Oller: Who did Kirk Herbstreit worship as a kid? What about Ryan Day? Heroes step forward
Rocky Colavito turned 90 this month. Who is he? Just my earliest childhood sports hero, that’s all. But that is a lot, as any parent of a wide-eyed innocent son or daughter can attest.
The Rock arrived in Cleveland in 1955, well before I joined Earth’s roster, and put up excellent numbers over the next four seasons before general manager Frank Lane traded him to Detroit in 1960 for 1959 AL batting champ Harvey Kuenn in one of the more unpopular trades in franchise history. Cleveland brought Colavito back in 1965, and he enjoyed two excellent seasons at Municipal Stadium before being shipped to the Chicago White Sox about halfway through the summer of 1967.
My love for Rocky was influenced by my older brother, who adored him and Mickey Mantle, and though my hero worship eventually landed on Cleveland first baseman/outfielder Ken “Hawk” Harrelson – unlike Cincinnati, early 1970s Cleveland offered slim pickings in the way of baseball superstars – Colavito was my first true love.
Kirk Herbstreit and Urban Meyer, meanwhile, gave their hearts to members of the Big Red Machine. They are two of dozens of current/former players and current/former coaches from across the sports spectrum I heard from after asking who they grew up idolizing. Some mentioned only a name. Some expanded on the reasons why. All had someone who was a boyhood or girlhood hero. Let’s take a look. (Some answers have been edited for style, clarity and brevity.)
Current/former Buckeyes
Fullback Vaughn Broadnax: Elston Howard. He was my mother’s first cousin and as a 2 ½-year old I went to my first MLB game, which just happened to be the World Series at Yankee Stadium. I played Little League baseball and always looked up to him, because he was the first Black player for the Yankees and the first Black coach in the American League. He often visited Columbus to see the Clippers and we would meet up when I was a teen. Unfortunately, he passed away too young (age 51).
Football coach Ryan Day: Larry Bird (Celtics vs. Lakers!)
Defensive lineman Matt Finkes: My dad. When I was a kid I used to go through the scrapbooks of his high school and college articles for football and wrestling at (St. Paris) Graham, and then Wilmington College.
Sophomore safety Sonny Styles: My dad was always an inspiration growing up, but I always loved watching the videos of (NFL and Miami Hurricanes defensive back) Sean Taylor. He was one of my favorite dudes, to watch all his little highlights, videos and 30-for-30s. Just watching him, you could feel the passion of him on the field. He plays super physical and jumps off the screen.
Junior cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr.: Even now, it would be Kobe. Seeing his mindset, how he approached the game and tried to outwork everybody. How he showed up in the biggest moments.
Freshman defensive lineman Jason Moore: Kobe Bryant. His mentality, how he took on everything and how his thing was to always be the best version of yourself. That's a good person to look (up to).
Cornerback Dustin Fox: It was always my older brother Derek. He was five years older and good at everything he did. He was the fastest, could jump the highest. Best football and basketball player I had ever seen.
Linebacker Randy Gradishar: Jim Brown was the only name I knew.
Tailback/two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin: Jim Brown!
Tight end Ben Hartsock: Michael Jordan
ABC/ESPN analyst/quarterback Kirk Herbstreit: Davey Concepcion. I was a diehard baseball fan growing up in the 70s in southwest Ohio. Reds baseball was everything to me. I played shortstop, so naturally gravitated towards Davey, followed everything he did, including having my mom get me a gold necklace with a cross on it so I could cross myself and kiss the cross at every at-bat. I mimicked every movement he made. He was my guy.
Hurdler Stephanie Hightower: Wilma Rudolph. Our family always was Olympic track and field. There were not a lot of Black female athletes being highlighted until the Games, and watching her win on TV was inspiring and magical.
Basketball coach Chris Holtmann: Kyle Macy. He starred at Kentucky when I started to become obsessed with basketball.
Quarterback Bob Hoying: Rocky Balboa. Obviously fictional, but no lie I watched all the Rocky movies and fighting sequences nonstop as a young kid. As fate would have it, my rookie NFL year for the Eagles, first game, they always play a two-minute hype video featuring Rocky right before kickoff – hairs on the back of my neck and chills. The Vet was hyped every time.
Quarterback Rex Kern: Mickey Mantle.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel: Joe Montana.
Lineman/OSU radio voice Jim Lachey: Archie Griffin
Football coach Urban Meyer: Johnny Bench. I was a catcher in Little League. He was the best ever. Played a couple charity events with him the last few years. Great guy.”
Receiver Dee Miller: Michael Jordan.
Safety Donnie Nickey: Bo Jackson, no question.
Receiver Bobby Olive: Lynn Swann hands down.
Tailback Pepe Pearson: I idolized Raghib “Rocket” Ismail at Notre Dame. I always felt his style fit mine and I wanted to emulate his game. My professional idol was Barry Sanders, because I was fascinated by the way he played the game and could make people miss. I admired him so much I watched 10 years of film on him. I was lucky to create one or two moves he had.
Defensive back Doug Plank: Roberto Clemente. He was fast, a great hitter and intimidated runners with his powerful arm that could throw people out at the plate from right field. Always 100% effort. Never took a day off. His effort was very similar to Pete Rose.
Safety Tyvis Powell: Michael Jordan. At that time I can remember he was the most dominant player in sports. And my mom, being from Chicago, was a huge Jordan fan. She would buy me the shoes, the clothes. He still to this day is my favorite sports hero.
Wrestler Tommy Rowlands: John Elway and Nolan Ryan.
Wrestling coach Tom Ryan: Sugar Ray Leonard.
Quarterback Mike Tomczak: Fran Tarkenton and Bob Griese; their poise, athleticism, being overachievers and winning nature.
Football coach Jim Tressel: Willie Mays/Bart Star/Oscar Robertson (based on what season we were in).
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm: Michael Jordan. Worth ethic. Winner. Intense. My era of greatness!
Others
NBC analyst, NFL/Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge: Had three (one for each sport): Johnny Bench, Julius Erving, Joe Namath.
Bengals radio voice Dave Lapham: Bob Lilly of the Dallas Cowboys. I liked how he played and led his team. I wore his No. 74 in high school.
Hall of fame sports writer Dave Kindred: Stan Musial. Never saw him play, but read The Sporting News and listened to Harry Caray on KMOX radio.
NFL quarterback Joe Theismann: Joe Namath. I grew up in Jersey and thought he was unbelievable. I got to know him very well in time … and it’s great to meet someone who is your hero who lives up to the expectations you had. He was and is a great inspiration to me. The way he treated people was the way I wanted to treat people. When he broke his jaw (in 1967 against the Oakland Raiders) I changed my facemask (to a cage-style). When I walked to the line of scrimmage I hit my chest like he did. I slumped my shoulders like him. I went full Joe Namath.
Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw: Mickey Mantle, even though I was a catcher and at 7 years old obtained a Del Crandall catcher’s mitt.
Crew all-star Frankie Hedjuk: World champion surfer Tom Curren and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock: Gordie Howe.
Olympic marathoner Bill Rodgers: Growing up in Newington, Connecticut, it would be Mickey Mantle. When I became a runner later in my teens I saw the Olympic Games in Tokyo and saw Ethiopian Abebe Bikila win the marathon. He was kind of hard to understand, a sports hero so out of reach for someone like me, running two miles on grass, yet perhaps seeds were planted when I saw him win the gold medal.
FOX analyst/Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn: Jerry Rice. The first position I ever played in tackle football for (the Dublin Football League) was wide receiver. He was the best. Great hands. Great route runner. Also, it helped that San Francisco won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1989-90.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kirk Herbstreit, Urban Meyer, Ryan Day share their childhood heroes
