With the Stros buying out Bagwell's contract there are a lot of tribute articles about him. In addition to talking about his stats though one thing most of them have talked about is his character and how decent, hardworking and humble of a guy he is. A quiet leader both on and off the field. A lot of Houston sports legends all seem to be that way like Olajuwon, Biggio, Ryan, Cambell and now Yao. Houston has had some surly and troubled athletes but when people think of Houston sports they don't think of louts, braggarts and thugs but instead of people who work hard and conduct themselves with dignity. I think that's something that we as Houston fans we've been fortunate to have and don't always appreciate.
Drexler is in that list. So is Jim McInvale for all he's done to cheer the local sports scene, including bringing Tennis up to a high profile in Houston. I didn't want to, but I hated it when Mad Max went up in the stands, I loved him so much it hurt me and lost me cred. I think I looked up to him ever since he had his face in Jordan's mug.
Good calls on Rudy T, Drexler and McInvale. I wasn't trying to compile a list just noting that we're lucky to have sports heros who are also great people.
Props to you for bringing that up. (/sarc) Everybody has skeletons in the closet. While those actions were obviously cowardly and reprehensible, everyone I've heard discuss business and interpersonal interactions with Moon has said he was a solid guy. But, let's hold everyone's mistakes over his head for the rest of his life. ________________________________________________________ Superstar he was not, but I've heard Kevin Bass is an outstanding guy as well. I've also heard great things about Knucksie after his sudden and tragic passing.
Matthews and Munchack were two of the classiest athletes in the history of Houston sports. When I was a kid, my Dad was the ED of a large charity that they were both very involved in. They always came to all the functions and both donated a LOT of time and $$. I've met them both several times and they were never anything but nice to everyone they ever came in contact with. 100% CLASS.
you're right - i mean, we've all done it, right; lost our temper, beaten our wives in front of our children...? in a way, moon led her down a more enlightened path in life, considering she's now a well-known advocate for abused women and children. class act all the way. if you beat your wife, you're scum. period. and you certainly don't get cited in the classiest atheletes thread.
I know people who have done worse than that and turned it around later in life. While their past actions will *never* be acceptable, they admitted they were wrong and out of control, got help, and changed. But you and I cast judgement because you and I have never hit a woman.
the idea of the thread is to celebrate athletes who don't need a second chance to redeem themselves. when we start the "atheletes who used to be scum bags but are now classy" thread, moon can be our first entry. cool?
nobody's perfect. warren was a consumate professional on the field and played with a high degree of sportsmanship. if you nitpicked i'm sure you'd be able to exclude almost every athlete ever. remember when hakeem funded terrorism?
If someone has redeemed himself, he has. If you want to hold his past over his head the rest of his life, then enjoy the cloud hanging over your head. The rest of us can move on.
nobody's perfect? wow.... uhm... beating your wife in front of your child is not "nitpicking..." nitpicking would be, "he never took out the trash," or, "he collected a ton of speeding tickets." my past has absolutely nothing to do with a thread on houston's classiest athletes (unless my undeafted timberline tornado soccer team of '81 is being included). frankly, i don't care about warren moon, or his past. he simply doesn't belong on a list of houston's "classiest" athletes.
I try hard not to make things personal--for one thing, it's tasteless, and for another thing, it's a logical fallacy. That said, I didn't bring up your past at all; I was referencing Moon's past. I'm sorry if what I said sounded personal. Your opinion is duly noted.
We've been blessed with many men wo have represented our city well. I'd like to add O.A."Bum" Phillips to that list.....and Mike Barber.(Mike's not a sports legend,but he's a differencemaker)
I don't know about classy, but I'd just like to state, for the record, that Dan Pastorini has a mean right hook. Sincerely, Dale Robertson
