Fun-to-Watch Non-Star Athletes
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by user I am a cpcp
Every team has one or two players that, while they aren't the best player on the team, become fan favorites because they work hard and fun to watch. They never go on to bigger and better things, and maybe even get to play a year or two in the bigs, but for years they are the topic of conversations starting with, "Hey, do you remember that one guy... what was his name..."
Here's a small tribute to some of my favorite, fun-to-watch Athletes. Most of them will be from Cleveland since its much easier to find these guys on your favorite team that you follow every day. I also only have players from NBA and MLB, I couldn't think of anyone for the NFL, I don't think there is really a place for these kind of guys to show up in football.
NBA:
Steve Kerr - He's the biggest name on this list, but Kerr never received the recognition he deserved. Eleven stright playoff apperances in a career spanning 15 years. But Kerr wasn't about being the star. He was about being the piece a team needed to get a championship. Something Kerr ended his career with five of.
Jud Buechler - How could you not have loved to watch Jud play? Great name, great shot, great guy. The Bulls had several guys from their championship teams that could make this list, but I'll stop after these two.
Anderson Varejao - Actually I think Verejao has the potential to become an All-Star. But for now he's an off-the-radar big energy rebound specialist that reminds me of a certain "Worm" patrolling the boards.
MLB:
John McDonald - Johnny Mac is still around and doing his usual average guy thing. He was one of my favorite Indians for a long time and I was sad to see him go.
Jolbert Cabrera - Maybe just because if was so much fun to say his name with a hard "J."
Chris Magruder - This guy didn't have the body to be a major leaguer, but he had the heart. I was sitting in right field at the Jake this one time when Magruder sprinted forty or so yards and dove at a foul ball. He came up just short and the resident drunken idiots in the stands didn't shut up about it the rest of the game. I felt really bad for the guy, he didn't deserve it.
Jody Gerut - I miss Jody Gerut. The trade that took him away was a sad one. Actually, the biggest reason I was a Jody Gerut fan was because we were at his major league debut and when he was announced, I said, "Jody? They got a guy named Jody?" And Jody ripped one out of the park. He quickly earned my respect.
Who's the fun-to-watch Non-Stars on your teams?
Date
Sat 07/08/06, 11:36 am EST
