City's Best: Philadelphia's Top Five Athletes

FanHouse is posting the top five current athletes for America's top 25 cities with the following criteria: 1) Who would a Philly sports fan say is his/her favorite athlete? 2) Would the player's name (or face) be familiar to locals who don't follow sports?

Find your city's top five: ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DC | DEN | DET | HOU | IND | LA | MIA | MIL | MIN | NO | NY | SF | PHI | PHO | PIT | SD | SEA | STL

They say we're brutal sports fans here in Philadelphia and I'm not one to argue. But if you work your [tail] off on the field/ice/hardwood and produce, we'll forever love you like nowhere else can. In Philly, like all sports towns, if you ask five different people, you're likely to get five different answers. This list is based on my uncanny ability to pulse the City of Brotherly Love's collective ~~heartache~~ opinion with a dash of input from my cohort Matt P. over at The 700 Level.

5. Brian Dawkins: B-Dawk certainly could have placed at any spot on this list and will be remembered as one of Philadelphia's all time great athletes in any sport, ever. On the football field, number 20 is the most fiercely intense athlete I have ever seen. He brings the passion to match that of our rabid fans. Philly will forever love him for it. Dawkins is likely coming into the twilight of his career so we put some other people ahead of him on this here list.

4. Ryan Howard: The Big Guy's 2006 MVP season may be the single greatest season my eyes will ever get to watch. His mammath home run blasts, child-like love for the game, and smile made Ryan Howard an instant fan favorite. If he continued his torrid 2006 pace into 2007 he certainly may have been ranked a few spots higher on our list here. Philly is patiently waiting for Howard to return to MVP form. (And we aren't usually patient with much)

Photos: Philly's Top Athletes

3. Donovan McNabb: Nobody takes more heat in all of sports than Donovan McNabb. He even has a love/hate relationship here in Philly, but those who watch every Sunday for the past 8 years have a quiet love for the guy. Our dreams of one day being Super Bowl Champions still hinge on number five. In Donovan we trust.

2. Brian Westbrook: To me and many others in Philadelphia, BWest is one of the most underrated players in all of football. He can change a game any time he is on the field with a single touch. He can run, catch, return kicks and he does it all with a class and style too many players today lack. You'll see a sea of number 36 jerseys every Sunday at the Linc.

1. Chase Utley: Ryan Howard may have the hardware to go along with his smooth swing, but Chase Utley is the epitome of what Philly sports fans love -- not to mention the ladies. He has the Aaron Rowand balls-to-the-wall attitude with MVP type numbers of his own to go along with it. A true 5 tool player, Chase would play the game for free and run out a routine grounder like his wife's life depended on it. Chase Utley is number one in the hearts of Philadelphia.

Honorable Mentions: Others who could get some consideration to be among the top 15: Cole Hamels could crack the top five in the next few years, Andre Iguodala, Simon Gagne, Jimmy Rollins, Reggie Brown, Shawn Andrews, Jeremiah Trotter, Shane Victorino, Aaron Rowand, Kyle Korver, Brett Myers and Jevon Kearse.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-19-2007 @ 9:02PM

erik said...

my problem with this is that a baseball player beats a football player.. football in philadelphia is so far ahead of the other 3 sports that I have to have a eagle as #1. I love Utley though and the way he plays.

6-19-2007 @ 10:04PM

Don said...

The beer-swillin' Northeast douchebags who ruin every sporting event in the city would like to nominate Brett Myers for Athlete of the Year. Ain't nothing better than a hard drinkin' bullpen 'ace' who knows how to keep his woman in line the old school way.

6-19-2007 @ 10:19PM

Stinge said...

It sounds as if the women aren't the only ones who have a crush an Utley.

6-19-2007 @ 11:53PM

snood199 said...

Love it, but one correction- Cole Hamels WILL crack the top five soon.

6-20-2007 @ 12:13AM

K said...

The reason Utley is at the top of the list is because he is a baseball player, of all the sports, baseball is the most difficult to play, and he does it in top form. no question he is the best athlete in the city.

6-20-2007 @ 1:18AM

T said...

I'd agree with it needing to be a football player if not for the fact that most of them who aren't 6'8 and 300 pounds might not be picked out walking down broad street. Because they wear helmets, their faces aren't seen half as often as baseball or basketball players. Westbrook is one of my favorite athletes but I would definitely pick out Rowand, Flash Gordon, Alfonseca, Victorino or Korver among others before him in a crowd.

6-20-2007 @ 8:53AM

ray said...

This is all wrong based on the criteria. Mcnabb would have to be #1, and definitely ahead of westbrook. looking at criteria #2 I'm sure a casual local fan would most likely have heard of Mcnabb especially since he is the face of the biggest sports team in the city and the media blows everything connected to him out of proportion. And criteria #3 I would say Mcnabb would be most recognizable with all of the publicity he gets and the chunky soup commercials, madden cover, and everything else. The only person who could have beaten him in those categories would have been TO who is now gone. The first criteria I personally would have utley and dawkins ahead of him, but I still see a ton of mcnabb jerseys around the city.

6-20-2007 @ 9:16AM

Ray said...

based on the criteria you've given, McNabb should be #1. Looking at criteria 2 and 3 his name would most likely be familiar to someone who doesn't follow sports and he would probably be most recognizable walking down market street. He is the face of the biggest sports team in the city. The media blows every little thing he does out of proportion. He's very recognizable between the chunky soup ads, madden cover, and other things. The only person who would beat him in these categories would have been TO. For the first criteria I personnally am a bigger fan of dawkins and utley but I still see a ton of McNabb jerseys around this city.

6-20-2007 @ 11:31AM

Johnnythelip said...

Wait, this is the same Donovan McNabb that left his lunch on his own 40 yard line during the biggest game of his career, right?

6-20-2007 @ 11:45AM

justbb09 said...

For the people wondering why a baseball player is number one, the answer is because baseball is Philly #1 sport. many people believe that philly is just a football city but i think philly is more of a baseball town then anyother of the major sprts. this is why Utley is the number 1 athlete. if the phillies were as good as the eagles have been over the past 6 years, this wouldnt be a surprise to find Phillies players as the best athletes in Philly

6-20-2007 @ 12:04PM

daniel said...

This is a football region. The Phillies are two games back of first place in the NL East and people are talking about McNabb's rehab, Darwin Walker possibly coming back, and who we might pick up before camp starts. Have you ever turned on Action News and heard the leading story be the Phils swept the Mets at Shea? No but you have all seen 5 different channels live at Terrell Owens' house while he is shooting hoops and doing sit-ups. Have you ever heard a lets go Phillies chant at an Eagles game? How many E-A-G-L-E-S chants have you heard at Phillies games, Flyers games, Sixers games, restaurants, bars, weddings, funerals etc.? The Mayor/Governor is on Eagles Post-Game Live for goodness sakes! The bottom line is, even in the 2005 season with Mike McMahon at the helm, the Eagles were still the lead story and all we could think about was getting McNabb back; not oh maybe the Phillies might get a wild card this year.

With that said:

1. Brian Dawkins
2. Donovan McNabb
3. Chase Utley
4. Ryan Howard
5. Simon Gagne

6-20-2007 @ 1:35PM

unclemike said...

Of all Philadelphia athletes only Dawkins and Utley are close to being the best at their position in their respective sports.
Brian Dawkins is a Hall of Famer as a safety, which rarely happens, plus he embodies the spirit that every Philadelphian believes it is to be a Philadelphian, a real lunchpail guy. He's also my all time favorite Eagle. That makes him number 1 until he retires.
Chase Utley is without a doubt the best second baseman in baseball and having an MVP-like season. He is the best pure hitter we've had here since Pete Rose.
Ryan Howard is the reigning MVP and chicks dig the longball. His epic power numbers last summer had this town on fire!
Brian Westbrook is our little secret. He is the most underated player in the NFL, and a threat to score everytime he touches the ball. He is still the total yards from scrimmage leader in the history of the NCAA, a feat he accomplished at local university Villanova. Don't hold Villanova against him...
And last but certainly not least is #5, Donovan McNabb. In ten years, we will look back at the McNabb era as the most exciting, entertaining and successful in history of our storied franchise. He is the best quarterback we've had in the past 25 years.

6-20-2007 @ 5:51PM

Cubbiessosa said...

Philly is so pathetic that they rip a QB that took them to the Super Bowl. Donovan is number 1 no question about it. Then, Dawkins and Westbrook. Followed by Utley and Howard. Football is number 1 and it should be reflected in this list.

6-24-2007 @ 1:15AM

Evan said...

Typical Philadelphia, they love their losers. The Phillies haven't been to the playoffs in over a decade and yet Chase Utley is better than Donovan McNabb. The guy only led the Eagles to 4 straight title games and a Super Bowl. Surprised the Jeff Garcia isn't on the list.

6-25-2007 @ 5:12PM

Ryan said...

Figures a little white guy chooses a little white guy. Your list is either a relfection of philly's underlying racism or your own. How can you or the city like Utley more than Howard, the reigning MVP? We are not talking about Dick Allen. Re-read your explanations and hopefully you realize your mistake.

6-26-2007 @ 6:51AM

Mike said...

Don't make it a racial thing. Philadelphians might be rude, obnoxious, beer swilling, disgusting pigs but we're (for the most part) not racists. I'm sure that like myself, the author of this article is just a bigger baseball fan than a football fan. That's why lists like this are flawed and people that bring race into something as simple as who's the best athlete in your town are stupid. I'd personally put Howard first, but if you watch the Philies games, you could see how Utley could be #1 on a baseball fan's list.

6-26-2007 @ 7:15AM

Trish said...

Chase is right where he should be. The guy would give you the shirt right off his back. Donovan McNobody should not be on the list at all. He has an attitude and would not even consider helping a fan in need. Westbrook and Dawkins are awesome players all well as outgoing, guys you want to hang out with at the local bar! Howard the jury is still out on. He needs to work on his personality towards the younger crowd. YOU GO CHASE!!! Did anyone also take in to accout that Chase's first major league hit was a grand slam! Congrats!

6-26-2007 @ 9:07AM

C said...

Of the five athletes chosen, isn't kind of amazing that the guy who was picked #1 is the least accomplished of all of them??? With fraudulent, fractured lists like this serving as a reflection of the Philly sports culture, is there any wonder why people around the country think we're brutal?!?

I agree with Stinge: It DOES sound as if the women aren't the only ones who have a crush on Chase Utley... Hey Enrico, the pulse that you are feeling may very well be brotherly love, but it doesn't have A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G to do with the city!

6-26-2007 @ 10:46AM

Chad said...

LoL if this was last year you realize Iverson would be up there....Just to let everyone know I would put him and D-Mac at the top. I still love Iverson cause he was exactly what Philly was about (ON THE COURT) Nobody poured his heart and soul into every game like he did.