 Classic SI photo by George Tiedemann |
Charles in Charge
Long before he gained fame as an outspoken NBA player and then analyst, Charles Barkley was a chubby, undersized power forward from Leeds, Ala., who tore up the SEC at Auburn. He would go on to make 11 NBA All-Star teams, win an MVP award, and become one of only four players in league history with 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.
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FACES IN THE CROWD |
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Willie Mays Westfield
March 12, 1956 -- Mays reported for spring training and met a question: Did it bother him to be compared with Brooklyn's Duke Snider? Said Willie: 'I'm happy about it. Some fellows play for 20 years without being compared to anybody.
Career highlight: Hit 660 homers, stole 338 bases, won 12 Gold Gloves and was a two-time MVP.
Now photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesK
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Vincent Jackson Bessemer
July 20, 1981 -- Vincent, who recently completed his junior year at McAdory High, won four events at the state AAA track meet, including the triple jump with a state-record 48' 7 1/4'. He also won the state decathlon title and hit .432 for the baseball team.
Career highlight: Only man selected to play in NFL Pro Bowl to also homer in baseball's All-Star Game.
Now photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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Jesse Owens Oakville
Oct. 31, 1955 -- Jesse Owens is now 42 and no longer runs the 100 in 9.4 or broad-jumps 26 feet. But in the 19 years since he won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympic Games, Jesse Owens has become more than a great athlete. This month, leaving his job as secretary of the Illinois Athletic Commission, he went to the Far East on a good-will tour
Career highlight: Won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.
Now photo by Don Morley/Allsport UK/Allsport
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Hank Aaron, Mobile
In 23-year career, hit 755 home runs and drove in 2,297 runs to surpass record totals of the Babe.
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Willie Mays, Fairfield
One of baseball's most complete players; hit 660 homers,
stole 338 bases, won 12 Gold Gloves; two-time MVP.
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Bo Jackson, Bessemer
Heisman winner at Auburn; only man selected to play in NFL Pro Bowl to also homer in baseball's All-Star Game.
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FLASHBACK |
1980: A Good Thing Came to Those Who Waited
Shortly after Steadman Shealy had quarterbacked Alabama to its 24-9 Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas, he lay sprawled across a bed in Room 2453 of the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans watching Ohio State and USC in the Rose Bowl. Crowded around him were his mother, father, girlfriend, sister and brother-in-law. As best they could figure it, they were rooting for USC to win, but just barely. Mainly, the room was quiet.
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Alabamians root for? SI asked the Yellowhammer State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Atlanta Braves | 58% |
New York Yankees | 4% |
Favorite NFL team
Tennessee Titans | 15% |
Dallas Cowboys | 10% |
Atlanta Falcons | 9% |
Miami Dolphins | 9% |
Favorite NBA team
Los Angeles Lakers | 9% |
No favorite | 58% |
Favorite NHL team
Detroit Red Wings | 3% |
No favorite | 71% |
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Favorite pro team
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Joe Namath | 36% |
Bo Jackson | 27% |
Hank Aaron | 6% |
Bart Starr | 4% |
State's biggest rival
Tennessee | 38% |
Florida | 31% |
Georgia | 17% |
Favorite announcer
Eli Gold | 19% |
John Madden | 12% |
Keith Jackson | 12% |
Skip Caray | 12% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
College | 51% |
Pro | 28% |
Equal | 21% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 19% |
Fishing | 13% |
Football | 13% |
Favorite sports towatch on TV**
Football | 80% |
Baseball | 47% |
Auto Racing | 42% |
**Multiple responses allowed. | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 422 Alabama residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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754 All-time wins by the Alabama football team.
625 All-time wins by the Auburn football team.
7 National championships won by the Alabama football team.
1 National championships won by the Auburn football team.
0 Heisman trophies won by Alabama football players.
2 Heisman trophies won by Auburn football players (Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson).
19th Where Charles Barkley ranks among Auburn's all-time leading scorers.
.202 Michael Jordan's batting average in 127 games with the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Steve Spurrier
Even though he hasn't coached Crimson Tide football nemesis Florida since 2001, Spurrier remains Mr. Unpopularity in Alabama. As their state's most hated opponents, respondents chose the Tennessee Volunteers (31%), the Florida Gators (23%) and the Auburn Tigers (20%).
Steve Spurrier | 21% |
Phillip Fulmer | 15% |
Dennis Franchione | 8% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Dec. 14, 1819 (22nd state)
Area: 52,423 square miles
Bird: Yellowhammer
Capital: Montgomery
Economy: Agriculture -- Poultry and eggs, cattle, nursery stock, peanuts, cotton, vegetables, milk, soybeans. Industry -- Paper, lumber and wood products, mining, rubber and plastic products, transportation equipment, apparel.
Flower: Camellia (Camellia japonica)
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Nickname: Yellowhammer State
Population: 4,447,100 (23rd)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: Alabama Crimson Tide, Alabama A&M Bulldogs, Alabama-Birmingham Blazers, Alabama State Hornets, Auburn Tigers, Birmingham Southern Panthers, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Samford Bulldogs, South Alabama Jaguars, Troy State Trojans
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