OT: Who is the greatest athlete from your home town?

Submitted by aa_squared on January 17th, 2022 at 1:11 PM

I saw this topic on another site, so I thought it would be fun if I would bring it here.

I know that the larger cities have multiple GREAT athletes, but feel free to name 1 - 3 athletes, if possible, for the smaller towns/cities. 

I'll start it off with:

Hamtramck: Rudy Tomjanovich

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Rocking Chair

January 17th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^

Kalamazoo is home to Derek Jeter, Isaiah Livers and Greg Jennings--all proud Kalamazoo Central Giants.  And if it's not too much of a stretch, the current coach of the Wolverines called Kalamazoo home when his dad was coaching the Broncos and he was wearing #4 at the Big House.  

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 325

benash

January 17th, 2022 at 2:49 PM ^

For Lapeer, MI:

  • offensive lineman and 2008 first overall NFL draft pick Jake Long
  • and for runner up: let's go with former Detroit Lions tight end Rob Rubick, who gave us motivational speeches in elementary school

 

Joined: 12/07/2014

MGoPoints: 56

Pumafb

January 17th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^

Born Royal Oak - John Wangler or Jim Seymour

Raised - West Chester, OH - Ken Griffey Jr.

Currently live Hilton Head Island, SC - Dan Driessen, Poona Ford or potentially Jalen Sneed if he lives up to his 5 star status

Joined: 09/04/2015

MGoPoints: 1803

Ihatebux

January 17th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^

Not my hometown, but town next door - St. Joe, MI  --- Mike Gillette, kind of a jerk, but one of the best Kicker/Punters in UM history.   Also, starting Catcher for baseball team.

Joined: 09/11/2008

MGoPoints: 9401

RickSnow

January 17th, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^

Who is the greatest athlete from your home town? And also, what’s your email address and last 4 of your SSN?

Joined: 08/10/2017

MGoPoints: 8142

rjc

January 17th, 2022 at 3:14 PM ^

Birmingham and Rochester Hills kind of both qualify as hometown so probably Shane Battier or Alexi Lalas and I guess Eric Fischer (#1 overall pick to Chiefs in 2013) for RH.

Highschool: BJ Armstrong or DJ LaMaheiu.  Honorable mention to Mike Lodish, never a star but was a contributor in six Super Bowls, second only in appearances to TB, IIRC.

Joined: 02/12/2010

MGoPoints: 5297

jhayes1189

January 17th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^

Not my hometown, but that is my dad’s. He went to Brother Rice High School and talked a lot about how he was very good friends with the son of Earl Morrall, backup QB, but played most of the games for the undefeated 72’ dolphins. Also played middle school football against Johnny Wangler. 

Joined: 10/04/2021

MGoPoints: 6552

CraigB

January 17th, 2022 at 3:17 PM ^

My buddy Andrew if he didn't have his knee blown out freshman year in high school and then three more blowouts throughout high school. Had crazy potential and it's sad that he never got to reach it.

Some guys ended up playing in the minors, but I'll stick with my answer.

Joined: 02/20/2015

MGoPoints: 5011

TrueBlue2003

January 17th, 2022 at 4:29 PM ^

He was the first that came to mind as well.  And he's certainly the most financially successful. 

But you could argue Dathan Ritzenhein might have reached a higher level in his sport.

He was the national cross country champion his junior and senior years.

He finished 9th in marathon at the 2008 Olympics and was (supposedly) the first ever American to finish the race, among many other impressive distance running achievements.

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

UMfan21

January 17th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^

I dont think any famous athletes have come out of my particular high school.  But. As a suburb of Lansing, I guess the closest is Magic Johnson and John Smoltz

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 51255

truferblue22

January 17th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^

Livonia

 

This one is tough. The asshole Ryan Kessler comes to mind. We've also had quite a few other professional athletes through the years as well as an Olympic gold medalist swimmer (Sheila Taormina). 

 Mike Modano makes our wiki but he's really from Westland. Al Iafrate is another former NHL All-Star. Reading trough this list I'm stunned how many pro athletes we have TBH lol. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13364

MgoHillbilly

January 17th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^

Oddly enough, my Georgia hometown's two most famous have significant Michigan ties.

From hometown: Calvin Johnson

Current most famous resident of hometown: Chris Webber

 

Joined: 01/04/2017

MGoPoints: 24765

Blue Durham

January 17th, 2022 at 3:54 PM ^

It's kind of difficult to tell.  Do you mean where you grew up?  And at that time; but how long did they have to live in your home to qualify?  Or would it be where you live now? 

I'll guess where and when you grew up.

I lived in Cherry Hill, NJ from the ages of 4-18 (when I started college at a school in Ann Arbor, MI).  During that time, Muhamad Ali lived there for a few years, as did several Stanley Cup Champions of the Philadelphia Flyers (Bernie Parent, Gary Dornhoefer, and Bobby Clarke).  I met Clarke on several occasions (even during the summer before his first season with the Flyers) and once played golf with Dornhoefer.  

Pete Kugler attended my high school (was 2 years ahead of me) all 4 years, got a scholarship to Penn State and got a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers as a DT.  Orel Hershieser also attended my high school (was in my class), but only for a couple of years.  Had gym class with him one year.

Gene Shue (coach of the 76ers for a number of years) lived in my hometown, and my sister played high school B-ball with his older daughter and his younger daughter was in my class (and home room) all 4 years in high school. Both daughters were very pretty and quite nice.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 6082

McSomething

January 17th, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^

Burton

Paul Krause - Played at Iowa as a two-way starter (WR and DB). As a senior he tied the school record for TD receptions in a season with 6. Drafted by Washington in the 2nd round, and in his rookie season he picked off 12 passes to lead the league in 1964. Still holds the record for the most career interceptions in the NFL (81, retired after the 1979 season). Scored 6 TDs in his career, and ran for 1,185 yards on those 81 INTs. Inducted into the NFL HoF in 1998.

Tom Alward - played at Nebraska before being drafted by the New York Jets in 1975. Ended up with Tampa Bay in 1976 where he played guard. I believe a knee injury ended his playing career after that season. He ended back home as an assistant coach with his high school team (Bendle), before eventually taking over as head coach at Goodrich. He is still there, and has been for over 30 years.

Joined: 09/29/2010

MGoPoints: 36898

Harlan Huckleb…

January 17th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^

Traverse City, so the first name that comes to mind is “Thunder” Dan Majerle — CMU, Phoenix Suns, All-Star, Olympian. Another basketball player who made it to the NBA was Tom Kozelko, who played for Toledo and then the Washington Bullets. Mark Brammer was a TE, played for MSU and the Buffalo Bills.

And then there’s Ryan Hayes, starting left tackle for your Michigan Wolverines!

Joined: 12/16/2018

MGoPoints: 220

Nobody Likes a…

January 17th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^

It's probably John Tavares or Rick Wamsley, it's Canada so there is a load of hockey players

But for some reason we produced two nfl caliber place kickers in Steve Christie and Mike Vanderjagt.

oh and this dude

 

 

Joined: 09/20/2013

MGoPoints: 11824