Sports’ 5 most remarkable comebacks (and Vick makes list)
Michael vick is a starter once again.
We all love comeback stories. It’s understandable if not everybody in Atlanta is completely embracing the Michael Vick comeback story. But if Vick’s sudden ascent to starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback turns out to be not just an aberration for the rest of his NFL career, his return to the top will go down as one of the most remarkable comeback stories in sports history.
I would put Vick’s comeback as No. 4 all-time. You may put him higher, or lower, or not at all. But here are my top 5.
♦ 1. Muhammad Ali: He was the heavyweight champion when being the heavyweight champion meant something. But he was stripped of his title after refusing induction into the army in 1967 because, as he said, “I ain’t got no quarrel against no Viet Cong.” When Ali returned to the ring three years and seven months later in Atlanta, he
Muhammad Ali: Stopped Jerry Quarry after a 3 1/2-year absence.
dropped Jerry Quarry in three rounds and eventually regained the WBA and WBC championship by knocking out George Foreman.
♦ 2. Ted Williams: He hit .327, .344, .406 and .356 in his first four major league seasons. Then he left after the 1942 season to fly as a fighter pilot in World War II, came back in 1946 and won his first of two MVP awards and the Triple Crown in 1947. He left again to fight in the Korean War, came back and immediately became an All-Star.
Ted Williams: Fighter pilot in World War II and Korea.
♦ 3. Mario Lemieux: The former Pittsburgh Penguins great took a year off (his first exit). He came back from radiation treatments and surgery for Hodgkin’s lymphoma (as well as two back surgeries). He “retired” for the first time in 1997 – despite winning the scoring title that year with a 50-goal, 122-point season. Three and a half years later, he decided to come back and had an immediate impact: 35 goals and 76 points in only 43 games in the 2000-01 season. He had a goal and two assists in his first game back.
♦ 4. Michael Vick: No athlete lost more than Vick when he went to prison, and I’m including Mike Tyson, when you take into account NFL salary, off-the-field income, career stature and personal stature. Vick’s wounds obviously were self-inflicted, but that
Mario Lemieux scored in his first game back.
makes his return to starter even more impressive because it shows he has matured and overcome personal demons.
♦ 5. Ben Hogan: Last April, Tiger Woods compared his comeback from a sex scandal to Hogan’s comeback from nearly dying in a car crash. Woods didn’t put his foot in his mouth, he put an entire shoe store in his mouth. Hogan, like Williams, missed two years on the PGA Tour to serve in War World II. But his most stunning return followed a head-on car collision with a bus in Texas in 1949. He suffered a fractured collar bone, double-fracture of the pelvis, fractures in his ankle and ribs and near-fatal blood clots. He spent two months in the hospital. Then he returned and won two Masters, three U.S. Opens and the British Open between 1950 and 1953.
You’ll notice I’m not including athletes who come back from normal sports injuries. Others high on my list included: George Foreman (boxing), Dara Torres (swimming), Michael Jordan (basketball) and Gordie Howe (hockey).
So where would you rank Vick’s ascent back to starter?
♦
SACK SCHULTZ: I’ll have an update on my slow climb to No. 1 later this week. Meanwhile, there’s still time to join the fun. Click here for more info on the weekly college football picks contest and then sign up at ajc.com/go/sack-schultz.
♦
Last few posts, on demand
♦ Richt not worried about Georgia players being in funk (yet)
♦ McGarity still calm amid storm, expresses confidence in Richt
♦ Braves’ biggest problem may be Rockies, not Phillies
♦ Matt Ryan overcomes hellish week (not that he noticed)
♦
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222 comments Add your comment
StingerSplash
September 22nd, 2010
11:43 am
LL Cool J had a great comeback.
Oh, wait, we’re not supposed to call it that.
SOGADOG
September 22nd, 2010
11:49 am
Jeff,
C’MON MAN!
Please dont put Michael Vick in the same category as Ted Williams. Williams risked his life in two wars to keep this country and the world free. Vick is dog murdering thug and criminal. How can you compare these two men?
Close to Home
September 22nd, 2010
11:57 am
Jeff: Ask your son who was one of the greatest sports comebacks was, from his own high school, in the same sport he participated in, under the same coach. Sometimes, we can find our greatest comebacks and greatest sports heros, right in our own community. You have one and don’t even know it.
PMC
September 22nd, 2010
12:07 pm
I just wish I had 1/10th of the greatness of Ted Williams.
Diane
September 22nd, 2010
12:29 pm
Has ANYONE read this article? These top picks are Mr. Schultz’s. He’s not forcing them on you to make them your top five. And after reading all of the hateful responses to Michael Vick it makes me wonder what’s so United about the States of America? Of course we’re all going to have differences but is it worth it to have hatred against someone you REALLY don’t even know? AND probably never will meet? I believe Jeffrey Dahmer will get a warm welcome [if he was still alive] to your home than Michael Vick would. People let it go and get a life.
Doc Cheney
September 22nd, 2010
12:33 pm
It makes me sick to see Ted Williams and Michael Vick mentioned in the same Top 5 List.
Ted Williams was an abusive boozer and by most accounts a complete a*hole.
Mike Vick was consistently the best buck I ever spent on entertainment in ATL, and if all he did was electrocute some useless pits, then big deal. Most exciting ATL athlete of all time.
And I’m still waiting for Pat Tillman’s big comeback. What an idiot.
Jimmie
September 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
All of you ALI haters need to go jump in a lake.This was one of the greatest athletes to ever come a long.
This man lost almost 4yrs of his career,came back against younger and stronger fighter..
Won his titles back and remain the top fighter for another ten years.This draft dodger &**$# let it go.
The Supreme court did’t think he was a draft dodger.People get a life,that was the 60’s times have change.THE GUY WHO CALLED ALI A SLIME BALL— GO SUCK ON SOMETHING SOUR.
SiCkOfThIs
September 22nd, 2010
12:49 pm
See if Vick comes back from the coma he’ll be knocked into this season.
Say what
September 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
I seem to remember some hockey player that killed his best friend that no one demonizes.
Hunters kill for sport.
But Vick is demonized?
Say what
September 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
I do believe he deserved what he got. But he has served his time.
shawn smith
September 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
He played 6 great quarters against bad teams…maybe we should tap the brakes just a little. But you do need to sell papers, so…
Say what
September 22nd, 2010
12:54 pm
His stats are better than ryans.
Say what
September 22nd, 2010
12:54 pm
Green bay is bad? Detroit could be 2-0
JSS
September 22nd, 2010
12:55 pm
@ PMC…
The Ted Williams talk made me go back into my Grandmothers’ stuff (she was avid scorecard keeper and journaled about Baseball in Boston (Braves and Red Sox) until she turned 92 back in 1975. Back when Williams returned from Korea, that Spring Training he broke his his collarbone! Gp figure huh! He didn’t return until 5 weeks in to the season… He had 8 hits in double header on May 16th. But she also made notes about Teds’ bitter relationship with a vocal segment of Red Sox fans and the media… All hell broke loose when Williams physically spit on fans behind the Red Sox dugout after they heckled him on August 7, 1956. he spit fans 3 times in a 3 week period. The Sox fine the 18 year veteran $5,000 (his salary was $150, 000). The Mass. legislature passed a law regarding fan profanity as a result of the incidents. In July 1958, he fined $250 after another incident where he spits on heckling fans.
So, I don’t say these to hurt Williams reputation, but there are so many in this area who just don’t get it. They are failed men and women and we ask others to treat us better sometimes then we may actually deserve! A lot of his behavior towards and theirs toward him sounds eerily familiar to Atlanta.
JSS
September 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
@ Jeff Schultz, check your filter when you get a chance…
JuneBaby
September 22nd, 2010
1:07 pm
hahahahahaha,lofl…, “vick will never get out of prison, he will be killed in prison, he will be punk’d in prison, he will never play in the nfl again, no team will ever sign him, he will never get another nfl contract, i will never watch him play again, i will never watch another game if a nfl team signs him, etc, etc. he may, or may not not belong on sgt. schultz’s list, but the comments are hilarious. the same atmosphere from 2 years ago. i love it. hahahahahahahaha
uga_b
September 22nd, 2010
1:08 pm
@Jeff, because I didn’t think you would find Lawrence Phillips leading the Montreal Alouettes (1,022 yards and 13 TDs) to win the 2002 Grey Cup all that remarkable.
Dillon had run-ins with the law and NE took a chance on rehabilitating him (Like the Eagles with Vick).
In 2003, Dillon only rushed for 541 yards due to injury, which, along with the emergence of Rudi Johnson, precipitated the trade of Corey Dillon to the New England Patriots for a second-round pick. The Oakland Raiders appeared to be the first team to express interest, but the Raiders were unwilling to sacrifice an early-round draft choice for the aging running back. Dillon left the Bengals as the team’s all-time leading rusher with 8,016 yards, surpassing James Brooks’s 6,447 yards.
In the 2004 season, Dillon proved himself to be a mature and dedicated team player, putting to rest the negative reputation he acquired before arriving in New England. He set career highs and franchise records with 1,635 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a major factor in the Patriots win over the Indianapolis Colts in New England’s first playoff game, rushing for 144 yards and catching 5 passes for 17 yards. New England won its third Super Bowl, due in no small part to the running game built around Dillon. He was the top rusher of Super Bowl XXXIX with 75 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also catching 3 passes for 31 yards, for 106 total yards. Overall, Dillon rushed for a total of 292 yards, caught 9 passes for 53 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns in New England’s 3 postseason games.
DHD
September 22nd, 2010
1:10 pm
Are we back to 2 Vick articles a day now? Get over it, AJC.
meh.
September 22nd, 2010
1:15 pm
I am of two minds on this matter:
Vick did his time, and ostensibly of his own volition, gave the money that allows the vast majority of the dogs taken from him to be rehabilitated and re-homed. When someone was shot at his Birthday party last year, he left the party earlier rather then be in violation of his parole by being in the same room as the gatecrasher who would not leave. is he completely rehabilitated? Time will tell, but I say he is off to a good start, and deserves a chance to play again.
However, it is quite ludicrous to compare him to Ali. Ali lost his career and freedom because he stood behind his morale convictions not to kill other beings (A trifle ironic for a man who made his career beating people up….but i digress) Vick lost his career and freedom because he tortured and killed dogs. The two are diametrically opposed.
sgoodsitget
September 22nd, 2010
1:15 pm
@larry and confederate dawg,
The only people that would or could make a remark like that about black professional athelets are the ones that totured our ansestors. They didn’t ask to be brought here, they were taken by force. To confedirate dawg, your problem is that you still believe that blacks are still less valuable than animals anytime you can say DAHMER victims were CREEPS; No Sir, they were(BLACK) human beings. And larry, as for Ali, he was fighting a war (RACE) right here against (….) america already, and for as the money goes, he was smart because they wouldn’t have paid him near as much to fight the war they wanted him to fight. As todays knowledge teaches us, We MUST!! choose our battles, and not let someone else choose them for us! To both of you, this world is still dictated by white america and probably will be until Jesus comes back. That’s the only thing we as a black race can truely count on being Honest and True! My prayer is that you find Jesus Christ and repent for your harden hearts.
Billy Ray Valentine
September 22nd, 2010
1:18 pm
After reading some of the comments I have to admit, the whole Michael Vick issue was something that he brought upon himself. He made those decisions to do what he did.
to compare the comeback of Ted Williams, a man who left his job and career, to go defend his country to that of a man who ran a dog-fighting business and went to jail for 2 years is just wrong.
Vick is making a “comeback” because he’s a criminal.
Williams made a comeback as a hero.
Shultz, next time try harder. This artice ain’t worth the Charmin extra soft you wipe your butt with. (and I’m starting to wonder if you are.)
falcon_fan
September 22nd, 2010
1:20 pm
I watched he against Green Bay and some against the Lions and have to admit, he is looking sharp. Not a Vick fan, but he has paid for his crime and deserves to be treated as such. I wish him well, except against us of course.
scorecard
September 22nd, 2010
1:23 pm
Hey, stop dumping on Vick. He has paid time for that crime, many of the other NFL players have done equally bad if not worse things. They were not sent to PRISON…..you awful bastards (sorry I forgot myself). I have been waiting for a long time for his return AND for the outcome that happened last Sunday (his great play). Vick is very talented and gifted. You can not take THAT away from him. There is not another quarterback in the league who can play the way that he does…and you know that…you awful bastards (for wanting to continue punishing him for that crime). Get over it!!!!!!!!!
Lindsey
September 22nd, 2010
1:29 pm
Michael Vick is not a great come back man, he is a dog killer.
Jason
September 22nd, 2010
1:29 pm
Dude, what about Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour, then had cancer and almost died, and then won a bunch more Tours?
SAD
September 22nd, 2010
1:33 pm
Looks like MV7 is still paying the bills at the AJC…where are the Matt Ryan articles???
Idot
September 22nd, 2010
1:36 pm
He made some stupid choices, and paid a high price for his mistakes.
The people(the government) are satisfied that he has serve his time.
He has a right to play, and to rebuild his life.
But, I still hope that the Falcons can get to him, and see if they can stuff him under the turf(and that is not said with hatred), if he is still playing by the time that they meet.
Idot
September 22nd, 2010
1:40 pm
SAD…….AJC might be waiting for Ryan to make some of the idiotic, dumbbutt, lifestyle choices, like Vick made.
Jimmie
September 22nd, 2010
1:42 pm
I don’t know about being on this top five list but you people need to wake up.
What Mike Vick did with the dogs, was bad.He went to prison everything was taken from him
now the guy’s just trying to move on.But you people continue to throw it in his face.This
is america, you do get a second chance.There’s RED NECKS somewhere in the back woods
killing dogs at this moment.There’s molesters who don’t get this type of treatment.Could it be because
he’s African American?Do you think Manning or Brady would be getting the same treatment HELL NO.This world still has a long way to go.
Idot
September 22nd, 2010
1:43 pm
I did hear a rumor that Ryan may, or may not be, involve in an underground hamster fighting organization up in Pa.
Idot
September 22nd, 2010
1:44 pm
The race card is dealt.
NoIssue
September 22nd, 2010
1:47 pm
I have no feelings either way on Mike Vick. I do have feelings with the way he stole the Falcons money the last two years he was here, but he paid his debt and should be given the chance. Although I am very curious to see MV against competitive teams. Coming into a game behind by 3 touchdowns where the defense may not be playing like being up by 3 or 7, and a game against the Lions, who are one of the worst teams in the NFL may not qualify as a comeback, as of yet. I don’t really know how much the Jacksonville team will give against him either. But, he is doing well, MUCH better passing than he EVER did with the Falcons.
I do find it funny that those on here that DOG Matt Ryan and LOVE Mike Vick do not have a clue on stats considering:
2010 stats
Vick has completed 63.8 % of passes for 3 TD’s and 459 yards.
Ryan has completed 63.2% of passes for 3 TD’s and 477 yards and against one of the toughest defenses in the league in Pittsburgh.
So yes, the comeback is good for now for a 10 year QB, but let’s see how he does against stronger opponents. I still cannot get over the complete fear in Vick’s eyes that Sunday night against Chicago in 2006 where he acted like he didn’t want to be there. Let’s see him a couple of times against Dallas,etc..and see where he is.
Dawglasville
September 22nd, 2010
1:48 pm
JuneBaby – hahahahahaha,lofl…, “vick will never get out of prison, he will be killed in prison,
It is sad that was the rhetoric by a lot of people then. There was also a lot of rhetoric then that went like this, “Mike Vick is getting screwed by Arthur Blank. I hope he sticks it to the Falcons and their fans. Roger Godell is screwing Mike Vick. He is getting black balled by the league. The owners are teaming up against him, we all know what time it is.” Well, none of that stuff happened either. Vick was a felon. Did his time. Got out. Got a million dollar contract. He sat behind one of the best quarterbacks of our generation for a year and now he will be starting. There was no conspiracy and no injustice done. So there was a lot of crap spoke over the last two years that unfortunately no one will learn from. Hate will be sold and so will fear and paranoia and we will all buy it up.
NoIssue
September 22nd, 2010
1:50 pm
Say what
No his stats AREN’T better than Ryans. Let me repeat….
Vick has completed 63.8 % of passes for 3 TD’s and 459 yards.
Ryan has completed 63.2% of passes for 3 TD’s and 477 yards and against one of the toughest defenses in the league in Pittsburgh. Not against the Lions.
G
September 22nd, 2010
1:51 pm
Vick is a thug and he did not deserve to be playing in the NFL again. He should be in the arena league. I wish he had of abused my dog, because he would not be able to play football again.
Tee
September 22nd, 2010
1:52 pm
Was Kolb really that good in the first place?? I don’t recall hearing any comments about his play during training camp. All I heard from Andy Reid and the media was how Mike Vick was looking like his old self. If Kolb was the “franchise QB” why did he only get a ONE year extension?? Most “franchise QBs” get long-term contracts. For those of you who love to play the “race card”…did Kolb get crowned the “franchise QB” because he’s white?? How many games did he WIN last year? Whether you like him or not, this fact STILL remains… Mike Vick is a 3 time probowler(should be 4)! The falcons SUCKED when he was here and he STILL carried them on his back to the NFC Championship!! There was a waiting list of THOUSANDS for season tickets from 2002 – 2006…now all I see is red seats everytime I watch the falcons play! Put your $$ where your mouth is and support your team!!
Lastly, the teabaggers that continue to bash and talk about their love for pitbulls every time there’s a MV blog, aren’t REAL sports fans…you are HATERS!! You hated this man before the dogfighting, so who cares what you think!! lol
G
September 22nd, 2010
1:53 pm
Jimmie, Manning or Brady would not be as dumb as Vick.
Dawgforlife
September 22nd, 2010
1:53 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/will-georgias-woes-continue/
Me
September 22nd, 2010
1:57 pm
Stop saying “thug” and use the word that you say around your house and with your friends “the n-word”! You knuckle draggers are hillarious. Every last one of you will be sitting in your trailers on sunday watching MV play…kicking your dogs when he makes another big play!! LMAO
NoIssue
September 22nd, 2010
1:58 pm
Tee,
As a season ticket holder for over 20 years, let me make sure you know, in 2005 and 2006 the Dome was lucky to have 60% in the seats. Although at the time the seats weren’t red and black. The attendance was dropping like a sack of rocks in his last couple of years. People got tired of the show.
I really do hope Vick does well. I have nothing against him. He is no worse than that piece of trash in Pittsburgh, actually Big Ben should be banned. But when Vick joined the Falcons they were only 2 years removed from the Super Bowl, so please don’t say he didn’t have anything to work with. If he had dedicated himself to being a better passer, no telling what the team could have been. One win in Green Bay does not make him legion. If so Chris Chandler is KING considering his 1998 playoff wins against SF and Minnesota.
Tired
September 22nd, 2010
1:59 pm
Me,
Use the word you would like to use….Honkey. Go ahead and say it. Then use the N word against your very own.
LTC Phil
September 22nd, 2010
2:03 pm
Ted Williams did not serve in combat in WWII but was mainly a flight instructor. He served in combat in Korea and crash landed after his wheels malfunctioned or were damaged by gunfire. According to another Marine pilot, Williams had the highest score on the vision test ever reported in the USMC. Williams was one of many baseball players to serve in WWII. Warren Spahn was in the Battle of the Bulge. Bob Feller was in the Pacific, Hank Bauer had a Purple Heart and Silver Star. Ralph Hauck was a decorated Army Major. I believe Willie Mays lost a year to the Army during Korea. It is extremely rare for a professional athlete to serve at all today. Williams and Ali certainly are at the top of my list. I won’t question Vick’s talent, but how many athletes on Jeff’s list served hard time in prison? To my knowledge the other four were upstanding citizens. I would put an * next to Vick’s name.
Me
September 22nd, 2010
2:04 pm
Tired,
Are you 70 yrs old…George Jefferson is the ONLY person I’ve EVER heard say “honkey”…lol
Billy Ray Valentine
September 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
Dear Me,
Your comment about knuckle draggers and folks living in trialers is almost as stereotypical as people calling a guy who ran a dog fighting ring and went to prison for 2 years a thug.
Dress it up anyway you like, call folks hillbilles or rednecks or inbreders if you like, bottom line is Vick committed a crime, thus making him FOREVER a criminal. Not just in the jury of public opinion, but also in the eys of the legal system.
What's Important
September 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
Why don’t you give him the fricking Nobel Peace Prize while you are at it. Millions of people everyday do what Mike Vick is getting all this credit for, they go to work, do their jobs, take care of their children (and in some cases even marry the mothers of those children) and stay out of jail. Mike Vick does it and he get canonized for it by the media. Give me a break. Everything the guy does is so blown out of proportion its ridiculous.
Jimmie
September 22nd, 2010
2:09 pm
G,Let’s say they were dumb enough to do the same crime.Do you thing they would be getting the same treatment??
Dawglasville
September 22nd, 2010
2:09 pm
Again, why is Matt Shaub not being mentioned by any of you guys? Because a race war can not be waged? It is going to take everyone to over come this. Hopefully it is the fringe representing their perceived “teams” who are keeping this debate alive.
Tee
September 22nd, 2010
2:10 pm
NoIssue,
I was a season ticket holder during that time 2005 – 2006 and you are full of crap!! I guess his “ONE WIN IN GREEN BAY” got him voted to 3 probowls?? Now explain to everyone how probowls really don’t matter?? Spare me your comments about Big Ben…I’m sure you are more upset about the pitbulls than you are a rapist!
Mark
September 22nd, 2010
2:11 pm
Niki Lauda….no-brainer, came back from near-death….or Josh Hamilton…..Vick had two years off of not getting the crap beat out of him
Pop
September 22nd, 2010
2:13 pm
Hey Billy Ray,
That “criminal” will be making at least $5 million this year….how much you making buddy? Is that why your panties are all up your hinnie?