10: Jay Fiedler
A bellow-average quarterback who was on mostly below-average teams, Fiedler made this list over New York Giants defensive lineman Jay Alford, former Major Leaguer Jay Bell and retired Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek for one reason: His inclusion in the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. If a career 69-66 QB can make this Hall, then I have to be a candidate based on this list alone.
9: Jay Mariotti
Ozzie Guillen’s best friend is beloved by all Chicago, one of the premier columnists in the country and a pleasure to listen to every afternoon on ‘Around The Horn’. He also is buddies with the Tooth Fairy and discovered the cure for the common cold in his spare time.
8: Joe Carter
He may have been the worst color commentator in television history, but Carter automatically is one of the greatest Jays based on his performance in the ’93 World Series. His three-run walk off in Game Six is one of only two homers to ever end a Fall Classic, making him a legend in Toronto.
7: Jay Williams
As Ricky mentioned on Wednesday, Derrick Rose has become a fixture here on TTCS. But that might not have been the case if Williams knew how to drive a motorcycle. The #2 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft was destined to be a star point guard before his horrible crash, forcing the Bulls to draft four guards (Hinrich, Gordon, Sefelosha and Rose) in the first round of next six drafts.
6: Ray Allen
The man with the sweetest J in the Association deserves a spot on this list. Allen won a title with the Celtics last season and has been one of the league’s top two-guards in 2009, averaging over 18 points a game and shooting over 40% from downtown. He also was a key player in one of the greatest games in movie basketball history, when Jesus Shuttlesworth played his pops at the end of ‘He Got Game’.
5: Jay Wright
Villanova’s head basketball coach is well known for two things: dressing sharp and winning games. Fresh off his first appearance in the Final Four, Wright and the Wildcats look to be mainstays in the top 25 for years to come, especially with the addition of two more McDonalds All-Americans starting school this fall.
4: Jay Bilas
He may be one hell of a lawyer in the off-season, but the reason Bilas makes the list is because he’s clearly the smartest college basketball analyst on TV. Bilas understands what players are doing (he made the Final Four as Duke forward in 1986), he understands what coaches are doing (he was an assistant on two Blue Devil National Title teams) and best of all, he understands how to explain all of it to the fans.
3: Jay-Z
Even if he weren’t a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, Jigga AKA Shawn Carter AKA The Best Rapper Alive would make this list based on his sports knowledge alone. He’s called himself the Michael Jordan of rap several times, his Reebok shoe sold more than Allen Iverson’s kicks and the nightclub he owns is called the 40/40, in honor of the most exclusive club in baseball. Plus his song 99 Problems is the official theme of the L.A. Clippers.
2: Jay Cutler
Some fans say the Bears gave up too much for Cutler. I say Chris Williams, Greg Olsen, Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman, Marc Colombo and David Terrell. Those are the offensive players who were Bears first round picks this decade. Losing a couple of first rounders is worth it when the guy coming back plays the most important position on the field and is one of the very best in the league.
1: Dr. J
Since I didn’t want to use initials, M.J. was out of the running. Same with O.J. But there was no ban on nicknames, which is why the Doctor is No. 1. People think of Dr. J- real name Julius Erving- as just a dunker, but he was actually a complete player. In his 16-year ABA/NBA career, Erving won three championships, four MVP’s and was named an All-Star every year he played pro basketball. But yeah, he could also sky with the best of them.
2 comments:
Great list Eli. I like the reference to He Got Game. I remember reading at the time that movie came out that their first two choices to play Jesus were Marbury and Garnett, but they both turned it down.
Jay Buhner?
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