Jesse Owens (Buckeye Bullet, 4 Time Olympic Gold Medalist, 8-time NCAA Champion)

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

So why don't we -- Buckeye Planet -- do something, like a mass protest e-mail to BTN? I'm ready to sign.

Well, if we do that, that might give the BTN the impression that people are interested in their program which will result in more lists in the future.

 

[AKAK]

Just looking at his collegiate career, there's another aspect of his collegiate accomplishments that is often overlooked. Most of us who have read this thread know that he set 3 world records and tied another on that day in Ann Arbor in 1935.

But I've just updated the title because of this bolded fact:



That quote is from the Big Ten icons story, and relates to men's track and field. It should be noted that Mark Spitz has 8 individual NCAA swimming titles, earned over 4 years. Stanford's Pablo Morales has 11 individual NCAA swimming titles.

It should also be noted that Suzy Favor-Hamilton (Big Ten icon #19) won 9 individual NCAA titles while at Wisconsin, which is tied with Sally Kipyego for the most among women track/cross country athletes. Georgia's Courtney Kupets won 9 individual NCAA gymnastics titles.

I suppose being a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (along with Nicklaus and Wooden) and the Congressional Gold Medal (Along with George Washington, Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill) doesn't fit in the thread title.

 

[BB73]

I suppose being a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (along with Nicklaus and Wooden) and the Congressional Gold Medal (Along with George Washington, Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill) doesn't fit in the thread title.

Those are impressive, but there's only so much room.

There's definitely no room for 'Big Ten Icon #3' in the title.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Well, if we do that, that might give the BTN the impression that people are interested in their program which will result in more lists in the future.

Bingo. I once made the mistake of watching one of those bad list shows on the BTN. It was a horrible list, too--something like best Big Ten RBs of the 80s. Long story short, I quickly realized that with those lists, the goal of the BTN is to be a PC as possible and list as many athletes from the member schools as they possibly can. This Owens/Griffin embarrassment must be driven by the same desire to be PC and inclusive--how else can you explain not having in the top 2 Big Ten icons the only 2-time HT winner and a guy who did what Owens did in the Olympics?

 

[jlb1705]

To add a little more perspective, there is also a monument to Owens' greatest collegiate achievement on the campus of his alma mater's chief rival.

I highly doubt however that there is any sort of recognition of Red Grange or Magic Johnson on any other Big Ten campus besides their own.

 

[BuckTwenty]

The only time Jesse Owens will ever finish third.

As if the credibility of this list weren't already shot by not having Chic Harley on this list or Golden Bear as low as he was.

 

[Buckeye86]

The only time Jesse Owens will ever finish third.

As if the credibility of this list weren't already shot by not having Chic Harley on this list or Golden Bear as low as he was.

My favorite quote discrediting the list (talking about Magic at #2):

Perhaps it could be... Magic...if he were awarded two additional Big Ten Player of the Year honors, two more National Player of the Year awards, two more first-team All America awards, one more conference title, two more title game appearances, an Olympic gold medal as a college student and five fewer losses, but with one extra season. Then his ranking above Owens might be justified. Of course, if you were to give all of those things to him he would cease to be Magic Johnson. He would become Jerry Lucas.

 

[BB73]

To add a little more perspective, there is also a monument to Owens' greatest collegiate achievement on the campus of his alma mater's chief rival.

I highly doubt however that there is any sort of recognition of Red Grange or Magic Johnson on any other Big Ten campus besides their own.

That must be fake, it doesn't say 'Ohio State' or 'Buckeye' anywhere on it. :tongue2:

 

[jlb1705]

Perhaps they should've gone with two separate series: Ohio State Icons, where they highlight Owens, Griffin, Nicklaus, Lucas & Harley among others. Then they could've had an Honorable Mention Big Ten Icons for all the other schools to have a participation trophy circle jerk.

 

[DaBears]

Jesse Owens not being #1 is beyond ludicrous. If you did an NCAA icons list (based only on collegiate achievements), I could make a competitive argument that he should be #1 on that list. #3 in the Big Ten, that's just laughable.
:osu:

 

[Steve19]

Why don't we start that and invite fans from the other boards to come and vote?

 

[DaBears]

Why don't we start that and invite fans from the other boards to come and vote?

Sounds like a great idea to me. Just off of the top of my head, the other contenders would be Jim Brown, Jackie Robinson, and Jim Thorpe. Maybe Wilt Chamberlain, Bo Jackson, etc. I'm sure I forgot someone deserving. It's hard to argue against Jim Brown in anything, but I'm still taking Jesse Owens.

 

[jlb1705]

Sounds like a great idea to me. Just off of the top of my head, the other contenders would be Jim Brown, Jackie Robinson, and Jim Thorpe. Maybe Wilt Chamberlain, Bo Jackson, etc. I'm sure I forgot someone deserving. It's hard to argue against Jim Brown in anything, but I'm still taking Jesse Owens.

Dan Gable.

 

[Mike80]

Jesse Owens being #3 is a disgrace. And here I thought the BTN was better than that.

 

[Buckeye86]

I think it largely depends on what criteria you use to rank your list. If you are going by "iconic" rather than "greatest" you have to go with Jesse Owens hands down.

There have been few villains in the history of the world more evil and iconic than Hitler, and Jesse Owens put him in his place as a amateur athlete in college.

It is almost impossible to get more iconic than that.

"Greatest" is more of an arguement.