Who are the most intimidating athletes ever...I know
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by user Shrubbery
Few athletes achieve true greatness. Fewer still actually strike fear into the marrow of their foes. The following athletes are, in my humble estimation, the most intimidating athletes in sports history.
- Dick Butkus-No one in the history of professional football played with more maniacal intensity than Butkus. He didn’t just hit people, he meant to destroy them. Those who played against him learned to fear this monster, a bringer of pain, a harvester of ruin. Butkus admittedly played every game as if it were his last.
- Bob Gibson-Hank Aaron has this to say about Bob Gibson, “Don't dig in against Bob Gibson, he'll knock you down. Don't stare at him. He doesn't like it. If you happen to hit a home run, don't run too slow, don't run too fast. If you happen to want to celebrate, get in the tunnel first. And if he hits you, don't charge the mound, because he's a Gold Glove boxer.” There’s really nothing else to say.
- Lawrence Taylor-The man cut a swath of destruction through opposing offenses for more than decade. Perhaps more so than any player in NFL history, offenses had to account for LT’s whereabouts at all times. He was a ferocious pass rusher and blew up running plays at will…if you ran at him he’d mercilessly stuff the play, if you ran away from him he’d break a block and chase the play down from behind. Joe Montana was once quoted as saying Taylor was the only player he truly feared.
- Scott Stevens-If you went through the neutral zone with your head down while Stevens was on the ice you were taking your life into your own hands, just ask Eric Lindros, Paul Kariya, Thomas Keberle, Joe Thorton, Ron Francis, and Daymond Langkow. Stevens’ hits put guys on stretchers and ended careers. It’s damn hard to instill dread in a hockey player but Stevens did just that, with cold efficiency.
- Ronnie Lott-What’s there to say about a man who had his finger amputated rather than miss playing time? Not much. Lott was pound-for-pound the most brutal hitter in NFL history. If he didn’t scare opposing offensive players he should have. His thunderous hit on Ickey Woods that nearly decapitated the Bengals’ star was a pivotal moment in Super Bowl XXIII and one of the most infamous hits in NFL history.
- Jack Lambert-Guys with no front teeth who play in a rugged sport just look tough. And boy was Lambert tough. His intensity and grit set him apart from others of his era. Lambert was the heart of arguably the best defense ever assembled. Nicknamed “Jack the Ripper” Lambert snarled in anticipation of the punishment he loved doling out. He had a maniacal disposition on the field; he’d often twitch and bounce before the snap. He enjoyed hitting, loved it, reveled in it, and exuded as much.
- Mike Tyson-During his epic run between 1984-1990, Tyson not only beat his competition, he shattered them, disgraced them, left them bloodied on the canvas. The devastation he brought to the ring was unreal; he rarely needed more than three rounds to obliterate his opponent. Most were beaten before Tyson even entered the ring, intimidated by the nastiest glare in sports history. Did I mention he’s dabbled in the cannibalistic arts?
- Bob Probert-This guy was maybe the most frightening enforcer in the NHL. The list of his many fight opponents is a veritable who’s who of hockey bad asses: Tie Domi, Todd Ewen, Troy Crowder, Donald Brashear, Stu "The Grim Reaper" Grimson, Bob McGill, Dave Semenko, and "Big" Jay Caufield. In 1994 Probert squared off with fellow ruffian Marty McSorley in a fight that lasted 100 seconds, or nearly two minutes, an altercation that to this day may be the best one-on-one fight in NHL history. Probert is also fourth all-time with over 3,300 penalty minutes.
- Tiger Woods-Anyone who’s seen Woods live knows the ball thunders off his driver like no one ever. The sound hurts your ears. And the ball lands 300 yards down the middle of the fairway. Tiger is clutch with the putter as well. And he’s pretty good with his short game. He’s so good and he seems completely unflappable. If it’s possible for a golfer to be intimidating Tiger has done it, through skill and talent alone.
- Ray Nitschke-This Hall of Fame linebacker was the anchor of a defense that helped the Green Bay Packers win three consecutive championships, including Super Bowl I & II. Teammate Bart Star said Nitschke enjoyed hitting people. Nitschke was a savage run stopper and excellent coverage guy, not to mention a mean streak a mile wide.
- Tie Domi-As far as goons go Domi may have been the most cut throat and menacing brawler in NHL history. In a sport replete with toughness Domi was a living legend for his willingness to take on anyone anywhere anytime. In an infamous incident a fan of an opposing team was incensed when Domi squirted water on him, the wayward fan fell into the penalty box wherein Domi sat, and the short tempered Domi ruthlessly pummeled him until security arrived. Domi had a couple legendary fights with Bob Probert that lasted well over a minute. Domi’s fighting style was dubbed “The Spin Cycle”.
- Bobby Clark-Part of the infamous “Broad Street Bullies”, perhaps the most intimidating team ever assembled in any sport, Clark was the lynch pin of multiple Stanley Cup winners. One of seven players on the squad to accumulate 100+ penalty minutes in the ’74-’75 season, Clarke typified the Philadelphia Flyers tough, hard nosed style. He was intense, ruthless, and nasty.
- Chuck Bednarik-The infamous hit that knocked out Frank Gifford is controversial to this day. Gifford is adamant that the hit was dirty and blatantly improper. Bednarik insists, in his own affable manner, that Gifford is a whiner and the hit was legit. We may never know and the two old-school warriors won’t speak to each other to this day. What is known is Bednarik’s take-no-prisoners style was legendary. He was one of the most reviled defenders of his era.
- Greg Lloyd-Far from the most dominant athlete on this list, though he was quite good, Lloyd may have been the most sadistically rabid linebacker of his generation. In an interview, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young admitted Lloyd was the one defensive player he was most afraid of. Lloyd’s intensity was unmatched and his scowl as he prowled the sidelines even made Bill Cower recoil at times.
- Nolan Ryan-Just ask any major leaguer who ever faced Ryan how it felt to face a 98mph fastball that could whistle by your ear at any moment. It’s not indicative of a lack of control of his pitches but illustrative of the willingness to bean any batter with high heat. Ryan owns the MLB record for most strikeouts (5,714) and no-hitters (seven), and is tied with Bob Feller with twelve one hitters. Ryan was a fearsome competitor who shied away from nothing. In 1993 Ryan hit Robin Ventura with a fastball, an enraged Ventura charged the mound, and Ryan secured Ventura’s head and delivered seven stiff punches before the two were separated.
- Bill Russell-Although records for blocked shots weren’t kept in his era some estimate Russell may have averaged over ten blocks per game. He altered shots with his mere presence and at 6’9” may be the best rebounder and defensive player ever. Russell played with a demonic intensity that belied an astonishing intellect and team-first philosophy. His surly off-court demeanor even intimidated the press, with whom Russell had a testy relationship at best. Russell changed forever the way defense was played in the NBA. Oh, he also won eleven NBA titles.
- Randy Johnson-At 6’10” Johnson is one of the tallest baseball players ever. With a fastball that’s routinely clocked at 100mph, the signature mullet and goatee, and a downright vicious demeanor, Johnson cuts an imposing figure on the mound. Ad to this a notorious early-career perception of a stunning lack of control not many hitters have felt truly comfortable guarding the plate with “The Big Unit” throwing fastballs. Everyone remembers the All-Star Game when Johnson faced off against John Kruk. We also remember the look of utter terror in Kruk’s eyes as a pitch smoked wildly over his head. Kruk may have actually wet his pants.
- Jack Tatum-He may be the most hated man in to ever play in the NFL. Tatum was a self-professed assassin on the field and carried himself that way. In his first game he knocked out Baltimore Colts’ tight ends John Mackey and Tom Mitchell. Tatum was ruthless…after paralyzing Patriots’ receiver Daryl Stingley in a 1978 pre-season game Tatum allegedly never visited Stingley nor apologized. To this day he still expresses no regret about the incident. In a twist of poetic irony Tatum now has to use a wheel chair often times because of the debilitating effects of diabetes.
- George Foreman-The very same griddle-selling goofball was once one of he most brutal heavyweight boxers ever. He routinely knocked out his competition with absurd ease. Foreman annihilated Joe Frazier in the second round to win the heavyweight title, a belt he held until the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle”. To this day he is still considered the hardest punching boxer ever.
Date
Fri 08/25/06, 1:07 pm EST
