GQ's 25 Coolest
I went to get a haircut yesterday and saw February's GQ with Tim Lincecum on it. I figured that if I ever meet member Trace Urdan I might need to know something about this kid, so I picked up the magazine.
Apparently, he's been named one of The 25 Coolest Athletes of All Time. (Lincecum, not Urdan. Sorry.)
This is the brief pre-list explanation about what makes an athlete "cool":
The icons we remember and revere are not always the guys with the best stats or the slickest end-zone dance. They're the ones who played the game like it was an extension of who they were and taught us how to be big-time with grace, style, and swagger. They're the guys we never got tired of watching. And never will.
They also say they "consider time to have begun when GQ did, in 1957."
I'm okay with their definition. Fine.
Here's their list: Joe Namath, Mario Andretti, Allen Iverson, Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg, Pele, Walt Frazier, Evel Knievel, Jean-Claude Killy, Pete Maravich, Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali, Julius Erving, Bob Gibson, Bo Jackson, Arnold Palmer, George Best, Derek Sanderson, Lincecum, Kenny Stabler, Michael Jordan, Gary Player, Ted Turner, Jim Brown and Kelly Slater.
I wholeheartedly agree with Namath, Iverson, Maravich, Ali, Best, Jordan and Slater.
I think they missed Roger Federer and Tony Hawk.
How about you?
- Comment (41)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments:
Jun '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Joe Montana belongs in there somewhere.
May '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Dale Earnhardt was cool personified, so he should be in there, maybe Richard Petty, too. Also, the Leonard-Hagler-Hearns-Duran era of boxing needs a representative.
And Ted Turner is not an athlete, and he's a dork, so he probably shouldn't be in there.
Jan '11
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Bart Starr, Walter Payton, Jack Nicklaus off the top of my head.
Sep '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
No offense to Lincecum, but is he really cooler than Nolan Ryan?
May '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
I assume that Tiger Woods would have been a lock until his personal life collapsed.
Jan '11
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
For his yacht racing, I assume ( Dennis Conner lost the America's Cup. . .)
Jan '11
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Any "cool" list without Joe Montana isn't worthy of the name.
Nov '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Couldn't agree more with you on Tony Hawk. And if they were enlightened enough on Kelly Slater, then Karch Kiraly should be on the list....greatest volleyball player ever and a phenomenal athlete.
Oct '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Greg Norman
Jul '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
That's gotta be the rationale for leaving off Magic, Golden Boy Paul Hornung & Wilt as well.
Kareem should be on the list.
Aug '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
How many barber shops, styling salons are in the country ? And whatever the resulting number, is it really enough to support a magazine like GQ ? Do they have to subscribe to GQ in order to cut hair ?
May '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Yes, of course!
Also, Earl Campbell: "Just a pinch between your cheek and gum, and your troubles are lo-o-ong gone."
Sep '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
There really are too many greats in pro sports in this category. More hockey players truly most salt-of-the-Earth types in all of pro sports missing teeth and all. Bobby Clarke, and others... There is also Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Chuck Bednarik, (yeah, I'm from Philly) off the top of my head. Oh, and Pete Rose...
Jun '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
I guess it is a matter of preference, but the only thing cool about Lincecum is the value he brings to my fantasy baseball team.
One possible addition would be Ken Griffey, Jr.
Oct '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Reading that list and the names in the comments so far brings to mind the observation that “Making it look easy is the hardest thing of all”. The “naturals” in sport and many other fields of endeavour (from the performing arts to computer programming) where there is a large difference between the median person in the field and the very best tend to make it look easy and effortless as they astound you with their performance. And I suspect this is just as much the case when their achivement comes from assiduous and tedious practice as any natural talent.
Edited on February 13, 2011 at 8:20pmMay '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Rodney Dangerfield.
Aug '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
I find the lack of Michael Schumacher disturbing. Get rid of Ted Turner and put him on the list. Earnhardt belongs too as pure class, but Schumacher brings the cool fashion Ferrari, Benetton, Mercedes, Jet Set package.
Oct '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
Who's Ted Turner? Is that Jane's beau?
GQ has overlooked Tony Oliva. Gale Sayers, Tony Dorset, Chuck Forman, Herschel Walker and the list goes on and on and on...
Sep '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
By the way, I recently noticed the ads tailored to comment content. Here there is a Sports auction ad and a Lakers Magic ad. In a post I started on the Agulerra Anthem debacle there were ads related to music. On Clare's lament on American airlines there is a KLM ad. Welcome to the brave new world of targeted advertising! I'm not complaining it's just kind of funny.
Dec '10
Re: GQ's 25 Coolest
I echo John Walker on the "making it look easy" aspect.
So I see Pike Bishop's Walter Payton and add Lance Armstrong.