Here are some comments by our judges on athletes and coaches they think are icons but weren't consensus choices, or who they think don't quite rate icon status.
C I N C I N N A T I I C O N S
Webster's dictionary defines icon as "venerated as
sacred." We picked Pete Rose, Oscar Robertson, Paul Brown, Johnny
Bench and Anthony Munoz as Cincinnati icons, but do you think
anyone else rates that ultimate stature? You can vote for Nobody Else,
or for one of our nominations, or write in another choice in the
comments box at the bottom. Add comments if you wish, but please be sure to include your contact information if you do, or we will not be able to use your comments for publication. Click at the bottom to see the
current vote total. Comments will be published next Sunday.
Nobody Else
Reds
Sparky Anderson
Marty Brennaman
Ken Griffey Jr.
Waite Hoyt
Ted Kluszewski
Barry Larkin
Ernie Lombardi
Joe Morgan
Joe Nuxhall
Tony Perez
Jose Rijo
Eppa Rixey
Frank Robinson
Bengals
Kenny Anderson
Boomer Esiason
Corey Dillon
Basketball
Bob Huggins
Ed Jucker, coach
Byron Larkin
Steve Logan
Kenyon Martin
Jack Twyman
John Wiethe
High school sports
Shaun Alexander
Bron Bacevich
Dave Cowens
Gerry Faust
Robin Freeman
Mary Jo Huismann
Jerry Lucas
Dave Parker
Carlos Snow
Roger Staubach
Jaime Walz, basketball
“As good as Bob Huggins is as a coach, he hasn't reached the pinnacle like Oscar Robertson and Pete Rose, PB (Paul Brown), Johnny Bench and Anthony Munoz.
“Maybe DeHart Hubbard (is an icon), and not just for the history he made (he was the first African-American to win an individual gold medal in the Olympics; long jump, Paris, 1924) but for his contributions to sports and life in the city (he was a major figure in the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and founded a Negro League baseball team, the Cincinnati Tigers, in 1937). ...
“DeHart Hubbard's name may have fallen off (in recognition) in the white community, but at the time of his great achievements, everybody knew who he was. And his name is probably still strong in the black community today. Hubbard is an icon.”
Jim Schottelkotte, sports historian
“I don't know how (Joe) Morgan can be left out, because he's who really made it the Big Red Machine. He won those two MVP awards in 1975-76 when the team won World Championships. He's an icon.
“Tony Trabert (a No.1 in the world tennis player) achieved fame here, learned to play the game here. He played tennis and basketball at UC. He's a Cincinnati boy. He's an icon.
“John Wiethe played basketball at Xavier and captained the football team and was an all-NFL linebacker at Detroit. He was a Triple-A (baseball) umpire and coached high school teams at Roger Bacon, where he had a mythical state championship in football, and reached the state finals in basketball, and coached basketball at UC. He's the one who brought Jack Twyman to UC. He took UC from a bandbox gym into a national program. He could do anything. ...
“Ezzard Charles, the former heavyweight champion, is an icon. He was the biggest name around here (in the late 1940s and early 1950s). He was a light heavyweight, but he had to fight up (in weight) to make a living. ...
“Ed Jucker, Jack Twyman, icons ... Johnny Fischer (U.S. Amateur golf champion), Dan Tehan (star athlete at Xavier and trainer of many future NFL officials), and as broadcasters, Waite Hoyt, Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall, who not only was a great baseball and basketball star at Hamilton but a great running back in football, too. ... Gerry Faust and Bron Bacevich, and Mary Jo Huismann over at Mercy in high school coaching, and strongman Henry Holtgrewe back at the turn of the century — all icons.
“The only reason I wouldn't say DeHart Hubbard is an icon is because he achieved so much of his fame outside Cincinnati (at the University of Michigan, where he was a five-time Big Ten track champion).”
Steve Wolter, owner of Sports Investment Inc.
“You have to give strong consideration to Jack Twyman. ... Unfortunately, we tend to forget Ed Jucker, because it was 40 years ago that he coached UC basketball to three national final games and won the first two of them. He's our best UC basketball coach with the best results.
“Kenny Anderson? I don't think so. ... Dave Parker has issues, but he is probably the greatest all-around athlete ever to come out of Cincinnati. ...
“Ken Griffey Jr. has to be here longer to be a Cincinnati icon.
“A cult figure here more than anywhere is Ted Kluszewski, because of the home runs, the cutoff sleeves. His memorabilia is second only to Rose's in demand by our customers.”
Icons: Hubbard to Huggs, a case can be made
