The hardest part about coming up with a list like this is defining roles. Take this year's Blackhawks, for example. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Towes are more 1a and 1b than leading man and supporting actor. For this this list, we're looking for guys that were clearly Robin to another star's Batman. Below are 10 guys we think fit the criteria.
10. Henry Rodriguez
From Moises Alou to Rondell White, it seemed like the Cubs were in an eternal search in the 90's to find the perfect compliment to Sammy Sosa. Rodriguez arguably filled the role better than anyone during his two and a half years on the North Side. He was never better in Cubbie blue than in 1999, when he hit .304/.381 with 26 homers and 87 RBI.
9. Steve Larmer
On the powerhouse 'Hawks teams of the early 90's, Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios established themselves as the alpha dogs. It was Larmer, though, who provided another pivotal option. He was at his best in 1991, when he finished with 44 goals and 57 assists.
8. Ted Lilly
Carlos Zambrano has received all the headlines in Wrigleyville the last few seasons, but Lilly has been arguably even more dependable. Lilly has pitched over 200 innings in both seasons as a Cub and averaged has averaged 16 wins and an ERA under 4.00 a year. He's the definition of solid but unspectacular.
7. Luther Head
Deron Williams and Dee Brown shared the marquee during their time in Champaigne, but Head was just as valuable to the Illini. He was the 2005 team's best defender, and developed into a three-point sniper during his time at Illinois.
6. Jermaine Dye
Dye always seems to be the forgotten hero of the White Sox. In 2005, despite winning World Series MVP, he played second fiddle to Paul Konerko on offense. Even last year, when he was spectacular at age 34- OPS'ing .885 and hitting 34 homers - Dye was overshadowed by Carlos Quentin.
5. Tex Winter
Phil Jackson gets all the credit for managing egos and making his players read books during the championship years, but where would he be without Winter? Winter's legendary triangle offense was as big a reason as any MJ and Co. won six titles.
4. Robin Ventura
Frank Thomas is perhaps the most underrated hitter of 90's. The Big Hurt couldn't have put up those insane numbers without Ventura though, the slick fielding third baseman who gave the Sox a second potent bat in the lineup. Ventura's best year on the Sox may have been 1996, when he won the Gold Glove, OPS'd .888, and finished with 34 homers and 105 RBI.
3. Lance Briggs
At this point, it's probably foolish to consider Briggs a sidekick. Though teammate Brian Urlacher has the bigger profile, Briggs has unquestionably been the more productive player the last two seasons.
10. Henry Rodriguez
From Moises Alou to Rondell White, it seemed like the Cubs were in an eternal search in the 90's to find the perfect compliment to Sammy Sosa. Rodriguez arguably filled the role better than anyone during his two and a half years on the North Side. He was never better in Cubbie blue than in 1999, when he hit .304/.381 with 26 homers and 87 RBI.
9. Steve Larmer
On the powerhouse 'Hawks teams of the early 90's, Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios established themselves as the alpha dogs. It was Larmer, though, who provided another pivotal option. He was at his best in 1991, when he finished with 44 goals and 57 assists.
8. Ted Lilly
Carlos Zambrano has received all the headlines in Wrigleyville the last few seasons, but Lilly has been arguably even more dependable. Lilly has pitched over 200 innings in both seasons as a Cub and averaged has averaged 16 wins and an ERA under 4.00 a year. He's the definition of solid but unspectacular.
7. Luther Head
Deron Williams and Dee Brown shared the marquee during their time in Champaigne, but Head was just as valuable to the Illini. He was the 2005 team's best defender, and developed into a three-point sniper during his time at Illinois.
6. Jermaine Dye
Dye always seems to be the forgotten hero of the White Sox. In 2005, despite winning World Series MVP, he played second fiddle to Paul Konerko on offense. Even last year, when he was spectacular at age 34- OPS'ing .885 and hitting 34 homers - Dye was overshadowed by Carlos Quentin.
5. Tex Winter
Phil Jackson gets all the credit for managing egos and making his players read books during the championship years, but where would he be without Winter? Winter's legendary triangle offense was as big a reason as any MJ and Co. won six titles.
4. Robin Ventura
Frank Thomas is perhaps the most underrated hitter of 90's. The Big Hurt couldn't have put up those insane numbers without Ventura though, the slick fielding third baseman who gave the Sox a second potent bat in the lineup. Ventura's best year on the Sox may have been 1996, when he won the Gold Glove, OPS'd .888, and finished with 34 homers and 105 RBI.
3. Lance Briggs
At this point, it's probably foolish to consider Briggs a sidekick. Though teammate Brian Urlacher has the bigger profile, Briggs has unquestionably been the more productive player the last two seasons.
2. Buddy Ryan
The picture tells the whole story. How many other assistant coaches can you think of that were carried off the field after a championship? What Tex Winter was to the 90's Bulls, Ryan was the '85 Bears.
1. Scottie Pippen
When we came up the idea for this list, we knew Pip was No. 1, we just needed to think of nine more guys. One of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, one of the league's greatest defensive forwards ever, and the perfect compliment to MJ, Scottie Pippen was everything and more you could ever hope for from a sidekick.
4 comments:
I love Briggs and Rockin' Robin was my hero growing up...but how are they ahead of Tex Winter?
The architect behind six NBA championships in eight years is behind two guys who never won a thing in a Chicago uniform?
Other than that, great idea.
Moises Alou didn't come to the Cubs in the 90s. His first year with the team was in 2002.
Bobby Dernier, the non-hall of fame half of the Daily Double...
Hey Rick
The best chicago sidekick is The Chicago Sky to The Chicago Bulls. WNBA is like robin to NBA's batman. WNBA is like red sauce to NBA's breadsticks from pizza hut. WNBA is like my career is to the NBA's george clooney.
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