SI Article on Montana

raincat · Post by **raincat** » Wed May 12, 2004 12:57 pm

I found the Sports Illustrated article very interesting. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see the poll noting the MSU Bobcats as Montana's most "hated" team (the g-bears were 3rd). Although I'm not a candidate for social security, I do note by the nature of the posts I've been around a little longer than most of you. It always saddens me to see Anaconda's Wayne Estes being left off the list of the States all-time greatest athletes. I will be willing to argue with anyone who says he wasn't the finest basketball player Montana ever produced. His untimely death was a huge loss on many levels. Also, in tribute to my late father, I'll mention his opinion that Butte's Milt Popavitch was the best football player he ever saw. Popavitch became a running back in the NFL and had several good years with the Cardnials. Won't say where he played his college ball. We tend to think the old timers could never compete at todays level. There's probably some truth to that, but certainly some exceptions. I'm reminded of a story told by ESPN's Chris Berman, who as a young reporter in Chicago had a chance to interview George Halas. Halas was a founder of the NFL, played for then coached the Bears from the early 20's to the mid 70's. Berman (sp?) asked him who the greatest running back was he ever saw. Halas was around with Gayle Sayers, Jim Brown...OJ, and without hesitation said, "Red Grange". Chris asked, "If Grange were playing today, how many yards do you think he'd gain?" Halas thought for a minutes and replied, "Oh, about 780". CB said, "but sir, with all due respect, 780 just aren't that many by today's standards" to which Halas replied, "but son, you gotta remember, today Red Grange is 74 years old."

WetWaderMT · Post by **WetWaderMT** » Wed May 12, 2004 8:12 pm

I haven't seen the article, but from what I've heard, they list Jack Dempsey's fight as the biggest/most important sporting event in Montana history...from everything I've heard, that is about the WORST Montana sporting event ever. I'm willing to bet they didn't do much more than interenet research for this article which is to be expected seeing as we aren't even considered "fly over country" by most of America!