Top 50 Detroit Athletes of All-Time

[kalinecountry]

http://blog.detroitathletic.com/top-50-detroit-athletes/
The Top 50 Detroit Athletes of All-Time.
from Detroit Athletic

 

[hellifino]

Turkey Stearnes got hosed!

 

[kalinecountry]

Turkey Stearnes got hosed!

Coulda/shoulda been ranked higher, and when they had a pregame tribute for him a couple of years ago, I was thinking why not a statue for him too, or the very least a place with his name on the wall. iirc there was just a framed pic/bust of him some place at the park.
Maybe someone can give us the exact location and info.

I was also wondering how/why Lem Barney was left off a top 50.

 

[byco42]

Before I saw Kaline's post, I also wondered how Lem Barney is not in the top 25, let alone left off the list altogether. Other players ranked too high: Gibson and Horton.

 

[kalinecountry]

Before I saw Kaline's post, I also wondered how Lem Barney is not in the top 25, let alone left off the list altogether. Other players ranked too high: Gibson and Horton.

and Byco now that I think of it, another Lions D/back, Dick LeBeau.
Lions have had many great CB and Safeties on this list and these two left off.

 

[byco42]

Seems to me that you'd start with the HOF'ers from the four major sports and see where that got you. Charlie Sanders is #50 and Lou Whitaker in the 30s? I don't think so.

 

[tycobb420]

Before I saw Kaline's post, I also wondered how Lem Barney is not in the top 25, let alone left off the list altogether. Other players ranked too high: Gibson and Horton.

Gibson is probably just right considering he was also a MSU star

 

[tomdalton22]

Barry Sanders was hands down the best athlete. If they are counting chamionships I can understand how he isn't #1. Other than that I don't get it.

 

[biggunsbob]

Freaking no Lem Barney... I am pissed...

 

[Thumb]

Barry Sanders was hands down the best athlete. If they are counting chamionships I can understand how he isn't #1. Other than that I don't get it.

Sanders is up there yes, but Howe meant more to hockey than Sanders to football.

I'd rank the top 5, 1 for each sport based on their total impact on the game:

1. Howe

2. Cobb

3. Sanders

4. Louis

5. Thomas

 

[tycobb420]

I thought Sawchuck should be top 10...

 

[mhughes0021]

Im on the Sanders train for #1. Best ever at the position hands down imo.

 

[jimrice]

I think Tommy Hearns is a bit underrated, too.

 

[chrisinthed]

Lidstrom ranked behind Ted Lindsay? Huh?

 

[jdeb]

I think Tommy Hearns is a bit underrated, too.

I agree. He was the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions. That fight with Haggler was the best I had ever seen. Hearnes had no business fighting him but darn near knocked him out. He was amazing and a great guy to boot.

 

[uofmpoweri]

Those top 3 are hard to beat. I think that Cobb should be number one, but I can live with the other two as well. Barry Sanders can't compete with those three heavyweights.

 

[kingofdetroit57]

I've got lots of issues with this list. Fedorov at #36? No Calvin Johnson or Pavel Datsyuk? Sanders at #5 and Cobb at #3? Layne at #7? Tram ahead of Crawford, Kell and Heilmann? Horton at #28 and ahead of Stearns? Lane at #40? Zetterberg makes the list ahead of Chelios, Hull, Shanahan, Konstantinov, Larionov, Kozlov and Ciccarelli? How about some love for Lem Barney, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman?

 

[kalinecountry]

I've got lots of issues with this list. Fedorov at #36? No Calvin Johnson or Pavel Datsyuk? Sanders at #5 and Cobb at #3? Layne at #7? Tram ahead of Crawford, Kell and Heilmann? Horton at #28 and ahead of Stearns? Lane at #40? Zetterberg makes the list ahead of Chelios, Hull, Shanahan, Konstantinov, Larionov, Kozlov and Ciccarelli? How about some love for Lem Barney, Lomas Brown and Chris Spielman?

You make some good points.
They should have done better with a Top 100.

 

[tinselwolverine]

I think Tommy Hearns is a bit underrated, too.

I agree. He was the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions. That fight with Haggler was the best I had ever seen. Hearnes had no business fighting him but darn near knocked him out. He was amazing and a great guy to boot.

Hearns had plenty of business fighting Hagler; he just chose a stupid fight plan.

Totally played to Hagler's strengths and not to Hearns's own strengths at all.

I would have gone with Howe #1 as well.

Does anybody remember Barry Sanders ever picking up a first down on 3rd and short to extend a drive to extend a season?

Ever, even one time?

 

[byco42]

Howe is #1 by a wide margin. Could have played professional baseball as well.