IE WHO WALKS BEHIND
HE BENCHES

 

ll pro sports have their
heroes, who, during their
playing careers, were
entioned in the same breath as
he greats, only to have their
names fade because they didn’t
retire with little gold rings around
heir fingers. With that in mind,
here are seven players whose
areers have made them locks for
heir respective Halls of Fame,
but who will always have the “he
ouldn't win it all” tag per-
manently attached to their names
if they don’t get a ring soon.
ote: to be eligible for this list
the athlete had to have at least ten
years service in his league,
preferably with the same team.
Patrick Ewing, Centre, New
York Knicks, NBA: So close and
et so far. If John Starks hadn't
put his three-point game in the
freezer during game 7 of the 94
finals, Ewing wouldn't be on this
list; however, he is and this [3-
year vet's time is slipping away.
Prognosis: If the NBA restarts
ith only the Knicks and Bucks
in Operation, Ewing has a good
ance; other than that, it’s to the
Hall without the gold.
Charles Barkley, Forward,
Houston Rockets, NBA: Poor
huck. His best chance at a ring
ame when Michael was using the

one-handed ball fake to perfec-

tion. Being only the fourth player
in NBA history to reach 20,000
points, 10,000 rebounds and
3,500 assists won't bring Barkley
what he covets most. Prognosis: If
they come up with an anti-aging
drug before the

season starts,

  
     
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
 
  
  
 
  
  

ship a case to
Houston—otherwise
see: Ewing, Patrick.
Ray Bourque, Defense,
Boston Bruins, NHL: Every
sports fan, hockey lover or not,
pulls for this guy at the start of
the season. Entering his 20th year
with the Bruins, Bourque has
never complained about his situa-
tion, financial or otherwise, and
has gone about his business like a
true professional while playing on
some awful teams. Probably the
most deserving of the group.
Prognosis: It’s too bad that Jason
Allison and Sergi Samsonov had-
nt happened by—although they
were in grade 4—when Bourque
needed them in 1987-88. Sadly,
Bourque will probably hang up
the skates in two years when his
contract expires (as prom-
ised) and the Bruins will
sip champagne the year after.
Kirk McLean, Goaltender,
Florida Panthers, NHL: Another
player who came so close to
touching the Holy Grail, only to
have it snatched away by the
hands of Fate. Maybe Mark

 
 

ite time of year

Messier was supposed to win the
cup in 1994, but McLean

deserves another shot. He has had

to deal with some pretty horren-
dous defenses and, on occasion,
temperamental forwards, but he
has gone about his work with

almost the same professionalism

as Ray Bourque.

Prognosis: It
would be nice to
think that Florida
could come back to
the level that
brought it to the
Stanley Cup, and
they probably
will, just in
time for
“Captain
Kirk” to
collect his
jewelry.

Dan

Marino, Quarterback, Miami
Dolphins, NFL: Marino is a true
trooper, having fought through
torn Achilles tendons in both feet

and playing in front of a running
game that would make Vince

 

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savings are in sight

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Dakota Smith
Lauren Hutton

 

Lombardi turn over in his grave.
He has, like the above entrants on
this list, made it to the big
game—but, as anyone who
watched last year’s Superbowl
knows, you can’t win the title
unless you have a running game.
Marino didn’t, and therefore
missed out on a chance for the
coveted ring. Prognosis: The fish
are off to a pretty good start
and managed to play
Jacksonville, possibly the
best in the AFC, very
tough. Miami could be a
dark horse pick for the
Superbowl, but unless the
Dolphins can get a consistent
running game together, look
for Marino to take only his
NFL passing records to Canton.
Tim Brown, Wide Receiver,
Oakland Raiders, NFL: Another
case of a phenomenal player on a
really bad team. If Brown had a
chance to play during the
“Commitment to
Excellence” years
that “da Raduhs”
enjoyed during the
late seventies and
eighties, Brown would
be carefully polishing
his gold right now. In his eleven
seasons on both sides of the
bridge, Brown's Raiders have hard-
ly sniffed the postseason, much less
had a chance for the trophy.
Prognosis: With new coach Jon
Gruden at the controls, Oakland
seems to be headed up, but in the
ultra-competitive AFC West, up
could still net them an 8-8

record. Brown is going to the
Hall, but he will only bring his
speech.

Tony Gwynn, Outfielder, San
Diego Padres, MLB: By the time
this ‘hits the stands, Gwynn will
be starting the fourth game of his
second World Series. If he fails to
take home a ring from this cham-
pionship, he won't get here again.
He is one of the best hitters of
all time; however, that won't mean
a thing unless he can get his team
past the Yankees. Prognosis:
Looks very, very good. Although
he is only hitting .190 in the '98
playoffs, Gwynn's Padres domi-
nated Atlanta and should beat the
Yankees. Congratulations Mr.
Gwynn, it appears that you wont
be leaving empty handed.

The seven players listed in this
article all deserve a championship
ring, every player who manages to
stay in the pros as long as they
have dées, but’ the Yeality is that
not all of them can attain that
ultimate victory.

Really, if Tony Gywnn doesn’t
win a ring, will he be remembered
for his 16 straight years batting
over .300, only bettered by two
guys named Wager and Cobb, and
tied with some guy named
Williams, or will he be recalled as
“the great hitter who couldn't win
the big one”?

In tribute to the longest suffer-
ing fans in professional sports,
those who routinely pack Wrigley
Field to watch the Chicago Cubs,
they will be included on this—

and many future—lists.

 

 

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The Other Press

October 21 1998 Page 7