Gary G
3734
Great Theme, Art!
There is only one photograph of an athlete hanging in my office, however -- another unexpected connection between myself and my good friend pplater:
The Greatest of All Time? Without a doubt -- and a towering figure as a person (and personality) as well.
There's another hero of mine who has come to the fore this week -- I'm in the process of helping my parents (age 87) move from their home into a retirement community, and we've been going through a lifetime's accumulation of items at their home, many of which I never knew existed. Here's the hero: my Grandfather, seen here with my Grandmother (whom I never knew) in a photo I never knew was there. By the time I knew him he was of course considerably older -- but it appears here that he was in fact a bit of a dandy in his younger days!
Another completely unexpected treasure was in an innocent-looking tin container -- his Hamilton watch, a gift from my Mother:
A longer post will be forthcoming, as there were a number of watches in the tin -- looks as if he was somewhat of a collector! The one above is the one that I am wearing right now, though. As far as I know the watch had not been wound since his death in 1960 -- but it started right up and is keeping excellent time!
All the best,
Gary G
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Football season in America begins today . . .
. . . which brings to mind another facet of our lives we rarely broach on this forum, namely, sports. We've shared our favorite films and film scenes, and musicians and concerts, before; let's share our favorite athletes this time around, along with the w...
Well, we have the watch, and a . . .
. . . sporting one, too, but we're missing the athlete! Isn't there at least one that you admire, Ken?
Of course, there is one.
"I" in my ID, KIH, is the same as his name. Ken-Ichiro :-) ...
The 1969-1970 New York Knickerbockers NBA Champions
Unforgettable, in my book. Being from Queens, New York, we practically worshipped the Knicks, who beat the L.A. Lakers and Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in 7 games with the likes of players like Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier,...
Bata is the man
Doing this 3 shots in a raw in a game that means winning a match is surely something to admire I'm sure he has a pair of brass ;) Cordially Pool buddy D P.S. Love the reactions of his opponent :)
I've made kick shots . . .
. . . where the object ball is positioned mid-way on the short rail, but only off of one bank; to make that shot off two banks is just unbelievable. Bata's the best, no doubt about it . . .
Ower the time
when you look at number of his "lucky" shots you realize it has nothing to do with luck :) Cheers D
A kick shot to pocket an object ball frozen on the short rail . . .
. . . off of one bank isn't overly difficult, Jed - I've made that shot in game situations, although admittedly, it's a low-percentage shot for my skill level. To make it off of two banks, like Reyes does in the video clip, is something else altogether. T...
Hi dear Damjan, it looks like 4 shots in a row to me:)...
amazing, really amazing the sporting spirit of his opponent, he is amost barracking for Efren Reyes "Bata" in admiration! Good old time hey!:) Cheers Francois from Down Under
You counted correctly
but that 2nd one is not a shot it's magick :) Anyone who made on purpose "only" 2 cushion shot will agree. More amazing is when you know his opponent another legendary pool player the bad tempered Earl "The Pearl" Strickland Cheers Damjan
Thank you Damjan, to tell you the truth I have only....
played Pool few times, its fun but I am not very good at it...at all:):) and don't really know anything about the game. I just found the shots on the videos proposed...amazing! Wishing you a lovely weekend Cheers Francois
The Magician
No wonder he is called The Magician after seeing these videos. Spectacular with a touch of physics. Love it! Andrew
Not a football fan ...
A simple homage to the best racing car driver ever: James "Jim" (or "Jimmy") Clark , Jr OBE (4 March 1936 – 7 April 1968) According to some sources, Jim Clark , wore a Gallet MultiChron model 12 to track his winning on the 1965 Indianapolis 500. I don't h...
Clark was, by most accounts, the best ever . . .
. . . in the driver's seat. Never saw him, of course, but familiar with his exploits. It's the rare driver that's successful in every venue, and Clark was as adept at American oval track racing as he was in road circuits. I had the pleasure of seeing Dono...
Audi convertible?
Great photo of the Speedmaster, and an excellent nomination. A legendary driver. It's funny but the sportsmen than inspired me as a teenager were all drivers. Andrew
Convertible! No way!
Andrew, Where I live, don't know why, convertibles are very uncommon. As a fact, I never had or even considered one. Another point is that I'm a serious businessman meaning that I must drive a sedan. My case: A4, 2.0 Turbo Multitronic. Cheers, Nilo
Just trying to work out ...
... the angles to reflect trees and sky in the Speedy with a hard top. Impressive photography. Andrew
Believe it or not ...
The pic was taken inside my garage, that opens to a park in front. Cheers, Nilo
Both wonderful pictures of a wonderful watch Nilo! I enjoy so much ...
... viewing them! (The car not bad either! Lol!) Best cordial regards, Abel.
Redux
My list ... and apologies My Fav in NFL (and by far my fav) .... Mr Elusive himself .. in NBA (No, not his Airness .. ) ... Twin Peaks ! Twin Terror ... All Goodness !!! How I miss those days ... In the NCAA .... Anyone recalls the FAB 5 ? My Grandmama wa...
Emmitt?! Wow, that's a choice I would never . . .
. . . have expected to come up in this thread! Truth be told, I was also taken aback by Iceman's pick, Walter Payton; like Emmitt Smith, both their careers go far enough back that it's difficult to remember how great they truly were. Same goes for my sent...
Sports Heroes
Art, I've given up on hero worship in professional sports. The scandals, the arrogance and the money have left me fairly jaded. I used to take refuge in college sports, and I still get fairly emotionally charged about my alma mater, but even among so-call...
Sweetness
Walter Payton was not the biggest or fastest player in the NFL. But his determination , work ethics and integrity is unsurpassed. He was a member of the CHICAGO BEARS when i was studying in california in the 80s. MY success in Business is because i try to...
Holy cow!
You got it! Many, many congratulations -- looking forward to seeing much more of this one... Best, Gary
The PLM T
@ Jed, Fernando and Gary Thks , i will post more pics in the future for sure. Mean while here is another shoot. Best iceman ...
I saw Payton play once . . .
. . . against the Raiders, at the end of his career. It's the second game on this video; you can see Walter at ~ the 1 hour 10 minute mark.
Great addition to the family
Watch of the Week award just got easier. :-) The right balance of modernity and tradition. Lovely tourbillon. Enjoy. Andrew
With all those tomatoes from the garden, you've gotta make a batch . . .
. . . of Texas Red for that future gold medalist! Nuthin' better than a bowl of chili ;-) . . .
Not a bad idea, Art.
But, sadly, she'd never eat it. Sadly, this Texan in Exile is raising a Valley GIrl! Best, CaliforniaJed
Gotta take her to . . .
. . . Chili John's in Burbank, on Burbank Boulevard - I've never been there, but a buddy of mine swears by their Texas Red. (True story: Carroll Shelby brought my Uncle Steve a pot of his own homemade chili after Steve finished an upholstery job for him.)...
Cool story about Carroll Shelby!
I've been to Chili John's. Their chili is really hot and really greasy. As I recall, they make you get spaghetti noodles with it, which didn't sit right with me, but the regulars loved it. Maybe worth a trip back -- it's probably been ten or twelve years....
You did say "favourite athletes"...
It is such a wide and varied world, Art, that hopefully you will not mind a personal ‘Top Ten’: Cassius Clay. So well regarded inside his sport and out that there is no need to defend the selection. A man who had the courage of his convictions and all the...
Damjan appreciates it very much
as Art will, I'm certain Speaking about scientific Nikola Tesla the greatest scientist of all times, in my eyes, (many will not agree) was excellent carom player. Story goes that he lived during studies of the game. Regarding your nothing scientific I ass...
That scientific dial of . . .
. . . pplater's Omega masterpiece sets my heart aflutter, too, Damjan. (Had no idea about Tesla's skill at billiards; I'd read a biography many years back, but don't recollect that detail about his personal life.)
We agree about Tesla
A real magician. I always wanted to build a Tesla coil in my backyard, but dad wouldn't let me! Andrew
That's the spirit! Thanks for sharing so many . . .
. . . of your favorites. Personally embarrassed for never having heard of Lindrum, even though his specialty - billiards - is a game I'm unfamiliar with. John and Lomu are also new to me, but then, my knowledge of rugby is nil. American football was a pas...
Hi Pplater, thank you for the retrospectives! Agree...
with you for some but have not the slightest idea about others. However the watch..... "Nothing particularly scientific about the choice this week"...you are right..... just pure beauty! Wishing you a great, if wet weekend! Cheers Francois
I have to mention two characters, here.
One is my godfather, who was the first to introduce me to watches, when I was 7 years old, the other is more famous, Thomas Magnum, who has fed my passion for watches with a Rolex GMT. But today, I don't wear a Rolex. I wear, and for 7 days, now, this one...
Well, you're one of my favorite characters, Nico . . .
. . . and for those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting him, he is a character, and then some! Gorgeous image, as usual. Any favorite athletes to go along with your Godfather and Magnum?
Maggie? :)))
There are few athlètes I admired... There was one, maybe, who was a columbian Goal Keeper, Higuita. Completely crazy. He stopped a shot ala Scorpion, once. His trainer didn't appreciate at all. He was playing for the national selection, during one world c...
Ah Nicolas, this watch..the more I see it the more....
it grows on me and is now on my top 3 list. Wishing you a very nice weekend my friend. Cheers Francois from Down Under
Top three, yes, but above the 2 others? :))) Thank you, my friend. This one is pure
... Poetry! Best, Nico, just up above.
Aaaah dear Nico, I have no real second, third or fourth....
right now, the 3 I have in mind are, not necessarily in this order, the PP 5110P (yours:)) the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle manual Platinum with that great "slate" dial and the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor or Philippe Dufour Simplicit...
What is a sporting watch?
Having virtually no knowledge, background or interest in any kind of sports (which is why I can't figure out this watch) I queried Google Images to see what a sporting watch is: Apparently the definitive choice is a Ralph Lauren 3-hand, wood-grain dial wa...
That Seiko tells the duration . . .
. . . of the period ascribed to the sport. Soccer, for instance, is played in 45 minute intervals; boxing matches last 3 minutes.
Amazing Seiko Mike
You are cornucopia of unusual pieces this one is just on top of them All the best D
Fav Athletes and a chrono
Not to detract from CaliforniaJed's fine California sportswoman, but my two favorite athletes are these two women; the fact that they are two of my daughters in no way influenced me here. But, then, greatest athlete I ever worked with was this amazing man...
A few of us apparently enjoy athletic talent . . .
. . . within our own families! Absolutely none in mine, unfortunately. Thanks for sharing your prides and joys with us, Seth. That goes for the Habring, too ;-) . . .
Great Theme, Art!
I have deep admiration for a number of sports figures (and the broader topic of "greatness" is one that I ponder quite a bit), and in my life have had the wonderful opportunity to see many of them perform in person (Jordan, Gretzky, Payton to name a few)....
That's two for Muhammed Ali. By any objective . . .
. . . measure, he would have to rank amongst the greatest of all time. It's hard to come up with anyone who was more dominant in his (or her) field. Willies Shoemaker and Mosconi, perhaps? Lovely Hamilton, and lovelier story - thanks for sharing, Gary.
Goo'day Gary, as an athlete, I have to admit and ....
do admire immensely Mohammad Ali (Cassius Clay)......certainly one of the greatest and his stand against the Vietnam war was at least admirable and very courageous. Although I would definitely add Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) as one of the greatest ...
the athlete...the man...
Hicham El Guerrouj, for his incredible carreer and peformances but even more for the person I had the pleasure to meet! Matt ...
Distance runner, right, Matt? . . .
. . . my residence in Los Angeles during the 1984 Games wasn't ten miles from the Coliseum, but for reasons long forgotten, I missed out on the competition altogether. Somehow, the Olympics don't seem quite as special now as then . . . the world is a smal...
Wrist shot . . .
. . . of the year! (And yes, folks, that's a real 49ers Super Bowl ring.)
Athletes!? Great topic indeed Art, to me there are.....
all those unknown Athletes, the ones no one even mentions as been Athletes, they are not famous, the immensely great majority not even known "et pourtant"...They are in all probability the weakest creatures at the beginning of their journey. Their journey...
Great definition ...
On a great text. Of course your picture brings another human sport in play: Envy. I' envy your JLC. On the good sense, for sure. Cheers, Nilo
Muito obrigado Nilo......
I don't blame you about the "envy" it is really a beautiful watch and I am really very lucky to be able to own it. Um grande abraco Francois from "the other Down Under" :)
Merci Nicolas for your kind words and the watch?...
Definitely one of my favourite. Cheers Francois
Fascinating and most eloquent, François. The book I'm currently reading . . .
. . . is Edward O Wilson's The Social Conquest of Earth , which touches upon the views you've just expressed. Perpetuals are so poignant, aren't they? . . .
Thank you Art, perpetuity, indeed this belief of many.....
that life, our life will go on perpetually is very interesting, as I believe that we human beings may well be the only creatures knowing full well that this is in fact not true and sooner hopefully later we will reconcile with the whole. Could it be pure ...
What about the favourite sport of the French? (No harm intended, Nicolas :-))
I am a bit late, but I am on holiday which may be an acceptable excuse. Yesterday I came across this pizza automat ("o´tomate") in our holiday town at the French côte atlantique and I started to worry about the future of the French Haute Cuisine: Or was i...
Enjoy the holidays, anaesdoc . . .
. . . and thanks ever so much for taking the time to share your watch du jour with us. Best, Art
Thanks for your kind words and wishes, Art!
Tomorrow we will drive home - and I look forward to coming home. The holidays must have worked then. Best anaesdoc
Years back ...
It was luxury. Today is a sport, a very rough one. Now serious: Beautiful picture of a very nice Flieger. Cheers, Nilo
. . . and your favorite athlete, Drew? . . .
. . . and yes, I'd consider test pilots as athletes, considering the physical forces . . . [Sam Shepard playing Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff ] . . . they endure.
There can be only one!
No. 44, 3, 4, 10, 5 October 22 1964 - June 7 1993 · 3x Olympic Medal · 2x FIBA World Championship Medals · 2x FIBA European Championship Medal · 2x Universiade Medal · 2× Euroleague Champion · 4× Euroscar Award · 2× Mr. Europa Award · All-NBA Third Team ·...
Admission time, Damjan: we might've invented basketball . . .
. . . but it was never a favored sport of mine, and I lived in So Cal during the '80s when Showtime was the talk of the town. Baseball and football (gridiron, not soccer) were the sports I followed growing up. I did see the Globetrotters once, way back wh...
Racing drivers …
... seem to figure prominently when I think of sportsmen that have influenced me. From Ayrton Senna to Alain Prost to Nigel Mansell. But it is Peter Brock - Peter Perfect, the King of the Mountain (Mt Panorama) who inspired me as a teenager. A humble gent...
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