10 Athletes It Would Be Wrong To See Don Another Jersey
There are some athletes in today’s world of sports that will seemingly never play for a team other than their current club.
Certain players are synonymous with their teams, and wrapping one’s head around the notion that they may play for a different team is just not plausible.
While there are a handful of athletes that it is almost unimaginable to see playing for another team, stranger things have happened.
There was once a time when seeing Brett Favre, Michael Jordan, or Joe Montana in a different uniform was thought to be ludicrous.
Here’s a list of 10 athletes who just wouldn’t look right wearing a different uniform.
10. Tim Duncan
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The 34-year-old Wake Forest product has spent each of his 14 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.
Early in his career, he teamed up with David Robinson to form the game’s most dominant frontcourt. Robinson has been retired for years, and Duncan has been the face of the franchise ever since.
Duncan is a 13-time All-Star, has been named to the All-NBA First Team on nine occasions, made All-Defensive First Team eight times, was the 1998 Rookie of the Year and is a three-time NBA Finals MVP.
Duncan’s Spurs have won four NBA titles, four more than the organization had won upon his arrival in San Antonio.
9. Jonathan Toews
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At the age of 22, “Captain Serious” is by far the youngest player on this list.
Thus far during his short time as a professional, Toews has captained his team to a Stanley Cup, won a Conn Smythe Trophy, and an Olympic Gold Medal for Team Canada.
Not a bad resume, for anyone, especially a youngster such as Toews.
He is the youngest captain ever in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks, and set multiple franchise records with his performance in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In addition to his elite play on the ice, Toews has quickly become one of the most popular athletes the city of Chicago has had in quite some time.
Toews will forever have a place in the hearts of Blackhawks fans after helping bring the Stanley Cup back to the city.
Last year, Toews signed a five-year contract extension. A ten-year-plus deal could be in the works down the road, as Toews reaches the level of Blackhawk greats Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita.
8. Mariano Rivera
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At the age of 41, it is highly unlikely Mariano Rivera will ever suit up for an MLB team not named the New York Yankees.
However, that does not mean it’s easy to fathom the very sight of it.
Rivera has spent his entire MLB career in the Bronx, and will go down as one of the best ever to play for the storied franchise.
“Mo” is an 11-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion, has won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award five times, and is currently second all-time with 559 saves.
When the closer position is brought up, there’s a good chance Rivera is the first to be thought of. And he’s thought of as a Yankee.
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7. Martin Brodeur
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Arguably the best goaltender in the history of hockey, Martin Brodeur has spent each of his 16 NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
Over that span, Brodeur has led the team to three Stanley Cup championships, and has taken the team to the playoffs every season but one.
The legendary goalie has been hampered by injuries this season, but that does not detract from the greatness he displayed for the better half of the last two decades.
He is the NHL’s all-time leader in regular season wins, shutouts, and games played. “Marty” is also the only goalie in NHL history to record eight 40-win seasons.
The sight of anyone not named Brodeur in net for New Jersey is strange enough. The sight of Brodeur between the pipes for another NHL team would be downright awkward.
6. Paul Pierce
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When it’s all said and done, Paul Pierce will go down as one of the greatest to ever play for the Boston Celtics, joining company such as Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Bill Russell, to name a few.
Pierce has spent each of his 13 glorious NBA seasons with the Celtics. During his tenure as a Celtic, the city has seen the likes of Ray Bourque, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez and Randy Moss come and go.
Pierce has been a staple of the Boston sports scene.
“The Truth” led Boston to the 2008 NBA Title, won MVP for his performance during those Finals and is a nine-time all-star.
Winning the title in 2008 removed the gorilla off his back and cemented his legacy in Celtic lore.
5. Tom Brady
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Three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, six-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL MVP.
These are just some of the accolades Brady has amassed during his 11-year NFL career.
The 33-year old quarterback has been arguably the best player in the NFL over the last decade or so, drawing comparisons to, among others, Joe Montana.
Brady has already cemented his legacy as the best Patriot ever, as well as his bust in Canton. That bust will list him as a member of the New England Patriots, the only team it’s conceivable to see him playing for.
4. Peyton Manning
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When the Indianapolis Colts selected Peyton Manning with the first overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, the franchise had hit rock bottom. They were terrible, and quite irrelevant in Indianapolis.
Insert Manning, and the fortunes of the entire organization were forever transformed.
Manning has led Indianapolis to 11 playoff appearances, including a current streak of nine consecutive playoff berths.
Manning led the team to a victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XVI, a performance for which he received MVP honors.
In addition, Manning has been named to 11 Pro Bowls, is a five-time First-team All-Pro selection, and four times has been named NFL MVP.
In recent history, there has been no NFL player who has meant more to his team than Manning has to the Colts. Manning and the team are working on a contract extension that will ensure he retires a Colt.
3. Albert Pujols
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Pujols is St. Louis. He has spent his entire career as a Cardinal, brought them a title, is the face of the franchise, and his charitable work around the community has done wonders to endear himself to St. Louis residents.
Pujols is a free agent after the coming MLB season, and negotiations with the team have not been progressing.
A potential doomsday scenario is fast-approaching for Cardinals fans.
Since breaking through to the Major League level in 2001, Pujols has dominated for the Cardinals, becoming the most-feared hitter of his era in the process.
Nine All-Star appearances, three MVP awards, six Silver Sluggers and one World Series title highlight the accomplishments Pujols has amassed with the Cardinals.
There’s a very real possibility this is Albert’s last season in St. Louis. That doesn’t mean it’s easy imagining him anywhere else.
2. Kobe Bryant
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Everyone knows Kobe Bryant. Regardless of whether someone is a sports fan, they are well aware of Kobe Bryant.
He is as well-known as any athlete in the world today. He has been in the NBA for 15 seasons, all of which have been with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Love him or hate him, the “Black Mamba” is one of the best ever to play basketball, and he has been the face of the Los Angeles sports scene since Shaq’s departure.
In 15 seasons, Bryant has won five NBA Titles, twice has won Finals MVP, is a 13-time All-Star, has won two scoring titles and is an eight-time First-Team All-NBA selection.
Trade rumors have swirled around Bryant in the past, but those rumors have taught us one lesson—Kobe isn’t going anywhere.
1. Derek Jeter
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The New York Yankees are the most prominent, and most successful franchise in all of North American sports.
Their history boasts the likes of Yogi Berra, Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth, to name a few of their 34 Hall-of-Famers.
Derek Jeter is the next person to be added to that list.
He has been the face of this storied franchise throughout his 16-year career.
Jeter has won five World Series titles with the Bronx Bombers, is an 11-time All-Star and has won five Gold Gloves at shortstop.
His clutch play in October has ensured he will go down as one of the best ever to play for the Yankees.
Jeter is more synonymous with the Yankee pinstripes than any other professional athlete is with their team.
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