12/22/24
May 12, 2007
Remember when he played for them?:
You don't? How about Toronto Raptor Hakeem Olajuwon? Or Baltimore Oriole Reggie Jackson? Or even Philadelphia Phillie Ryne Sandberg?
Some things just don't look right...
The Olajuwon one really blew my mind. I have been a huge basketball fan since I was 5 years old, and I can honestly say that I don't remember that in the slightest.
posted by yay-yo at 10:21 PM on May 12, 2007
The Olajuwon one really blew my mind. I have been a huge basketball fan since I was 5 years old, and I can honestly say that I don't remember that in the slightest. He didn't do much as a Raptor. Around 7 points and 6 rebounds a game.
posted by grum@work at 10:28 PM on May 12, 2007
I recall the great period in Toronto Raptor history when Alonzo Mourning graced the hardwood with his presence. Wait, he never showed up. Never mind.
posted by tommybiden at 10:47 PM on May 12, 2007
Speaking of Reggie Jacson he actually started with the Kansas City Athletics and ended with the Oakland Athletics(A's)
posted by Snaxster at 11:35 PM on May 12, 2007
What about the Seattle Seahawks Jerry Rice? I couldn't believe it....
posted by dlopez916 at 01:33 AM on May 13, 2007
I remember both the Rice stint and Montana's trip to KC. He did take the team to a 11-5 mark his first year there and 9-7 his second before retiring. Remember also that Marcus Allen played for KC when Montana was there. Steve Bono, also from SF picked up in 1995 taking them to 13-3.
posted by bavarianmotorworker at 06:49 AM on May 13, 2007
So Hasek was once a Blackhawk. Maybe keeping him would have allowed them to have a bit more success over the past 15 years. I also enjoyed looking at Jose Canseco's seven late career cameos.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:41 AM on May 13, 2007
I never forget that Scottie Pippen was a Rocket. That was '99, the infamous "lockout" season, and the Bulls looked so pathetic (with the occasional exception of Kukoc) that watching ex-Bulls on other teams (Pip in Houston, Longley in Phoenix, Kerr is San Antonio) was all that kept us poor Chicago fans going.
posted by ridadie2005 at 08:29 AM on May 13, 2007
How about the single game that Rasheed Wallace played with Atlanta a few years back?
posted by ajaffe at 08:45 AM on May 13, 2007
I feel like hockey probably has a lot of them because of the trade deadline moves that basically end up as a two month rental. These don't fit that category, but how about: Brendan Shanahan with the Hartford Whalers (mid-career cameo) Chris Pronger with the Hartford Whalers (early career cameo) Ozzie Osbourne with the St. Louis Blues (mid-career cameo)
posted by holden at 01:37 PM on May 13, 2007
From a local Boston hockey viewpoint, Ray Bourque's stint with Colorado Avalanche at the end of his career and Cam Neely's early start with Vancouver Canucks were omitted. I'm sure there are scores of examples that were not included.
posted by Howard_T at 01:40 PM on May 13, 2007
Did Wilt Chamberlain ever play for the Conquistadors? I seem to remember him trying to be a coach...and that the Lakers took court (as in legal) action against him to keep him from playing. As a Minnesota fan, we get used to seeing all of our great players in other jerseys!
posted by dviking at 02:13 PM on May 13, 2007
dviking, as Terry Pluto's great ABA book points out, Wilt played four preseason games with the Q's, averaging 18 points. During the season, he just sort of disappear for days on end and let Stan Albeck coach...
posted by ajaffe at 02:25 PM on May 13, 2007
The dude behind Hasek looks like he's going to murder somebody. Couldn't they have found a better photo, or used darkroom trickery to, uhh, fix that guy?
posted by fabulon7 at 03:00 PM on May 13, 2007
Not mentioned in the article, but always bothersome for me: Wendel Clark, NY Islander Borje Salming, Detroit Red Wing (only the jersey) Darryl Sittler, Philadelphia Flyer
posted by grum@work at 04:17 PM on May 13, 2007
Remember also that Marcus Allen played for KC when Montana was there. Steve Bono, also from SF picked up in 1995 taking them to 13-3. K.C. has done a good job of turning other people's trash into...
posted by yay-yo at 05:57 PM on May 13, 2007
The Olajuwon sign and trade was one of the most awkward in history. If I remember correctly, the Rockets and Olajuwon were working towards a deal that would allow Olajuwon to retire as a Rocket. The Rockets didn't want to commit to more than a season or two, so they did what they could to get some value for him. Olajuwon was re-signed for 3 years, $16.7M ($17.4 with incentives), and promptly shipped of to Toronto. Hakeem played only 1 season in Toronto and could not put an end to the decline in his numbers that started in '00. For their part, the Rockets received 2 picks in the 2002 draft. A first rounder, which became Bostjan Nachbar. And a second rounder which became Rasual Butler. What was to become Butler's pick (2nd round #52) originally belonged to the Heat, but they included the option to swap 2nd rounders with the Pistons in the Cedric Ceballos deal (11/26/00). The Pistons then traded the pick (or option to swap) to the Raptors for the rights to Zeljko Rebraca (7/13/01, made official 07/18/01). Come draft day (6/26/02) the Rockets opted to swap picks with the Heat. Rasual Butler was selected #52 by the Heat, and the Rockets ended up selecting Tito Maddox at #37. Nachbar, never really developed or contributed to the Rockets, but he has been a solid contributor to the Nets this season. Butler was a good role player in Miami, and has started off and on in New Orleans. Tito had a cup of coffee with the Rockets (9 games), had his team option declined after his rookie year, signed on with the Cavs for the '03 season but was waived before the season started. Funny how trades work out.
posted by lilnemo at 06:46 PM on May 13, 2007
Brendan Shanahan with the Hartford Whalers (mid-career cameo) I remember having an old hockey book you see in the B&N discount section with him in the Hartford uniform. Brett Favre played for the Atlanta Falcons his rookie year and was traded away the next season to The Packers where his legend is forever cemented. That one worked out well...
posted by jmd82 at 10:36 PM on May 13, 2007
Nice post. I was equally entertained by the "why that guy wears that number" story linked on that article. Maybe the best was Bill Lee wanting to wear 337 so if he was ever upside-down, it would say Lee.
posted by olelefthander at 10:46 PM on May 13, 2007
Franco Harris as a SEATTLE SEAHAWK FOR CHRISTS SAKE....OJ as a 49er if anyone cares...."the captain" as a ranger(or any thing other than an Oiler...)
posted by lucky no.13 at 11:00 PM on May 13, 2007
The best thing Mark Messier did as a Canuck was make a man outta Markus Naslund....
posted by lucky no.13 at 11:08 PM on May 13, 2007
OK,I hadn't actually READ the article before posting ... but now that I have..... Bryan Trottier was an intergral part of the Penquins Stanley Cup runs and after personally meeting him in the oddest places a first class human being....
posted by lucky no.13 at 11:21 PM on May 13, 2007
The best thing Mark Messier did as a Canuck was make a man outta Markus Naslund.... That's hot.
posted by NoMich at 07:27 AM on May 14, 2007
The best thing Mark Messier did as a Canuck was make a man outta Markus Naslund.... Ummm, how exactly? But, it is kind of hot in a West Coast kind of way.
posted by tommybiden at 07:53 AM on May 14, 2007
I remember both the Rice stint and Montana's trip to KC. He did take the team to a 11-5 mark his first year there and 9-7 his second before retiring. Remember also that Marcus Allen played for KC when Montana was there. Steve Bono, also from SF picked up in 1995 taking them to 13-3. Montana actually took the chiefs to the AFC championship game one year i think. Doing that with the chiefs, who are known for being totally inept in the playoffs, might have been his greatest accomplishment.
posted by brainofdtrain at 09:10 AM on May 14, 2007
Man I have no remembrance of Hakeem playing for Toronto, I read the headline and thought this was a joke. I must have been hibernating or something.
posted by TelamarketersBeware at 10:29 AM on May 14, 2007
Man I have no remembrance of Hakeem playing for Toronto That's okay. Neither does Hakeem.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:21 AM on May 14, 2007
I actually have an autographed photo of Hakeem in a Raptors uniform. I don't expect I'll ever find a buyer, though.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:39 AM on May 14, 2007
I actually have an autographed photo of Hakeem in a Raptors uniform. I don't expect I'll ever find a buyer, though. Put it on ebay for $50,000. You'll get a buyer eventually. Maybe Hakeem will buy it to see if he's actually wearing a Rapters uniform.
posted by TelamarketersBeware at 03:24 PM on May 14, 2007
Fun post. I was thinking of Guy Lafleur ... as a Nordique. And as a Ranger. Even Mark Messier as a Canuck: forgettable years, best forgotten.... Bobby Hull as a Winnipeg Jet. Bobby Orr as a Blackhawk. I guess it is the ones from childhood that are most jarring.