 Classic SI photo by Richard Mackson |
Red-Letter Days
The Cincinnati Reds were big underdogs in their World Series matchup with the Oakland A's in 1990. So what did the Reds do? They pulled off a four-game sweep to earn the fifth championship in franchise history.
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FACES IN THE CROWD |
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Jack Nicklaus Columbus
Sept. 2, 1957 -- Jack Nicklaus, husky 17-year-old homebred, made up two-stroke deficit soon after start of final round but had to hang on grimly in face of determined challange by John Konsek to win (294-296) international jaycee junior golf title at Columbus.
Career highlight: All-time leader in golf major wins with 20 (six Masters, five PGAs, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens).
Now photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
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Curtis Enis Union City
Oct. 25, 1993 -- Curtis, a senior running back, has rushed for 1,469 yards on 126 carries in six games this season for Mississinawa Valley High. In a 56-13 win over Arcanum High, he ran 17 times for 440 yards and seven TDs. Curtis, who is Mississinawa's all-time leading ground gainer, with 5,068 yards, is also the school's career scoring leader in basketball.
Career highlight: No. 5 overall pick in 1998 draft by the Bears.
Now photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Jesse Owens, Cleveland
Broke three world records and tied another in one day at Big Ten track championships in 1935; a year later he enraged Hitler, winning four golds (100 meters, 200, 4x100 relay and long jump) at the Berlin Olympics.
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Jack Nicklaus, Columbus
Won six Masters, five PGA, four U.S. Open and three British Open titles; five-time PGA player of year (1967, '72, '73, '75, '76).
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Pete Rose, Cincinnati
Alltime hits leader with 4,256; won three batting titles; was National League MVP in 1973 and World Series MVP in 1975; banned from baseball for life in 1989 for conduct detrimental to the sport while managing Reds.
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FLASHBACK |
1975: Sportsman of the YearBaseball enjoyed its grandest season in years, culminating in a World Series that held a nation breathless with tension and anticipation. Saluting the sport as well as the man, we honor Cincinnati's Pete Rose, in whose person are combined so many of the qualities of excellence that merit his designation as Sportsman of the Year
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Ohioans root for? SI asked Buckeye State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Cleveland Indians | 40% |
Cincinnati Reds | 32% |
New York Yankees | 4% |
Favorite NFL team
Cleveland Browns | 37% |
Cincinnati Bengals | 19% |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 6% |
Favorite NBA team
Cleveland Cavaliers | 17% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 8% |
No favorite team | 52% |
Favorite NHL team
Columbus
Blue Jackets | 18% |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 7% | Detroit Red Wings | 6% |
No favorite | 53% |
Favorite college team
Ohio State football | 20% |
Cincinnati basketball | 5% |
Michigan football | 2% |
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Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Jim Brown | 21% |
Pete Rose | 14% |
Archie Griffin | 13% |
State's biggest rivalry
Ohio St.-Michigan | 37% |
Bengals-Browns | 25% |
Browns-Steelers | 12% |
Favorite announcer
Marty Brennaman, John Madden (tie) | 11% |
Tom Hamilton, Joe Nuxhall (tie) | 8% |
More a fan of college or pro sports?
Pro | 51% |
College | 20% |
Equal | 29% |
Sports played in the
last year
Swimming | 29% |
Bowling | 28% |
Haven't played
anything | 27% |
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Of the sports activities that you have participated in, which do you feel most passionately about?
Golf | 17% |
Baseball or Softball | 15% |
Swimming | 15% |
Basketball | 11% |
Fishing | 11% |
Other | 64 % |
(multiple responses allowed) | |
Who is the greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a college or professional team in your state?
Jim Brown | 21% |
Pete Rose | 14% |
Archie Griffin | 13% |
Jesse Owens | 7% |
FUN FACT | |
Ohio residents overwhelmingly chose the 2002-03 Ohio State national title as the state's sports highlight of the last 50 years. The Buckeyes received 60 percent of the vote. Pete Rose setting the all-time hits mark was a distant second, with six percent. | |
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* Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 410 Ohio residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/-4.8% ÝMultiple responses allowed. |
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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5, 13 National titles and Big Ten championships, respectively, won by former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes.
20, 19 Victories and second-place finishes, respectively, in golf majors for Columbus native Jack Nicklaus.
45 Minutes in which Cleveland native Jesse Owens set three world records at the Big Ten track championships in 1935.
11 All-Star appearances for Cincinnati native and Reds superstar shortstop Barry Larkin.
303 NFL record of consecutive pass attempts without throwing an interception by Boardman, Ohio, native and Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, spanning the 1990 and '91 seasons.
15 Seasons during which Cincinnati native Pete Rose batted at least .300.
7 Years Cleveland native and college football great John Heisman spent as Director of Athletics at the Downtown Athletic Club before he passed away in 1936. In his honor, the DAC Trophy was renamed the Heisman Trophy.
$4,000,000 Amount paid by Art Modell in 1961 for the Cleveland Browns.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Art Modell
Who else could be Ohio's No. 1 enemy but the man who in 1996 moved the original Browns out of Cleveland? As their most hated opponents, Ohioans chose the University of Michigan (49%), the Pittsburgh Steelers (24%) and, yes, the Baltimore Ravens (6%).
Art Modell | 52% |
Mike Brown | 6% |
Bo Schembechler | 5% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: March 1, 1803 (17th)
Area: 44,828 square miles
Bird: Cardinal
Capital: Columbus
Economy: Agriculture -- Soybeans, dairy products, corn, tomatoes, hogs, cattle, poultry and eggs. Industry -- Transportation equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, food processing, electric equipment.
Flower: Scarlet Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
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Nickname: Buckeye State
Population: 11,353,140 (7th)
Pro sports teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Rockers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Crew
Major college programs: Akron Zips, Cincinnati Bearcats, Dayton Flyers, Miami RedHawks, Toledo Rockets, Ohio Bobcats, Ohio St Buckeyes, Xavier Musketeers
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