Top athletes of the century, part one

If you are a sports fan and you were asked to list the top 10 athletes from western Massachusetts from 1900-1999, who would be on your list ?

The Springfield Union News asked their readers to compile their opinions and submit them to the paper in November 1999, and the results were indeed interesting.

One hundred years is a long time to survey, western Massachusetts is a large area, and I’m sure someone in his/her 20s would vote differently than someone in his/her 80s. After all the votes were compiled, the list of the top 50 was released.

Think about it, right now, who would you say was the best athlete ever to come out of western Massachusetts?

People may have voted for a three-sport athlete they saw perform during their student days, or someone who made the NBA or the NFL or played Major League Baseball.

There were also signs many ladies voiced their opinion, when Rebecca Lobo of Southwick and the University of Connecticut hoops was no. 5 on the list.

No doubt she is the top female hard court performer ever to play in our area, but top athlete? I don’t recall her scoring any touchdowns or hitting home runs in high school, but she was a great server at Mrs. Murphy’s donut shop on Rt.10-202.

Tied at no. 19 were 1960s rivals Henry Payne of Commerce and AIC and Gene Ryzewicz of Cathedral and Dartmouth College. Henry was a super hoop player, while Ryzewicz was his equal on the court but also was All Western Mass in football and hit .600 his senior year in baseball. He still holds career records at Dartmouth in baseball and football.

Nothing against Henry, but Gene was a much better athlete. Currently Ryzewicz is a top amateur golfer who has competed in the U.S. and British Senior Opens. Plus, anyone with two Zs in his last name should make the list.

There are also several names on the list I have never heard of. Fine athletes I’m sure, but they would not get my vote, because I don’t know what they did. Chris Waddell, Tiffiney Smith, Martha Sorenson, Howard Drew, Sherry Samborn, Gil Bello, Ed Carey and Bob Freedman must have a lot of relatives that buy the Union News.

Top Berkshire County athletes on the list were Mark Belanger of Pittsfield at no. 6 and Jeff Reardon of Dalton at no. 12. Many Berkshire County fans who saw Belanger perform put him as the best to come out of our county.

Tom Grieve and Art Ditmar of Pittsfield and Dale Long of Adams received support, but not enough to make the top 50. Golfer Bob Toski of Adams was at no. 20 and MLB pitcher Jack Chesbro of North Adams was at no. 24. If you win over 40 games in a season, you better be on that list. I wonder if Jack was on a pitch count ?

So, what would someone have to accomplish during his career to be selected to the top spot among the voters?

How about this:
*All Western Mass. selection for four years in baseball and football, offense and defense (Keep in mind that only nine players in baseball and 22 in football were selected.)
*Four seasons of football at Notre Dame, where he was captain a couple of those years
*15 years in the NFL , many years in the Pro Bowl
*Played in three Super Bowls, winning two of them
*Captained the 1972 Miami Dolphins to a perfect 17-0 season
*Member of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

In case you are still in the dark, we are talking about Springfield native Nick Buoniconti of Cathedral High School, a legend indeed and a deserving choice.

Posted by Dick Syriac on November 20, 2012. Filed under Berkshire Sports Guy,Columns,Opinion,Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry