Jackson Free Press

Folks, we're preparing a special sports issue and want to get your nominations of the best sports heroes from/in Mississippi of all time. Talk to us.

Previous Commentsshow

Bump. Also, tell us why.

DonnaLadd

Mar 13 2008

I'd start with Walter Payton and Brett Farve. It's said you can fill a wing at the Football Hall of Fame with Mississippians.

Ironghost

Mar 13 2008

I'd put Jerry Rice over Favre. Nothing against Favre, Rice just had a better career.

eyerah

Mar 13 2008

Walter peyton, jerry rice, bret farve and steve mcnair.

NewJackson

Mar 13 2008

Brett Farve and Derrick Nix (career at USM shortened by kidney problems). Suffice it to say I watch those USM guys/girls.

J.T.

Mar 13 2008

Marcus Dupree!

pikersam

Mar 13 2008

I'm tempted to provide a long, long list. Instead, I'll just provide a link to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame list of inductees.

Ex

Mar 13 2008

1. Jerry Rice- b/c I mean, come-on, it's Jerry Rice... "Montana to Rice!" 2. Walter Payton- Daaaaaahhh Bears, Ditka, '85. 3. Brett Farve- Longest starting streak for a QB I preach the gospel...

Senab

Mar 14 2008

best receiver ever and the best running back ever...both from the SWAC...favre is a top ten qb but he isnt the best...PAYTON and RICE...the SWAC...

skipp

Mar 14 2008

Can't argue against Payton, Rice and Favre. Let's not forget about Ray Guy, who played at USM. If you have an award named after him, you deserve to be on the list. Other honorable mentions: Archie Manning, Jimmy Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Lindsey Hunter (Detroit Pistons). I would include Eli Manning, but it's a little too early. Maybe in ten years down the road, he'll be a shoo-in.

golden eagle

Mar 14 2008

uh, hello? Archie Manning deserves this list. Definitely a MS sports hero, notwithstanding a futile pro career. Also Charlie Conerly and Jake Gibbs, both two sport heroes. I echo the sentiments to visit the MS SPorts Hall of Fame. All the fodder you need is there.

GradyGriffin

Mar 14 2008

Walter Payton Archie Manning Brett Favre Ray Guy Dizzy Dean Jerry Rice

QB

Mar 14 2008

again...we go with archie manning...im just wondering why we keep bringing up losers...people from here that were awesome at the next level...this isnt about college athletes...its about professional athletes...id put jsmooth over archie...he produced...on an expansion team...punters arent worthy of being mentioned with skill position players...jackie slater over archie and ray guy...matter of fact willie “satellite” totten should go in over archie if we wanna look at college careers

skipp

Mar 14 2008

this isnt about college athletes...its about professional athletes... skipp It is? You make the rules for this issue? Also, just looking at your comments, I'd say you are pretty close minded when it come to this subject. I'll leave it at that. Yeah, I'll third the MS Sports Hall of Fame where all MS athletes are honors equally!

pikersam

Mar 14 2008

pike...donna would ban me forever if i responded...yeah im close minded men talk sports!!!! we all think were right...that guy probably is serious when he talks about ray guy...thats the point...walter payton is the best running back ever...some folk say barry sanders...i say walter payton...you know why im right...cuz im the mayor...ill knock your house down...frick and frack are waiting for the word from me...im close minded...ill close down this paper...im the mayor... now back to men talking sports...payton and rice best ever at their positions...college quarterback...willie totten or steve mcnair... leave me alone!

skipp

Mar 14 2008

Skipp, you really don't know much about football if you think a punter isn't a skilled player. Can you punt a football 50 yards and put inside the 5 yard line and out of bounds? Walter Payton Jerry Rice Boo Ferriss Dizzy Dean Ray Guy Bret Favre Archie Manning L.C. Greenwood Cool Papa Bell-first Mississippian in the National Baseball Hall of Fame

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

...im just saying punters dont contribute to a team unless theyre awesome...they can be overcome...youre missing the point...we cant look at punters like true skill position players...your point makes it seem like morten anderson was more important to the falcons or saints than bobby herbert...well maybe but he was terrible... but you can have a great punter and win no games or a terrible punter and win 10...be honest is ray guy a great...sure...but uhhhh is he worthy of replacing payton or rice...no...i would put archie over ray guy...punters arent even put in the hall like that...he is a punter...he plays a total of 3 plays a game to be considered for a league award...thats 48 times a year...some players have that many touches in 2 games...cmon...is he skilled yes is he great yes...does he belong in this discussion...not at all payton rice i dont watch baseball...2nd only to golf or nascar in terms of a spectator sport on television totten over manning...

skipp

Mar 14 2008

I had to look up Willie Totten to see who he was. I thought I remembered him for coaching at Eastside in Cleveland. By your standards you can count him he was the punter at Valley too.. :)

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

look that aint the point...he threw the ball to rice...willie satellite totten...dude my dad and granddad are alcornites and talk about him like he was kurt warner...im just saying...if we only look at college...then i can count lewis tillman at jsu...or koby jenkins...no punters no all world college players unless they died...we dont have to project with rice or payton...its there its fact...lets keep this between men who talk sports all the time...what his number look like bubba

skipp

Mar 14 2008

Willie Totten With 139 career touchdown passes, “The Satellite” is Division I-AA’s all-time leader and ranks second in career passing yards (12,711) and single-season passing yards (4,557 in 1984). He twice led the nation in passing efficiency. Five times in Totten’s career he passed for more than 530 yards in a single game, including a 599-yard performance in 1984 against Prairie View. Totten earned First Team All-America status in 1984 after leading the nation and setting the all-time single-season touchdown passes mark (56) for all divisions. over the course of his wonderful college career, Manning threw for over 4,700 yards and ran for 823. Archie had 56 touchdown passes while at Ole Miss, and scored 14 himself in 1969. But despite these gaudy numbers, Manning's Rebels could only muster a 15-7 record, as the rest of his team was not on the same level talent-wise with such SEC powerhouses as Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia. Manning finished fourth in the 1969 Heisman voting, and his number 18 was retired by the school, where if I were to mention today that I thought he wasn't as good as advertised, I would probably be used as a tackling dummy.

skipp

Mar 14 2008

mcnair finished third in the 1994 heisman balloting...higher than archie

skipp

Mar 14 2008

To quote you "this isnt about college athletes...its about professional athletes" From NFL.com Willie Totten- years played 1, TDs-2, Int-2, Total yrds 155, Rating 49.4 Archie Manning yrs played 14, TDs-125, Int-173, Total yrds-23,911 Rating 67.1

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

Too bad Willie couldn't make it to the NFL? Lots of guys are good in college football; yet, can't make it in the NFL. Now since you seem to only think "men" can think/talk sports you are totally blind to the women that have represented MS. How about Willye White or Robin Roberts? Robin was a state bowling champion at the age of 10, and a champion in basketball too. That would put her on the list of MS Sports Heroes. Don't slight Mildrette Netter Graves, a gold medalist or Margaret Wade for whom the Margaret Wade Trophy was named after. Last I checked "heroes" is plural, colorless, and non-gendered. There is plenty of room on the list for everyone who has represented MS well in sports regardless of what position or sport they played! skipp - NOT for mayor!

pikersam

Mar 14 2008

Lusia Harris who played for Margaret Wade at DSU. She played in the Olympics, won a Silver Metal, she was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 the first and only women ever draft by an NBA team.

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

Hugh Green(Natchez,MS), Pittsburgh Panthers, one of the greatest college defensive players of all time. 3rd in Heisman voting, highest for defensive player until Woodson won the award. Played on the team with Marino and Ricky Jackson. Steve McNair the greatest college quarterback ever, Favre one of the greatest Professional quarterbacks. Walter Payton best running back and Rice the best receiver.

Goldenae

Mar 14 2008

see you cant have it both ways...archie was talented but he wasnt great...if we wanna talk about college then its all about willie totten the numbers speak for themselves...did i mention him no...only after people kept saying archie...man i aint never heard of no willye white but she is beautiful...wow...what a knockout and robin roberts...okay bowling...thats a skill not a sport...its like my aunt is a beast at horseshoes...people like to assault ground rules when discussing sports...they want nominations for the best...and willye white is one of the best looking women ive ever seen...but im not comparing her to a football player...name a woman that has elevated her sport...payton more yards than any other running back until a gimpy emmitt played after he was washed up and broke the record...jerry rice...hands down best reciever ever to play in the NFL...if we wanna name everybody we like then i was the best fat shortstop at battlefield park for the bryan ham...its about excellence...dont bring no all world badmitton player here and try to compare them to football players...can willye white beat me in a race yes...probably now...but is she on the same level as payton or rice...no...even if we want her to be

skipp

Mar 14 2008

compared to willie totten archie manning is a better nfl quarterback...now that is not saying much...compared to brett favre...archie manning looks like willie totten

skipp

Mar 14 2008

golden i saw mcnair...he was unbelieveable but to think about the way old men talk about willie totten...my granddad says...mcnair was better than totten as an athlete...and a quarterback...he says that if totten was better than mcnair, he wouldve made it in the nfl...i think he is right but 56 touchdowns is 56 touchdowns...

skipp

Mar 14 2008

Skipp, I saw them both and you have to remember that McNair never had a "Jerry Rice". If people never saw McNair play at ASU, they have no idea what great is.

Goldenae

Mar 14 2008

Archie Manning yrs played 14, TDs-125, Int-173, Total yrds-23,911 Rating 67.1 Steve McNair yrs played 14, TDs 174, Int-119 Total yrds- 31,304 rating 82.8 see all i can go by are the numbers...mcnair was great...his last game my dad and i sat in front of some white guys who said they drove in from some small town in mississippi and they said they wanted to see what all the hype was...they said the swac was some good football...and often asked my dad and i if we saw what he did...he was the best ive ever seen, but im 27...those numbers should stop all of the archie talk...i do not want to hear how terrible the saints were

skipp

Mar 14 2008

Skipp you are still missing the point Donna asked for Sports Heroes as in plural not just one player. It doesn't matter if they played college or pro, badmittion,bowling,baseball or crickett it's all in who people individually think was good or inspired them. Personally I don't think McNair was as good as Favre, but he was good. Totten had good numbers in college and fizzled as a pro, I nevee said he shouldn't be a list of sports heros in Miss. You said Archie shouldn't? Why cause he didn't have a great pro career? So what? He was a great college player. So he should be included on a list of Miss sports heros just like anyone else. Besides you never even saw him play in college you weren't even born yet.

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

skipp, you obviously don't know the meaning of the word "hero." To some kids and older folks Steve McNair is a hero. To some it is Archie. To a young girl it may any one of the women that have represented MS! To some it is some no-name player that played a sport you don't follow or care about. Comparing Archie to Steve is like comparing Unitas to Montana or Walter Johnson to Nolan Ryan - different eras, different competition. Get your head out of your butt! Opinions are like.... Where's your love for Oil Can Boyd? Surprised you haven't touted him as the greatest pitcher - EVAR!

pikersam

Mar 14 2008

Pike, isn't Boyd in prison now? I remember him getting into some kinda trouble. Pike "name a woman that has elevated her sport" I can't even believe you type those words.

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

BubbaT, please edit.... You mean "skipp" I can't even believe you type those words. I guess cheryl miller is a nobody in his world!?!

pikersam

Mar 14 2008

opps I did mean Skipp sorry about that. Can we edit the post after we post them?

BubbaT

Mar 14 2008

Re: "now back to men talking sports," and "let's keep this between men who talk sports all the time," posted by skipp I am a woman. I talk sports. I like sports. I have heroes and heroines. I am talking, too. Can't keep this subject "between men." That would be discriminatory. Know you didn't mean that.

J.T.

Mar 14 2008

Good Lord. Y'all can even get ugly on a sports thread. Let me say this one: Lose the frickin' sexism. If you haven't figured out yet that this site is not the place for that, then you are way behind. And let's try to keep these whole assignment positive, got it? Grrrrrrr.

DonnaLadd

Mar 14 2008

Y'all? I was the one who pointed out that skipp was not giving any women any respect. I'd say Margaret Wade is definitely worthy! Named a trophy after her! BTW: How about the storms that rocked Atlanta tonight? Scary!!!

pikersam

Mar 14 2008

Like Pike, I will have to plead innocent to sexism charges. I added Lusia Harris that played for Margaret Wade at DSU when they won their national championships. She played in the Olympics, won a Silver Metal, she was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 the first and only women ever draft by an NBA team, and she was a counselor when I got put on double secret probation at DSU.

BubbaT

Mar 15 2008

Did we forget "Dr. Doom" Robert Brazille? 9 time "All Pro" outside line backer from the Houston Oilers? The one who knocked QB, Billy Kilmer out his rooky year on his first night football game? Which they went on to win? Was he 9 time all pro? He went to JSU but was he from Lousiana? He would be in the top 10 at least if he counts...

Derek Perkins

Mar 15 2008

Dot Easterwood Murphy, Margaret Wade, Sue Gunter--- basketball stars and basketball coaches (Dot also coaches football at Hinds!). Ruthie Bolton, Willye B. White -- two female Olympians. Mary Bentley Mills -- Pro golfer.

lls32001

Mar 15 2008

Oh, and Carolyn Henry, for tennis.

lls32001

Mar 15 2008

How about Bailey Howell, who played basketball for MSU? I don't know how good he was in the pros, but to have a statewide award named after you (like Charles Conerly and in football and Boo Ferriss in baseball), you had to be good. I would put Rafael Palmiero's name on the list, but he cheated by using performance-enhancing drugs. How about another former MSU baseball star, Will Clark? In the future, Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (another State baseball player) and Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt may go on the list, too.

golden eagle

Mar 16 2008

I am just pleased that there is such a huge debate... and let's be honest even if we divided this into a college and pro section... there would be hard pressed to get a consensus on a top ten in EITHER category. Mississippi is the home of great athletes and good people. I am proud to say while tutoring at Ole Miss, two of my 5 football students are now in the pros and doing well (and also wonderful people that deserved the money. One actually said to me "If I get drafted and have a signing bonus that can buy my parent's a house, make sure they don't ever have to work and my sister's kids go to college and I buy a small place where I am playing.... would it be wasteful to buy me a big SUV.... I would like leather... but that may be a little wasteful. I mean I am big so I need it right? Again the 2 that made it and the 1 that got cut BUT all had careers planed out. Mississippi is missing 2 teachers.. both are playing on Sunday and 1 highway patrolman that tried a different league and is now doing well selling insurance. The kids that were going to make millions as pros... I don't know they crashed and burned.. the kids that worked hard and had plans... They made it somewhere. AGamma627

AGamm627

Mar 23 2008

How about a list of some of the best coaches who are from or coached in Mississippi? I'm came up with a list of a few: Johnny Vaught (Ole Miss football) Boo Ferriss (Delta State baseball) Jeff Bower (USM football) Sue Gunter (LSU women's basketball) Van Chancellor (current LSU women's coach and former Ole Miss and Houston Comets coach) WC Gorden (JSU football) Jackie Sherrill (MSU football) Dave Whitney (Alcorn basketball) Ron Polk (MSU baseball)

golden eagle

Mar 24 2008