Sportscentury: Throwback Day

I started recording Sportscentury as a HUGE fan since the series began. It honored the legends of our past and present. I started my quest by watching the specials on Chuck Bednarik and Charlton Fisk and I will construct my thoughts for you. Bendarik was the ultimate throwback in an era where throwbacks stlil existed. As a 34 & 35 year old man he played center and linebacker, a feat reserved for amazing high school athletes, not professionals. He made $17,000 playing both ways in an effort that lacks proper title. Calling him a 60 minute man is still insulting to him. He grew up tougher than the steel created in his hometown of Bethlehem, PA. He was terrifying for teammates and opponents alike. He hit a pinnacle by almost killing Frank Gifford in perhaps the most violent hit ever in any sport. His children mentioned they lived their entire lives without their father telling them to their faces that he loved them. The ultimate throwback to the spartan "300" days. He played linebacker and center and essentially willed an essentially average team to the 1960 championship over the excellent Packers team. There was a story where he fought with Chuck Noll during the game and let him know where'd he'd be after the game. He uppercutted Noll and sent his helmet flying in the air and when the Browns came out to fight and defend Noll "Concrete Chuck" just looked at them and said "Don't cross that line", and not a single Brown questioned it. He was the toughest man to ever play the game and it was refreshing to hear the tales about it. A real treat learning about this warrior and pillar of the game. His disgust for what the game became after his retirement was refreshing. He was the ultimate throwback and forever will be. He was a waist gunner in WWII where your life is measure in minutes and his reflection on how that made him the man he was was amazing. It cemented his resolve as a man of God, and a football player in ways that nobody can understand unless you were there with him in the great war. Fisk was similar. A New Hampshire kid who played a year in college before running his course through the Red Sox system. His amazing 24 year run as a catcher is simply unmatched by anyone else. His role in the '75 World Series where he is deified waving the ball fair was just a pit stop in an amazing career. He ran pitching staffs for so long the pitchers became younger than his children. His iron will and toughness is something all players should try to mimic forever. It was so refreshing to see someone play the game the right way. There was a section on him yelling at Deion Sanders for not running out a fly ball. There was just great pieces about his mutual disgust and respect for Thurman Munson and how news of Munson's death was one of the low points in his career & life. Fisk is greatly underappreciated in baseball and Boston, which is so rare. His feats are so amazing and unrecognized that it was almost painful. Look at his career and see if any catcher matches up. It's not even close. His longevity is unmatched by anyone in the modern era. Reggie White was also highlighted in an amazing way. Reggie White was a man of God first, and a football player second. His departure from Philadelphia to Green Bay was a great story about his fight to what God wanted, and what Reggie as a family man and football player wanted. He was amazing at Tennessee, the USFL, and later the NFL. He used the NFL to cater to his desire to use it as a ministry for God. He revolutionized God in the NFL, and the defensive line position. His swim move was second to nothing the league has ever seen. He had 21 sacks in 12 games, a feat that will probably never be equaled. Men would follow him anywhere, including the frozen tundra of Green Bay. He brought a Super Bowl and way of life to Green Bay that's still being followed. White's leadership and aura will never be equaled. White could have rested on his laurels and became whatever he wanted in WI, but his faith led him to a different path. He was VERY outspoken about his beliefs and it led many men to faith in the NFL, but later became a distraction. His ministry was a blessing and a curse. He disowned homosexuality because it cannot be compared to being African-American. His faith led him to ignorance, but you hope that isn't his legacy. His faith and effort was what should be remembered. His message was to bring people together, not create rifts in our social fabric. He helped everyone he could in ways that you just wish other athletes would follow. Reggie gave so much of himself it was painful to see his family talk about it. His money was thrown away and his charisma for God completely misused. His faith is an inspiration to everyone who believes in a God of any kind. His lasting impact is the prayer huddles seen on the field to this day, and the horrible pain shown in his teammates speaking of his passing. The tears flow instantly when talking about his passing at an age that was WAY too young. Andre Agassi- I am completely biased for Agassi. He was the original baseliner who won the first Wimbledon for his style in 1991 vs. the greatest serve and volley players of all-time in Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Goran Ivanosevic during the same run. Agassi broke in as a 16 year-old using pure talent and flair, and left as a 36 year-old of pure substance. Nobody in any sport had an equivalent transformation. His book is an amazing read. He is a philosopher and scholar despite never completing high school. He used his money and will to create his own AMAZING academy in Las Vegas to help underprivileged youth to create a better life for themselves. If all athletes took the route of Agassi in their communities, the world would be just an amazing place. It's really an inspiration to see where his life after tennis has taken him. He's wise beyond his years and a true warrior poet/scholar despite his lack of formal education. Agassi is remarkably one of a kind and simply an amazing person. His career achievements on the court, despite being amazing and essentially unmatched, pale to his work outside of tennis. His impact on Las Vegas is what's truly amazing. You can only hope others can take his lead in becoming such an amazing part of their communities. It's an amazing inspiration. The question of who is alive that I'd like to have dinner with is simply answered with "Andre Agassi". I am truly amazed by his ability to reflect and offer insight on life and making it better for yourself and others. Just a real inspiration. I love Sportscentury and its celebrations of great players past & present for not only their contributions to their sports, but to the rest of people's lives. Just an amazing and unmatched series. Sorry for the ramblings, I just love the work done to preserve the heroes of eras past.