Big Z is my favorite Chicago athlete

Devin Hester is the most exciting and enjoyable Chicago athlete to watch for me. Just the anticipation on kickoffs and punts is electrifying. You stop what you are doing and watch him every time he touches the ball.
He may not have an over the top personality but I have grown tired of that stuff anyway and he is not a showboating jerk with a chip on his shoulder.
Biggest game breaker and momentum changer in any sport today.

I agree about Zambrano. The only one really close in terms of Chicago sports teams would be Devin Hester. Even Tommie Harris sort of fell off last season when he basically played the season hurt and the Bears coming off a disaster season, plus he doesn't play a glorified position where stats (or non-stats for that matter) are always misleading. Urlacher's contract demands and holdout threats have killed his public image. His only hope now is to perform and exceed expectations. Down the road? Maybe Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley.

There is a little guy on the Bears that returns punts. He's pretty good I hear. And the Bulls will soon bring in a guy that will demand your attention.

Roman responds: Yeah, Hester's the man, but he's kind of shy, isn't he?

Yeah, Hester is camera shy, but he has a flare for the game and his kickoff/punt returns for touchdowns are instant highlight reels in all TV sports outlets. He's been developing a little swagger scoring touchdowns starting last season so maybe he's opening up a little bit of his personality, but he still plays it cool for the most part.

Yes he is shy Roman, but I think thats a plus sometimes. Ron Harper used to have that speech impediment and it made him shy also. And so did Bob Love. But they are all good guys. And good team guys. I see Phil and Edgar are on the same page.

Roman responds: I'm not saying he's bad guy at all. I've talked to him, and he seems very personable. And he's not overly shy, I just think Big Z is ahead of the game. Maybe it's just because it's baseball season.

He may be the only athlete in this city I would pay to watch.
(Roman)

Dude...if this doesnt win the "superiorly smuggest" comment of the year Romie Award...I cant imagine what would beat it out it.

Sorry that our city hasnt produced enough athletic specimans that would be entertaining enough to liberate your "hard earned" cash from your wallet. Thank god, your job is to go watch them, and you get paid for it. Cause it would be a shame to have to have you cough up REAL money like the rest of us IDIOTS.

Roman responds: I pay for tickets, too, smart guy. I went to Saturday's game and Big Z wasn't pitching. Just stick to your own city.

Obviously I cant speak for all the other sports writers in here, but im sure some of the rest of the bloggers actually go to games to...you know...experience what its like to be a major leage stadium or see an NBA player up close once in their lives, or too smell a NFL tailgate and see the energy of rabid fans who come to support their teams no matter who is sporting that years Jersey...

yeah...thats why i go to games!

we shouldn't really consider him an athlete until his physique changes(say..anyone notice Aramis this year? Looking good-less power though). Until then, he is just an out-of-shape guy who can pitch 6 innings and get a couple hits now and then. Like me.

I'd have to go with Tommie Harris. It goes beyond what the guy does in football. This guy is so positive and gives back more than anyone since Zorich. With the way a lot of these players conduct themselves it's overlooked constantly what this guy does. He has gone to support the troops in Iraq, volunteers to numerous charities and has even taken a regular girl to her prom. Too many people care to react to the negativity and don't give two cents to comment when a guy is a good role model. He carries himself so well that fans didn't even turn on him after he turned down a decent contract. The only thing he did considered bad was state that if we had McNabb that we would win the Super bowl. Who is still mad at him for saying that? I've retired from buying jerseys but if I still bought them I would buy his. The guy is young enough to be my son but I look up to him. I really admire him. And I've had the pleasure of meeting Hester and he's the same way away from the limelight. Quiet, Down to earth. Very exciting player. The most exciting player right now in Chicago. A lot of folks hated Z after his fight with Barrett but they've chilled on that. He's due to do something that has people turning on his once again.

1 Urlacher
2 Hester
3 Derrick Rose (it's happening)
4 Mark Buehrle
5 Q!

Roman responds: BUEHRLE!?!?!?!?!? Lol. Ricky, you're never touching this blog again. And all the stuff we've been talkinga bout, it's off.
And I love Q, but he ain't there yet. Derrick Rose has a great future, but I'm talking about right now.
Urlacher's not even the most popular on his team. Hester's the only one I'll accept.

wait wait wait...

i remember some people getting upset when Hester put his hand on his helmut,turned around and tuanted the defence and dragged his feet into the end zone...and people went nuts.

Now you want him to be more like Chad Johnson???

Which is it??

Here is my list of Chicago's favorite Athletes RIGHT NOW!!

5. Jeremy Roenick
4. Mike Ditka
3. Andre Dawson
2. Walter Payton
1. Michael Jordan

Until there is someone better than these guys....were forever doomed to accepting mediocrity!

How about broadening the topic to include of All Time in chicago. Or on the Championship teams? Eliminates Cubs fans though...

Keith, instead of broadening the topic, maybe you could just broaden your mind to give credit to players who are on teams you don't root for or even *gasp* don't have black skin.

Roman's question was: Is there any other athlete in Chicago who combines talent and personality as entertainingly as Carlos Zambrano?

Yes, Hester is definitely very talented and possibly deserved a mention in Roman's original post, but he doesn't combine talent AND PERSONALITY. "Future" Bulls players also don't meet the criteria as they are not Chicago athletes right now. It's really not that hard to follow. Being unable to give credit to a Cubs player is petty and silly.

Stuck - If there's no difference between you & Z, please suit up! We desperately need you!

holy smack down...

notta one but a two...

1st Roman smacks little ricky back to lucy town....and then..Anne out of NO WHERE...just carvs right into Keiths Rev Wrightness!!!

I love it!!

No Anne - read the TITLE, not the comment about the title. And the context of the ENTIRE conversation was who would you pay to watch. As I mentioned in my orginal response - Hester's TALENT is off the charts, and his personality is that of a HUMBLE man - which is a possitive to ME. There are MANY talented people, but their "personality" gets in the way sometimes instead if enhancing their value. Big Z is one of those guys by the way - when he is pitching bad - it has a lot to do with his personality and not his talent. And Roman clowned Buerle who definitely fits as an emotional favorite of chicago fans, but noone got funny about it. Buerle is all heart. He has less talent than big Z, but is in every game because of his heart. And he has the RING to prove it.

Skin Color has nothing to do with it, but are we REALY going to have a discussion on the brothers and sports??? But lets get to the root of the problem. Your CUBS are not champs so they were eliminated from my suggested discussion of favorite players from CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS IN CHICAGO and now I have to be Jeremiah Wright. I wasn't swinging at any pitches for the last 100 years, your light pigmented heroes were.

And Culzie you are in the vein, but the wrong candidate reared their head - because all I could see was the tears of entitlement. I guess she thought I was trying to steal her show!!

change the name of this thread to 'Let's Pee Up a Rope For a Moment'..

there is no feeling more exciting than watching the football come out of the sky into Devin Hester's hands...to me...period...yeah..lots of periods...

I don't care if Devin Hester does the Billy white shoes Johnson in the end zone....or not

there..I just pee'd a little bit for ya

happy?

It looks like Zambrano has gone back to being an out of control crybaby.
Do not confuse acting like a jerk with personality.
I don't find his act all that entertaining or exciting.

Bculz....it's spelled C-H-E-L-I-O-S not r-o-e-n-i-c-k. Goodness, I used to think your spelling issues were simply typos...Now I am starting to wonder.

Anne...there is a difference between bigZ and me....I can get a hit with a beer in my hand...AND...not spill a drop around the bases...there is still that collision at home plate I haven't figured out yet...but usually by the time I get there...I am ready for another.

hey...how about an all underrated list of favorite athletes?

1.) Dennis Gentry
2.) Jermaine Dye
3.) Orlando Woolridge
4.)Julie B. (if only her skating career wasn't cut short by moodiness).
5.)Ralph Garr

-- I know..2 Sox and no Cubs from A lifelong Die-hard Cubs fan? Well...the Cubs didn't really have any 'athletes' for the entire 80's and most of the 70's.....Plus, for some reason..when I think of underrated Cubs players.....my head is clouded with the vision of Mark Grace dangling a cigarette out of his mouth.....

Wait, wait, wait....I haven't checked this in a while. Roman, what's your problem with Buehrle? How can you possibly take fault in ANYTHING he has EVER done for the Sox? Unless you are counting to slow start this year, to which I say "small sample size, brother. small sample size."

4.)Julie B. (if only her skating career wasn't cut short by moodiness).

HAHAAHA

stuck...dont ever let anyone tell you, that you arent rarely funny!!!!

Z has no personality, he's a crybaby showboat who can't win the big game. Hester is the man, personality is not about jumping around and waving to the air, or beating up your catcher. Personality is about making your team better, and Hester does make the Bears offense better.....they score more points.