Really, who doesn't want to hear about Zdeno Chara (except Mike Milbury, heh)? And since there's been a few Battle of California + plus Boston! jokes floating around, I figured this would be the best time to relate a Chara story that might put him in the Gary Roberts - Bill Bradzke*-Chuck Norris league of Guys Whose Toughness Eventually Spawn Urban Legends.This also brings into the question: is Chara the best borderline circus act success story in sports?
The guy wanted to be completely alert and aware during shoulder surgery!
Shawn Bradley was like a nerdy mormon on stilts whose life was justified by athletic NBA players dunking mercilessly on him. George Mursean was as successful as someone who starred in a mediocre Billy Crystal movie can be.** And the jury's still out on Kimbo Slice.
(Let's not even touch the steep decline of Manute Bol.)
Being that I had a rough day at work, I assume I have to be missing a glaring example of circus act-turned sports great, so lay 'em on me.
P.S.: is Brian Burke the first "lame duck" GM in NHL History??
And, the obligatory Shawn Bradley embed, because I'm a dick...(but not as much of a dick as the folks at Sportscenter, apparently)
* Is that how you'd spell that semi-beloved SNL "character?"
** I call "My Giant" mediocre because I haven't seen it. Which might, nonetheless, make my "critique" one of the gentlest the movie ever received...
Ugh, I just realized that "lame duck" and Brian Burke will be used in a revolting amount of hockey headlines. It's crazy that I came across that pun on accident.
ReplyDeleteThis might be a long year.
Here's to Bill Braski! (I think thats how you spell it, but dont quote me).
ReplyDeleteIt's "Brasky," as in, "Brasky named the group Sha Na Na. They did NOT want to be called that."
ReplyDelete