New York Sports Icons FREE Sports Icons Series Sports Comic Book Copyright 2015 By Jim Sweeney In addition to famous former mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, New York City boasts a colorful array of popular places and legendary landmarks. These include the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, the Diamond District, Mulberry Street, Madison Avenue and Wall Street. The Big Apple also stands alone as an American sports metropolis. It plays home to 10 major professional sports teams - two each in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and now MLS. The city that never sleeps is proud of its storied sports history. Its rich sports heritage comprises Hall of Fame athletes, championship teams, historic venues and even a little known urban sports legend. My new FREE sports comic book New York Sports Icons pays homage to the city’s most famous and most admired. This book recalls Broadway Joe Namath’s bold Super Bowl prediction and Mark Messier’s audacious Stanley Cup proclamation. New York Sports Icons remembers the World Series heroics of a Messrs. October and November. It also spotlights the illustrious careers of Major League Baseball’s greatest player ever and the sport’s most colorful catcher. New York Sports Icons pays tribute to two heroes. One unexpectedly walked down Madison Square Garden’s tunnel and inspired his NBA team, while the other courageously walked across racially divided lines to change the game of professional baseball forever. This book honors the storied environs of one of Major League Baseball’s most respected stadiums and the midtown Manhattan sports venue billed as “the world’s most famous arena.” New York Sports Icons even includes a bonus chapter on a New York City playground legend who is regarded as the greatest basketball player to NEVER suit up in an NBA uniform. Whether you’re from New York City, or just wish you were, be sure to enjoy the read and share this FREE sports comic book with friends. And don’t ever fuh getta bout it! MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! Why read this book? Favorite #10: Mr. October Reggie Jackson Favorite #9: Mark Messier Favorite #8: Yogi Berra Favorite #7: Jackie Robinson Favorite #6: Broadway Joe Namath Favorite #5: Willis Reed Favorite #4: Babe Ruth Favorite #3: Mr. November Derek Jeter Favorite #2: Yankee Stadium Favorite #1: Madison Square Garden Bonus Chapter - Rucker Park’s Helicopter Thank You & Affiliate Disclosure FREE Books Podcast – MIKE on Sports! Meet the MIKE Makers Acknowledgements New York s ports fans will love my colorful stories, candid comments and creative content about the Big Apple’s most popular sports icons. Plus, the unique sports comics that accompany each chapter cleverly capture the essence of the featured player, team, play, sports expression, or in this case, New York Sports Icon. As an added bonus, I always offer more FREE stuff in each of my sports comic books. See the back of this book for details. In addition to featuring a revered Rucker Park icon in the bonus chapter, I offer a few FREE sports comic books for safe downloading. Check out my author profile on Amazon.com, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook and subscribe to my podcast – MIKE on Sports! MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! Leading off New York Sports Icons is one of Major League Baseball’s greatest power hitters ever. This Hall of Fame slugger may be best known for wearing the traditional pinstripes of the New York Yankees during the late 1970’s. Plus, he endeared himself to New York sports fans by playing with an edge, walking with a chip on his shoulder, speaking with unwavering confidence and delivering his best at the most appropriate times. Reggie Jackson swings into this FREE sports comic book in the #10 spot. He may have starred for baseball’s most successful franchise during the spring and summer months. But, Jackson flourished on the baseball field during the fall for not only the New York Yankees, but the Oakland A’s as well. That’s when he earned his nickname Mr. October. New York Yankees teammate Thurmon Munson first used the title when questioned during the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Munson told a reporter to interview Jackson. He referred to the Yankee right fielder’s history of fantastic post-season games and said, “Go ask Mr. October.” A 1999 Cooperstown Hall of Fame inductee, Reginald Martinez Jackson enjoyed a stellar 21-year Major League Baseball career. Jackson retired in 1987. Jackson was a 14-time All-Star who hit 563 dingers, drove in 1,702 runs and batted .262 with 2,584 total hits. The 1973 American League MVP also had his number 9 jersey retired in Oakland and his number 44 jersey retired in New York. Pretty great accomplishments, indeed! A clutch hitting right fielder, Jackson had the ability to perform his best during post-season play. Mr. October ranks as the only baseball player ever to be named World Series Most Valuable Player for two different teams. Jackson first won the award in 1973 with the Oakland A’s. He won it again in 1977 with the New York Yankees. Reggie Jackson’s World Series numbers are incredible. New York Yankees’ fans will never forget this amazing right fielder and his Fall Classic heroics. In 27 overall career Fall Classic appearances, Mr. October belted 10 home runs, drove in 24 runs and batted an impressive .357. He won five world titles. However, in perhaps the greatest offensive performance in World Series history, Jackson hit three consecutive first pitch home runs off of three different Dodger hurlers to lead the Bronx Bombers to victory in the deciding Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. In a Boys of Summer sport, this Hall of Famer rightfully earned his fitting autumn nickname – Mr. October – as well as his spot at #10 in New York Sports Icons. MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! One of the greatest NHL players ever skates into the #9 spot in New York Sports Icons. He earned his fitting nickname – the Messiah – in the Big Apple in 1994. The Messiah moniker was a clever adaptation of New York Rangers’ hockey savior Mark Messier’s name. That’s because New York sports fans attribute the Rangers’ first Stanley Cup Championship in 1994 to this 33-year-old hockey Hall of Famer. Messier boldly led his team to “Hockey’s Promised Land.” Messier’s lore got its genesis just prior to facing elimination in Game 6 of the 1994 NHL Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils. Messier audaciously predicted a Rangers’ victory in the same fashion as Babe Ruth prophesied his “called shot” and Broadway Joe Namath predicted his “Super Bowl III guarantee.” Ensuring that his “prophecy” came to fruition, the Rangers’ long awaited hockey Messiah found the back of the net three times in the decisive third period to close out the series. Messier cemented his legacy as a New York sports legend when the Rangers advanced to defeat the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. It marked the New York franchise’s first title in its 54 year history. The Messiah’s goal in the second period of Game 7 turned out to be the deciding factor in the Rangers’ victory. Winning Stanley Cup Trophies was not new to Messier. He remains the only player in NHL history to captain two different teams to championships. The 26-year NHL vet won five titles when he played in his hometown in Alberta, Canada with the Edmonton Oilers. Also known as Moose because of his strength and aggressiveness on the ice, the rugged Hockey Hall of Famer did more than accumulate team awards. A 15-time all-star, Messier also won the sport’s highest individual accolades during his lengthy NHL career. He won the Hart Trophy in both 1990 and 1992 as league MVP. He was also awarded the Conn- Smythe Trophy as MVP of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. A crowd favorite, Messier pocketed two ESPY awards for Best NHL Player and for Outstanding Performance Under Pressure. The NHL acknowledged Messier’s storied career by naming one of its annual trophies the Mark Messier Leadership Award. And, Hockey News recognized him as #12 on its list of greatest players ever. In 2007, the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted the Messiah in his first year of eligibility. The hockey legend’s staggering NHL career statistics guaranteed his spot. The former Ranger and Oiler retired as second all-time in regular season points (1,887), playoff points (295) and regular season games (1,756). Though he may be remembered as one of hockey’s best players to never have won an Olympic medal, Mark Messier will never be forgotten as New York’s hockey Messiah. Because of his brilliant play and leadership that led the Rangers’ to its first Stanley Cup Championship in 1994, Mark Messier is an easy open net goal at #9 in New York Sports Icons. MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! Yogi Berra jumps into the #8 spot in New York Sports Icons. The famously retired Major League Baseball player, coach and manager spent most of his celebrated career in the Big Apple with the New York Yankees and New York Mets organizations. Even today, more than 40 years after playing his last game, the beloved Berra is still immediately recognized by a single name. His mononym – Yogi - is as much synonymous with baseball as it is with ridiculously funny sports quotes.