What One Player From the Past Do You Wish You Could Have Seen in Person?
I pity the fools who never got to see Anthony Carter play in person. Seeing a grainy YouTube video of the Indiana catch doesn't begin to compare to what it was like to see AC in person. Same with Denard.
That said, if you could go back in time and pick one Michigan player from before your time to see in person, who would it be?
For football, I'm tempted to say Tom Harmon, but I'm going to go with Willis Ward. He had Jesse Owens speed and at 6-1, he was bigger than almost anyone he played against.
For basketball, give me Cazzie Russell.
How about you?
I would choose Anthony Carter. I saw him on TV, but never in person. For basketball, Gary Grant. I saw him on TV a bunch but never in person he was probably one of the best defensive guards I remember watching as a kid.
With that being said, I have been blessed to have seen Desmond, Charles, Biakabatuka, Jamie Morris, A-Train, Wheatley, Harbaugh, and the Fab Five in person.
It;s hard to describe the sense of anticipation every time Carter touched the ball--passes, punt returns, reverses. A murmor would start once number 1 got the ball. He makes a guy miss, everybody stands. Another miss, everybody screams. Into the endzone, with the little quickstep and everybody goes nuts. It was beautiful--and I choose that word deliberately.
Horace Prettyman
Ruth
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Video of it
Track-nutz...RIP big fella
I have one of these pieces of glass.
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Football-Tom Harmon
Basketball-Fab Five
NFL-Jim Brown
MLB-Mark Fidrych
NBA-Jordan (He was around but I didn't watch much NBA until he retired)
NHL-Howe
followed by Ty Cobb, Jack Johnson, Secretariat, Babe Ruth, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Hank Greenburg, Jack Dempsey, Jim Brown, Bennie Friedman, Tom Harmon, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Ernie Banks, Mickey Mantle, Gordie Howe, Rocket Richard, Terry Sawchuck, Ron Kramer, Ron Johnson, Peter Snell, Roger Bannister, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay
I started going to Michigan games in the late 50s, so I've seen a lot of the great ones, but I'd love to see Benny Friedman's 1926 and 1926 play. Yost called that team the greatest team in the history of Michigan football, and Friedman was said to be the first truly great passing quareterback anywhere.
He went on to NFL greatness, too, though in those days the record books were scanty and the NFL was struggling for its existence.
Still, he's the guy I'd like to see play.
I watched Glen Rice all four years. Surpised no one has mentioned him.
Even though I was born during the Fab 5 and Desmond era('81), I wish I understood what was going on.
ol #98 and AC
To hear Ufer live would have been awesome.
non-Michigan is Ted Williams
I might get smacked around for this, but I wasn't always Ufer's biggest fan. He was the ultimate homer, with his little cliches and claghorn, and when UM was giving Northwestern or Purdue a 40-point beatdown, his overwhelming enthusiasm could get annoying. My teenage self would glare at the radio and think, "Jesus, old man, we're winning 50-6 - calm down, will you?"
But when Michigan would beat Ohio State ... oh man. At times like that, there was nothing like Ufer. His voice would crack and he'd talk even faster (which I didn't think was possible), and you were sure he was gonna stroke out in the broadcast booth. At those moments of sheer maize & blue bliss, there was nobody you'd rather listen to.
I didn't really miss Ufer until he was gone. Then it was like not seeing your crazy uncle at Thanksgiving anymore. Sure, he was loud and could get on your nerves - but it sure would be good to hear him again, y'know?
Anthony Carter jumps right to mind. There've been so many really good receivers, but AC was really the original. He was doing things nobody had really done at Michigan before. That's why Desmond, Charles, Denard were so fun, too. AC was really the first electric receiver Michigan had. Among the first the country ever saw, really.
Every day
B-ball - the NC team in '89. Or Joubert.
Rob Lytle
Here's a twist on the question, too: I was about nine, ten when Desmond was playing. That's the perfect age to watch the really amazing players. Wide-eyed wonder hardly begins to describe it. I sort of wish I'd been ten years old to watch Denard play.
AC was incredible but Bo hardly ever threw compared to today's game.
The guy whose jersey I wear - Terry Sawchuk
Wally Grant, Wally Gacek and Ted Greer
I saw him live probably 15-20 times, but I still wish I had seen him more. Those highlight reel runs live when you could see the entire field were unbelievable.
BARRY! BARRY! BARRY!
Guy was the best
Non Michigan? Maybe Jim Brown
Not a specific player, but I'd like to see one of the point a minute teams; maybe the first Rose Bowl.
The guy supposedly ran from Marathon to Athens in the days before ΕΣΠΝ VIII (EpsilonSigmaPiNu The Octo) would've been providing full coverage, so we still haven't found any recordings of the event.
Anthony "AC" Carter
Smallest guy on the field, 5'11" 160, but by far the most exciting and explosive. That speed tho.
I am ancient, so had the opportunity to see some of the 70's, 80's and 90's greats. Leach, Carter, Harbaugh, Desmond, and Charles.
My wish I could have seen has to go to Mr. Harmon and Willy Heston...
Glen Rice seems like one of the greatest scorers ever and get to see a national title.
Mark Messner the defense highlights when he played are unreal just constantly in the backfield.
Jim Abbott.
Elgin Baylor.
He was the most exciting player of his era and the stories of his exploits, which are not playground myths, are incredible.
Dick Butkus.
I was alive when he played, but not really able to appreciate it.
Jim Brown.
So I could fairly compare him with Barry. I don't think Brown would be nearly as dominant if he played today. Barry would be dominant 1000 years into the future.
Cazzie Russel.
Shouldn't have to explain this one.
Bill Russel and Wilt Chamberlain.
To give context to the debate.
Walter Johnson.
Just to get a feel for how his dominance would play in today's game.
Pele in his prime.
Duh
Earl Mantigault
Lets see you get that quarter, buddy
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