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hey call Bobby Hull ‘The Golden Jet’ for two reasons.
1) He was one of the fastest players in the NHL, clocked at nearly 30 MPH while skating. He also possessed one of the sport’s fastest shots, 95+ MPH.
2) The hair. Everyone loved those golden locks.
Regarded by many as one of the greatest hockey players who ever lived, Hull is one of three members of the Blackhawks 1961 Stanley Cup team new on Thuzio this week. Eric Nesterenko and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote are the others.
During a 23 year NHL career, Hull became the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season. By the time he retired from professional hockey, he had accomplished the feat five times. In 1,063 games, he scored 610 goals and had 560 assists, good enough to win three Art Ross Trophies and two Hart Trophies.
He also became hockey’s first million dollar man, bolting the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association in 1972.
A pair of Kansas City Chiefs legends are new to the site this week. There’s offensive lineman Will Shields, also a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. His 12 Pro Bowl appearances is tied for the league record with Champ Bailey and Randall McDaniel. He also never missed a game during his 14 NFL seasons and is a member of the league’s All-Decade Team for the 2000’s. Nick ‘The Kick’ Lowery is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. In addition to being selected as an All-Pro seven times, he is also the only American to work for both President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton in the White House Office of National Service.
Other new football talent includes Keena Turner, who was the starting outside linebacker during all four of the 49ers Super Bowl victories in the 1980‘s, Chicago Bears All-Pro Jerry Azumah, a record-setter while playing Division 1AA football at the University of New Hampshire, tight-end turned songwriter Ben Utecht, former Bills and Ravens receiver Lee Evans, current Bengals backup QB Josh Johnson, nine year NFL offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, and Iowa QB Chuck Long, who led the school to a Big 10 title in 1985.
To the hardwood, where Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson is the big new addition. The five-time NBA champion had his #19 retired by the Boston Celtics before coaching the Bucks, Warriors and Mavericks to a league-record 1,335 career wins. He’s literally ‘a steal’ at $1,500 for lunch or dinner, or $2,500 for ‘Attend a Game’ experiences.
While not a Hall of Famer, every basketball fan knows who you are talking about when the phrase “Simon says championship” is uttered. Miles Simon helped lead the Arizona Wildcats to the 1997 NCAA title, knocking off three #1 seeds in Kentucky, North Carolina and Wake Forest, en route to the title.
Horace Grant joins Harvey on the site. The four-time NBA champion was a part of the early Jordan dynasty years. He also won a title with Shaq and the Lakers and was a member of the 1995 Magic who made a run to the NBA Finals.
Other hoop heroes include Gerald Wilkins, younger brother of Dominique and a 13 year NBA veteran. He was the second scoring option behind Patrick Ewing for the Knicks during the late 1980’s. There’s also Terry Cummings, the 1983 NBA Rookie of the Year who scored 19,460 career points, and Michael Beasley, currently averaging double-digit points for the two-time defending champion Miami Heat.
Randy ‘Junkman’ Jones leads the talent from the diamond. The 1976 NL Cy Young winner started that year’s All-Star Game after posting a 16-3 first-half record. Something that nobody’s has done since. Ron Reed is one of only five pitchers in MLB history to have 100 wins, 100 saves and 50 complete games, while Bob Friend is the only man to lead the league in ERA while pitching for a last place team.
Junior Spivey made the 2002 NL All-Star team and was a part of the Diamondbacks World Series winning club in 2001, Ron Kittle was the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year, setting a White Sox record with 35 dingers in his first season, Roy Face is the Pirates all-time saves leader and a six-time All-Star, while Don Schwall was the 1961 AL Rookie of the Year
Last, but certainly not least are former Bruins goaltender and Hockey Hall of Famer Gerry Cheevers, NBA players Oliver Miller and Maurice Taylor, Golf Channel ‘Big Break’ contestant Shannon Fish, Broadway actor Russell Fischer, currently appearing in Jersey Boys, 2010 Super-G bronze medalist Andrew Weibrecht, who could be skiing for Team USA in Sochi and world-famous bodybuilder Robby Robinson, who has held numerous titles including Mr. America, Mr. Olympia, Mr. World and Mr. Universe.
Now that’s something to brag about.