20 Sports Persnoalities and their Comic Book Counterparts

This weekend is the 11th annual Baltimore Comic-Con, and even though it isn't as well known as its San Diego counterpart, I feel like giving it some love here on Bleacher Report.

So here is my list of 20 Sports Personalities and their Comic Book Counter Parts. Enjoy.

Darrell Green is the Flash

Not much explaining needs to go into this comparison.  Darrell Green was not only the NFL's fastest man four consecutive times, but he also, as a track star in college at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) set and still holds several track and field records for the state of Texas.

Also for his entire NFL career he wore Burgandy and Gold, very similar colors to the Flash.

Michael Jordan/Mr. Fantastic

Michael Jordan, his Air-ness, was maybe the hardest to decide on.

The man is virtually super-human all by himself.

I settled on Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic 4 for two reasons.

First off, the name.  MJ was nothing short of fantastic for his entire career in the NBA.

Secondly, have you seen some of the moves around and under the basket?

There is no way he could have made some of the lay-ups and dunks he did without the ability for his limbs to stretch just like Mr. Fantastic.

Joe Montana/Superman

The man has four Super Bowl rings, and three Super Bowl MVPs, he is truly more "Super" than anyone else on this list.

Not to mention, when you watch old NFL films about the 80s 49ers, on several occasions players refer to Mr. Montana as Superman.

Also lets face it, a helmet with a facemask is a better diguise than a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

Brett Favre/Wolverine

Say what you will about his flip-flopping about retirement all you want.

There isn't anyone in the NFL as tough as the ageless wonder that is Brett Favre.

And much like his Marvel Comic Book counter part, Favre won't quit, and seemingly doesn't, age.

And much like Wolverine's government alias Weapon-X, Brett Favre has been brought back out of retirement not once, not twice, but three times to be the X-Factor in getting a team to the Super Bowl.

Cal Ripken Jr./Iron Man

He may not be as tech-savvy as Tony Stark, but Cal Ripken Jr. was certainly Iron Man.

His record of 2,632 consecutive games played will probably never be broken, and to play that many games without injury or sickness shows you he may have been more of a machine at times than man.

Much like the fictional Tony Stark became an ambassador for peace through out the world, Cal has been the same for baseball.  Traveling as far as Bejing, China to promote the sport.

Chad Ochocinco/The Joker

If you're the NFL Commissioner, you would probably consider Chad Ochocinco to be the Clown Prince of Crime.

No one player has been fined more for making goofs and jokes after scoring a touchdown.

Say what you will about him, not a single player out on the field is having as much fun as number 85.

Alexander Ovechkin is the Iceman

The ice part goes without saying for a hockey player, I guess, but there is more to this comparison.

Much like Bobby Drake, his X-Men counterpart Ovie is young, full of energy, and only cares about one thing, winning.

He's brash and confident and backs up everything he says.

Pat Tillman/Captain America

Pat Tillman sacrificed his career and his life for his country, NUFF SAID!

Ray Lewis/The Punisher

Just ask any NFL player unfortunate enough to have been hit by Lewis, and then you tell me why he's called the Punisher.

Shaq for better or for worse is Steel

He rocks the Superman symbol more than Clark Kent.  He's massive and powerful on the basketball court.  But that's not why he's Steel.

Nope, he's Steel because I'm never going to let him forget that God-awful interpretation of the comic book character that he put up on the big screen.  For shame Mr. O'Neal.

Rex Ryan is the Incredible Hulk

He's big, he's green, and half of what he says makes no damn sense.  You tell me who else in sports fits that bill better.

Darrelle Revis is the Merc with the Mouth Deadpool

Forget Ryan Reynolds and his portrayal of the Merc with the Mouth Deadpool from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The NFL has it's own version of a trash-talker who most certainly backs it all up.

Not to mention in true Mercenary form he now wants more money than he signed on to receive.

Drew Brees/Batman

The Dark Knight is the savior of Gotham City.

Drew Brees wasn't only the savior of the New Orleans Saints franchise, but for a city that had been down on its luck for so long. He may just be the savior of the city of New Orleans as well.

Jim Brown/The Juggernaut

Much like his Marvel Character counterpart, the Juggernaut, once Jim Brown got going forward, it was damn near impossilbe to stop him.

Dan Snyder and Lex Luthor are one and the same

Lex Luthor might be the most evil man in the DC Comics Universe. Ask anyone in DC (District of Columbia) who the most evil man in their Universe is.

Without hesitation, they'll say Dan Snyder.

Erin Andrews is Wonder Woman

It just takes one look at this beauty, and you don't have to wonder why she is the sports world's Wonder Woman.

Ha! You see what I did there? Okay, that was a bad pun, I'm sorry.

Nolan Ryan/Human Torch

Nolan Ryan had a flame-thrower of an arm, and could "Torch" any batter he faced.

With his trusty fastball, Ryan threw a record 5,714 career strikeouts and seven no-hitters.

Also, like any superhero, he knew how to fight too.  Just ask Robin Ventura, who in 1993 unwisely charged Ryan after being hit, just to get put in a headlock and beaten down.

Barry Bonds/Bane

Bane needed a performance enhancing drug (PED) called Venom to beat the Batman.

Barry Bonds allegedly needed PEDs to beat the single-season and career home run records.

To those in San Francisco, he's a hero. Everywhere else, well, he's seen as a villian.

Ubaldo Jimenez/Bullseye

Daredevil's nemesis Bulleye never misses his target, and this season it seems that Ubaldo Jimenez never misses the strike zone.

This season, he's 17-4 with 156 strike outs and a perfect game.  The comparison is clear as day to me.

Josh Hamilton/Hal Jordan

Hal Jordan was once the Green Lantern and then fell from grace.  After that, he had many incarnations before redeeming himself to once again take over the mantle of the Green Lantern.

Josh Hamilton was once considered a rookie phenom when he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999.

Then a battle with his own demons derailed his career until his resurgence in 2008 with the Texas Rangers.

Much like Jordan, Hamilton seems to have overcome his inner evil and has nothing but promise on the horizon.

The End

So, those are my Super Hero comparisons.  Feel free to post your own in the comments section.  Until next time, loyal reader, you can follow me on twitter @jomac006 for more comic book and sports amalgams.