PorkChop wrote:monsterpile wrote:lipoli390 wrote:PorkChop wrote:Only Minnesota athlete and one of a select few in all of sports that didn't crumble under the pressures of his big contract . Brought it every night individually and made players around him better from a position that's difficult to do so. Loyal, fierce, leadership and durable (thru his first 15 years) everything you'd want in your teams best player . No one earns 300 million but I never felt short changed when he walked off the court .
There have been great players that were apart of better teams in Minny but I believe him to be the best individual athlete to ever suit up in our state.
He was everything the Twins needed Joe to be .
Kirby didn't crumble. The difference is that Puckett didn't have as big a contract, agreeing instead to a home town discount. He and KG are clearly the two best professional players in MN history. I don't see one as better than the other. Puckett's health cut his career a bit short.
As athletes both guys left it all out on the field and played hard every night and brought it every single night. KG did it for years and years consistently. It was actually easy to take it for granted.
I thought about Kirby too and he was a great player but I think he's a small notch down from KG by no fault of his own (glaucoma). KGs a top 15-20 player in History and top 3-5 at his position. Kirby by most "experts" standards is top 120 and top 15 at his position . Again had he played for 18 years it's a different argument. But I do love me some Kirby!
Good point, Pork. Of course, we have Kirby leading his team to two championships with game-winning home runs and game-saving catches. What they have in common was greatness and complete commitment to their team and teammates. We're so lucky to have had both of them as representatives of our local sports scene.