Who was the most INTIMIDATING athlete of all time?

[39special]

How about Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson.

[Wihawk]

Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns didn't exactly look like a charm school grad with that evil pre fight stare

[CW]

Wow, I'm amazed it took post #7 for Bob Gibson to be mentioned. He was the first that came to mind. I would also have to imagine that Michael Jordan was intimidating in his prime.

[novakjr]

Boxing:Sam Langford...

Baseball: Batting- Barry Bonds. Steroids aside, from '01-'04 nobody wanted to pitch to the guy, and when they did, we all know what happened..

Baseball: Pitching- I have to agree about Gibson, but Randy Johnson is right there with him.

Football:I think I'll have to agree about Butkus, but on a different note, I think just about every receiver or TE had to cringe at the thought of a crossing route when John Lynch was on the field..

UFC/Wrestling: For a while there, I'd say that Brock Lesnar was one scary dude...

[cincyredlegs]

I remember watching a show on TV (I think it was George Burns baseball documentary) and they were talking about Willie Mays.

As the story goes, Willie got up to the plate in the 1st inning and started to dig out a little hole with his right (back) foot for better leverage. As he got set in he said he forgot who was pitching. He looked up and realized it was Don Drysdale.

Willie quickly called time, covered up the hole and stepped back into the batter box. Drysdale's first pitch nearly took Willie's head off. Now that is what I call intimidation.

Mark

[benderbroeth]

Originally Posted by cincyredlegs

I remember watching a show on TV (I think it was George Burns baseball documentary) and they were talking about Willie Mays.

As the story goes, Willie got up to the plate in the 1st inning and started to dig out a little hole with his right (back) foot for better leverage. As he got set in he said he forgot who was pitching. He looked up and realized it was Don Drysdale.

Willie quickly called time, covered up the hole and stepped back into the batter box. Drysdale's first pitch nearly took Willie's head off. Now that is what I call intimidation.

Mark

i think you mean ken burn's documentary not george burns..unless i am wrong lol

[bcbgcbrcb]

Albert belle

[mintacular]

Just wondering how you would forget who's pitching, wouldn't you know the day before and also see the guy warming up, and also, if not lead-off wouldn't you be watching Drysdale pitch to the first few hitters? Sounds like an old-wives tale

[SlugSports]

How about "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson?!?! One of the most intimidating pitchers in big league history. Major league hitters would look like this when they saw that 100MPH fast ball coming straight for their head!!

[cincyredlegs]

Originally Posted by mintacular

Just wondering how you would forget who's pitching, wouldn't you know the day before and also see the guy warming up, and also, if not lead-off wouldn't you be watching Drysdale pitch to the first few hitters? Sounds like an old-wives tale

I wasn't there so maybe it is. I am just going off of what I saw on the program. There was another player telling the story, just can't remember who it was. Either way, in my opinion, Drysdale would probably go down in the top 3 intimidating pitchers of all time.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Albert belle

I thought about suggesting him. Dude was a beast in his prime. But as intimidating as he was on the field, I think he intimidated fans, reporters, ex-girlfriends, trick-or-treaters and clubhouse thermostats just a little more than he did pitchers..

[canjond]

Since he rode a horse (which makes you an athlete), Wyatt Earp

Without a doubt, Max Baer.

[thescooper]

GOLDIE GOLDTHORPE

[travrosty]

The answer is jim brown, he would walk the opponents sidelines before a game. steel look in his eye. ask anyone who ever played against him.


football is "maybe" a contact sport? i think i have heard it all now.