim Tebow was a college star unlike any other.
While winning two national titles and a Heisman Trophy during his playing days at Florida, Tebow transformed the way we think about the quarterback position. His ability to pass the football while bringing a physical run dimension to the position represented—at that time—an unprecedented skill set.
Of course, his bowling-ball approach and lengthy list of accomplishments tell only half the story.
In truth, what made Tebow so appealing to my father and others was his contagious passion, impressive perspective and overall outlook on sports which was as unique as it was admirable.
Like few before him, Tebow put football in its proper place, well below many of life's other, far more important priorities like family, community service, health and happiness.
Never just an athlete, Tebow simply happened to become the ultimate football player while on a quest to become the world's ultimate role model.
And I think it's safe to say: mission accomplished!
Jimmy Connors
9 of 10
As we make our way toward the end of the list, it's time now to take a closer look at the great Jimmy Connors, yet another dynamic athlete with a more-than-boisterous personality.
In the past, when I've asked my father what he liked so much about the cunning Connors, without hesitation he spoke about his fiery personality, edgy demeanor and anti-establishment attitude.
To my father and many others, Connors was the true bad boy of tennis, a role plenty found appealing.
His on-court antics—though sometimes grotesque and inappropriate—were designed to energize the game and excite the crowd. And whether you liked him or not, his strategy worked far more often than not.
But beyond all the fun and games, Connors was also a legendary athlete and the ultimate competitor.
“His biggest weapons were an indomitable spirit, a two-handed backhand and the best service return in the game," wrote Larry Schwartz of ESPN. "It is difficult to say which was more instrumental in Connors becoming a champion. ... Though smaller than most of his competitors, Connors didn’t let it bother him, making up for a lack of size with determination.”
And "make up" for it he did.
By the end of his career, Connors had reached more Grand Slam quarterfinal matches than any player not named Roger Federer. He also won an impressive eight Grand Slam singles titles and an Open Era record 109 ATP-listed singles events.
But he was beloved by my father and others for much more than the wins. In the end, Connors was cherished for his unrelenting approach to both tennis and life, a trait millions grew to admire.
Jim Brown
10 of 10
Though my father grew up in Cleveland, you didn't have to do so to outwardly love the great Jim Brown.
Even to this day, most—Sporting News included—still consider Brown the greatest football player of all time.
He attacked his sport—and those attempting to tackle him—with a venerable vengeance, running over anyone or anything is his path.
It comes as no surprise, then, that Brown famously told former NFL tight end John Mackey, "Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts."
By the time Brown was done punishing the league, he was the NFL's record holder for both single-season (1,863) and career rushing yards (12,312) as well as its all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (106), total touchdowns (126) and all-purpose yards (15,549).
Just as important—and beyond his captivating style of play—the Cleveland legend did it all while standing proud and marching to his own beat.
Brown, for example, unexpectedly retired while in his prime, and after just nine years in the league—an unprecedented move that shocked the sports world. He was a well-known civil rights activist and the founder of Amer-I-Can as well.
At every turn, then, Jim Brown was far more than a football player. He was a world-class athlete as well as a world-class man who found success in life by exploring his own passions in his own way—and much better than everyone else.
Follow Janovitz on Twitter @BrainTrain9
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