I was having a beer with a number of Lions fans the other night and the topic of Best-Ever came up. This was a group of multi generational folks aged between 65-35.
The older consensus was clear: Joe Kapp or Willie Fleming. The passion for those teams was palpable
Then it got murky but still memorable:
Mervyn Fernandez
Jim Young
Then the '90’s teams seemed to be totally forgotten as the lost generation. The only guy that everyone mentioned was Passaglia.
Then a rebirth it seems in the 2000’s Geroy Simon, Dickenson, and several other names bantered about.
But boy you can sure tell that the 90’s were a lost decade for fans.
Is that telling?
depends on if you look at it as who was the best player to wear a lions uniform, or what player performed the best in lions uniform.
For the former, that answer is clearly doug flutie.
as for the 90's, Lui and Darren are all I can remember, sigh
The statementquestion can also be interpreted as what player best represented the lions, as in quality of play, off field public relations, longevity, etc. That would include such players as Lui, Jamie Taras and Brett Anderson.
IN terms of actual on field accomplishment and excitement as a lion, per game played, for me its gotta be mervyn for all time. Mervyn to me is the lions Pavel Bure.
Best Lion of all time?
Unfortunately…I really don’t think, that in the sport of Football…it is possible to Pick just One player, as being the Best.
Due to there being so many aspects and ingredients that would go into that type of player or that Title itself.
Yes…we have had Tons of really Good players put on the Lions Jersey, But the Best?
What with Football being made up of Defense and Offense and Special Teams…picking just One Player , that would stand out, High above the others…is next to impossible to do.
Popularity, PR, Self promotion and Exposure would play a Big part in that decision…and if it were to come down to Exposure…Ya…Merv Fernandez would be at the Top of that List ( Well …in Oakland, that is! LOL) .
The same argument can be made for any Sport…Hockey would have Bobby Orr?..Baseball would have Babe Ruth but if you were to get to specific Best Ever on certain teams…there is always room for argument.
Vancouver Canucks…Best “Player” ever…it has to be Pavel Bure…hands down.
Ya…Trevor and Stan are right up there for other factors…but when it comes down to BEST ever…unfortunately that usually means, POINTS put up on the Board…not Defense!
So having said that…Points put up on the Board for the Lions…then that would be Lui.
But in the running would be Joe Kapp…Willie Fleming…Jim Young…Merv…Flutie…etc.
A better question would have to be…Who is your all time Favorite BC Lion?
My pick would have to go to …Ray Nettles!
Being in my 50’s now ( Man…I still feel and act as if I am 15…My own 23 year old Son…is more Mature and Grown Up, than I will ever be! LOL) and coming from a family that had seasons tickets way back when…I have been fortunate to see a lot of our great players play for the Lions…Kapp, Young, Gerela, Evenson, Musso, Merv, John Henry White, Jake Scott, Bill Baker, Hunsberger, Estay, etc…But when it came to playing the game, as it should be Played…I would have to say…That Ray Nettles was the BEST…at his Position.
The Glory ( Pretty Boy) positions of Quaterback and Receiver, are always nominated for these types of over inflated Honors, but it is the Guys who play in the Trenches, and that actually get their hands dirty, are the ones that I watch, admire and respect.
Rest In Peace Ray.
In my eyes…You were and are …the Best!
Counting Down, is exactly what you do.....after having one too many, Beers! LOL
Just like the song says......99 Bottles of Beers on the Wall........99 Bottles of Beer.......Pass one down... and Pass it around, and you have 98 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.
Just like we are all counting down the days......until the First Kick Off, in the New Empire Stadium.
I really don't like it being referred to as, Empire Field......sounds more like a Soccer Pitch, and some what disrespectful to the Hallowed historic grounds, but to me.....it will always be Empire Stadium!
At any rate.......Lui was the Highest scoring Local Talent, to have ever played for the Lions.....but the Best?
That will always be open for a healthy Debate.
When I was at McMaster U in the late 60s/early 70s, there was a tongue in cheek Nub Beamer cult on campus. People wrote in his name on election ballots, etc etc.
QB: Damon Allen - passing, rushing, cup (runners up: Joe Capp, Roy Dewalt)
MOST EXCITING QUARTERBACK: Doug Flutie
RUSH: Willie Fleming - yards combined, cup (runners up: Jim Evensen, Sean Millington)
RECEIVING: Geroy!! (runners up: Swervyn Mervyn and Jim Young)
DB: Larry Crawford (hands down!)
O-LINE: The Murphinator! (Rob was the 'scariest' as well)
D-LINE: Anthony Parker
KICKER: Lui (Duh!) ...although McCallum has better FG %
INTERCEPTIONS: Larry Crawford
OVERALL DEFENSE: Barrin Simpson
MOST EFFECTIVE DEFENSE (tackles): Cameron Wake
KICKOFF RETURNS: Ian Smart
STRANGEST: Joe Smith
FUNNIEST: Grazy George (remember him?)
MOST FORGOTTEN: Paul Brothers
MOST UNDERRATED: Roy Dewalt
BEST OVERALL: Willie Fleming
I think Dave Dickenson was better than Damon Allen. Allen was great when on but horrible when off. Dickenson was very consistant and was amazingly efficient.
Rob Murphy was good on the O Line but I'd go with Jamie Taras instead there.
