Ranking the current Cleveland athletes
- col-aaron-dorksen
- February 17, 2022
- 1287
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
Soon after Super Bowl 56 ended, a fellow Browns fan told me, “Next year is here.”
That’s very true, but it also brings up lots of questions.
It’s amazing how much the Cleveland pro sports landscape has changed in a year.
The Cavaliers have overtaken the Browns as the city’s best team and the Indians are now called the Guardians (ugh).
In a recent column I asked people to share a list of their favorite current Cleveland pro sports athletes. The Cavs’ rise and Browns’ fall is evident in the many of the picks.
Here are the results:
Shane Argabite, Wooster: 1. Jose Ramirez, 2. Darius Garland, 3. Nick Chubb, 4. Denzel Ward, 5. Kevin Love.
Nate Huffman, Wooster: 1. Nick Chubb, 2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 3. Shane Bieber, 4. Franmil Reyes, 5. Jarrett Allen.
Rik Goodright, Wooster: 1. Jose Ramirez, 2. Darius Garland. 3. Joel Bitonio, 4. Nick Chubb, 5. Denzel Ward.
Mike Ruane, Akron: 1. Stipe Miocic, 2. Nick Chubb. 3. Kevin Love, 4. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. 5. Jose Ramirez.
Doug Drushal, Wooster: Nick Chubb, Kevin Love, Myles Garrett, Darius Garland, Shane Bieber.
Dan Gerhard, Vandalia: 1. Nick Chubb, 2. Darius Garland, 3. Wyatt Teller, 4. Evan Mobley, 5. Jarrett Allen.
Scott Liechty, Chardon: 1. Nick Chubb, 2. Myles Garrett, 3. Joel Bitonio, 4. Kevin Love, 5. Darius Garland.
Thanks to the gentlemen mentioned above who took the time to comment in my informal survey. They made some great picks and I can’t argue with any of them. Extra credit to Ruane, who thought outside the box and named MMA fighter Miocic.
Chubb was named on every list. It’s pretty safe to say he’s Mr. Cleveland at this point and deservedly so.
As expected, there was no quarterback or wide receiver on anyone’s list. I’m sure that would have been different if the same question was posed this time a year ago.
If the Browns are to improve, that will have to change next season.
MY PICKS – I’m going 1. Jose Ramirez, 2, Nick Chubb, 3. Jarrett Allen, 4. Kevin Love, 5. Darius Garland. Honorable mention: Shane Bieber because I couldn’t leave him off my list.
Ramirez always gives it his all and has a swagger that’s unmatched. He’s a five-tool player who’s greatly appreciated in NEO, but underrated nationally.
Nick Chubb is simply a great running back, selfless and never part of any drama.
Allen and Garland are first-time All-Stars, while Love is a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year. They’ve made watching NBA basketball fun again and play great team basketball.
Hopefully readers enjoyed seeing some of the opinions that are out there. We’ll have to discuss some other lists down the road, such as all-time favorite Cleveland teams and athletes, or favorite local high school teams and players.
REMEMBERING GARY PLANT — My condolences go out to the family of Gary Plant, who passed away at age 84 on Feb. 11.
I enjoyed talking with Mr. Plant a couple years ago for a story on the 60th anniversary of Wooster’s Miller Field baseball complex. Plant was one of the original coaches there as a 20-year-old leader when the fields were built and dedicated in 1958.
Plant was a three-sport letterman at Wooster High School in the class of 1955, where he teamed up with the legendary Dick Schafrath. Plant went on to become a huge part of the area sports scene for many decades as a coach, fastpitch softball player, bowler, golfer and huge all-around fan.
Count Gary’s son Mike Plant — the Bargain Hunter/Wooster Weekly News Editor and my longtime friend — as one of the countless people who learned to love sports because of him and help carry on this area’s great athletic tradition.
In lieu of flowers, the Plant family is asking that contributions be made to honor Gary by sending a donation to Wooster Youth Baseball, PO Box 1134 or 1212 E. Highland Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.
PARTING SHOTS – Former Norwayne state wrestling champions Kollin Moore and Gavin Stika were part of a unique inaugural event in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 12. They both wrestled in the Bout at the BallPark at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.
No. 2 ranked Iowa defeated No. 12 Oklahoma State, helped by 11th-ranked Dakota Geer’s 11-3 decision against Stika at 197 pounds.
Stika, a redshirt junior for the Cowboys, has really packed on muscle after winning his OHSAA state title at 152.
Prior to the collegiate match, Team USA wrestled a series of bouts against international opponents and Moore tech-falled Puerto Rico’s Evan Ramos 10-0 at 92 kilograms (202.8 pounds).
—It can be a lot more fun to watch sports when you don’t have a serious rooting interest: case in point Super Bowl 56. Kudos to the Rams and Bengals for playing a great game, which was filled with lots of compelling storylines.
—Shame on NBC announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth for their repeated jabs at Cleveland and insinuating the Browns didn’t want Odell Beckham Jr.
Collinsworth said the Browns kicked Beckham “out on the streets.”
Michaels had to throw in a cheap shot, saying “It’s a long way from Cleveland to Lombardi.”
Beckham deserves credit for working back from his injuries, but he quit on Cleveland – not the other way around. Beckham repeatedly asked to be traded and the video put out by his dad showing Odell not getting the ball was the final straw.
Why didn’t anyone acknowledge that it was Beckham who wanted out and get the story straight?
—Best of luck to the wrestling teams who will be at league meets on Saturday.
Dalton and host Waynedale are expected to square off for the WCAL title, while host Ashland and West Holmes will bring strong teams to the OCC Meet. The Bears are trying for an 11th straight WCAL title, while the Arrows placed fourth at the Div. II State Duals.
Triway and host Orrville will compete in the Principals Athletic Conference Meet.
Aaron Dorksen can be reached by email at aaarondorksen24@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronDorksen.