The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #1

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for. The #1 Greatest Tiger-Cat of My Lifetime. But before I unveil the #1 player, let's recap the list:

#10: Paul Osbaldiston
#9: Mike Morreale
#8: Tony Champion
#7: Rob Hitchcock
#6: Grover Covington
#5: Rocky DiPietro
#4: Darren Flutie
#3: Joe Montford
#2: Earl Winfield

Those were the other Top 10 players, all of whom are very deserving members of this list. But there can only be one #1. And now, without further ado, the #1 Greatest Tiger-Cat of my lifetime is.....

#1: Danny McManus
Did you expect someone else? In all honesty, who else could it have been? Without a doubt, Danny McManus is the greatest player to play for the Tiger-Cats during my lifetime. McManus spent 8 seasons in Hamilton, amassing accomplishments that any player would be proud to boast about. Without a doubt 1999 was McManus's best season. That year he was a CFL All Star for the only time in his career, the CFL's Most Outstanding Player, and he led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to their most recent Grey Cup Championship, a game in which he won the Most Valuable Player award after throwing for 347 yards and 2 TDs in a 32-21 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.

After McManus's time in Hamilton came to an end he held the franchise mark for career passing yards, pass attempts, completions and touchdowns. McManus retired from the CFL following the 2006 season, and his career accomplishments rank up there with the all-time greats. He ranks 3rd all-time in passing yards, pass attempts and pass completions, all behind Damon Allen and Anthony Calvillo.

The intangibles at what separate McManus from every other Tiger-Cat in my lifetime. As soon as McManus put on that Black & Gold #14 jersey, fans knew we were about to witness something special. In his first season in Tigertown he guided the Cats to a Grey Cup appearance. In his second year, the Cats won the title. For most of the rest of his tenure he kept the Tabbies competitive. During the later years the team began to fall apart, and a lot of the blame went to McManus. He always got the benefit of the doubt from me. He was the reason we won as many games as we did between 1998-2005, and he is, without a doubt in my mind, the single Greatest Tiger-Cat of My Lifetime.

I've had my say; now it's time for you to have yours. Feel free to sound off in the comment section about the list. Do you agree with it? Disagree? What would you change? Feel free to name your #1 player or your Top 3 or Top 5 or Top 10. I open up the floor now, to you, my faithful readers. Let the debate begin.

PREVIOUS: Earl Winfield (#2)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #2

#2: Earl Winfield
The greatest WR in the history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, bar none. Some might argue for Darren Flutie, others for Rocky DiPietro, but for my money no one was better than Earl Winfield. While I was growing up, Earl Winfield was the be all and end all as far as I was concerned. He wasn't the first Ti-Cat I cheered, but he was the one I cheered hardest.

His nickname was "The Pearl" because he was a rare gem of a player. During his 11-year career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winfield was a 2-time CFL All Star, and upon his retirement in 1997, he had eclipsed 10,000-yards receiving. The only thing missing from Winfield résumé, and the one thing he doesn't have that all 9 other players on this list do have, is a championship ring. Winfield came to Hamilton in 1987, one year after the Cats won the Grey Cup, and he left in 1997, two years before they would win one again. Winfield did play in the greatest game in CFL history, the 43-40 Grey Cup loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but his name etched on the Grey Cup was not to be.

Winfield never won, nor was nominated for, any CFL awards, but his impact on the Tiger-Cats was immense. He was the lone bright spot during many years of ineptitude following the loss to the Riders in 1989. Winfield was the main reason I kept watching the Tiger-Cats. For that he will always have a special place in my heart. That special place is what makes me rank him ahead of every player to ever don the Black & Gold, except one. Earl "The Pearl" Winfield comes in at #2 on my list of the Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime.

PREVIOUS: Joe Montford (#3)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #3

#3: Joe Montford
What can a guy say about Joe Montford that hasn't already been said? Without a doubt the greatest defensive player in the history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and quite possibly the most intimidating player in the history of the CFL.

Montford was one of the best pass rushers, and he took what Grover Covington did, and revolutionized it. Montford recorded 26 sacks in 1999, which was the second most in a single season by a player. He was a 5-time CFL All Star, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year (1998, 2000, 2001) – only Calvin Tiggle's win in 1999 stopped Montford from winning four consecutive awards – and a member of the 1999 Grey Cup Championship team. Montford was also voted one of the 50 Greatest Players (#40) in 2006. Montford is a shoe-in for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Montford was one of the most feared pass rushers during his tenure with the Ti-Cats. He was the catalyst for the championship-caliber defenses the Cats produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Montford was the leader on defense, and without his play, the Cats might never have ascended to the heights they did during his run of excellence. All of that, combined with his veracity and ferociousness, made him one of the best players to ever play in Hamilton; because of that, and all his accomplishments, he garners the #3 spot on my list.

PREVIOUS: Darren Flutie (#4)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #4

#4: Darren Flutie
Darren Flutie was one of the greatest WRs in the history of the CFL, let alone in the history of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Flutie's accomplishments are numerous. He was a 3-time All Star (though only once for the Tiger-Cats, in 1999), he was a member of the 1999 Grey Cup Championship team, and upon his retirement, he was the CFL's all-time leader in receptions (a record that has since been eclipsed by Terry Vaughn). Darren Flutie was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2007 and was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in CFL History (#50) in 2006.

Flutie's arrival in Steeltown in 1998 marked a turn for the franchise. Following a dismal 1997, a season which saw the Cats finish a horrendous 2-16, change was inevitable. It was a triumvirate of former Eskimos that brought the Tiger-Cats back to the top of the CFL. Those former Eskimos were Head Coach Ron Lancaster, QB Danny McManus and WR Darren Flutie. With those three at the helm, the Tiger-Cats saw an immediate improvement. In 1998 they reached the Grey Cup, losing to Calgary, and in 1999 they returned the favour by beating the Stamps. Darren Flutie was instrumental in those appearances.

Based mostly on those first two seasonz, where he helped to restore the roar, Flutie finds a place in the Top 10. I know some will say that his ranking is too low, but he comes in at #4 on my list.

PREVIOUS: Rocky DiPietro (#5)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #5

#5: Rocky DiPietro









Rocky DiPietro was the first Hamilton Tiger-Cat player I remember rooting for. What I mean is that out of all the players that I have cheered hardest for, Rocky DiPietro was the first.

DiPietro spent his entire 13-year career with the Tiger-Cats, and he was one of the greatest players to ever don the Black & Gold jersey. He was a 2-time Most Outstanding Canadian (1982, 1989), a two-time CFL All Star and member of the 1986 Grey Cup Championship team. He was also inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1997. DiPietro's accomplishments speak for themselves.

Like most players who dominated for the Cats and became a beloved member of the team, DiPietro played with tenacity and heart, as well as having that same blue-collar work ethic that endears players to the Ivor Wynne faithful.

While I don't have any personal memories of Rocky DiPietro like I do of other players, he is one of the CFL's all-time greats and was the player I first identified with when I began watching Tiger-Cats football as a kid. For those reasons, Rocky DiPietro lands at #5 on my list.

PREVIOUS: Grover Covington (#6)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #6

#6: Grover Covington
What can I say about Grover Covington that hasn't already been said? He was the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1988, a 4-time All Star, a member of the 1986 Grey Cup Championship team, and he was voted as one of the Top 50 Greatest Players in CFL History (#28) in 2006. He was also inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2000.

It's not just the accolades that make Grover Covington an all-time great. Covington was the prototype for the modern pass rusher. He was a pin-the-ears-back-and-get-the-QB type of player. He was one of the most dominant defensive players of the 1980s. He is still the record holder for most sacks in a career with 157 over an 11-year career. He tallied 25 sacks during his dominant 1988 season. He was also named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the 1986 Grey Cup.

Covington has gone down as one of the greatest players in the history of the league, and because of that, Grover Covington lands at #6 on my list of greatest Tiger-Cats of the past 30 years.

PREVIOUS: Rob Hitchcock (#7)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #7

#7: Rob Hitchcock









Rob Hitchcock epitomized everything it meant to be a Hamilton Tiger-Cat. Just like Mike Morreale, Rob Hitchcock was a Hamilton-born star for the Tiger-Cats. One of the toughest players to ever wear the Black & Gold, Hitchcock epitomized the hard-nosed, blue-collar style that Hamiltonians love. During his time in Hamilton, Hitchcock was a three-time All Star and a standout member of the 1999 Grey Cup Championship team.

Hitchcock's presence cannot be measured in award wins or nominations. He was the heart and soul of the franchise, a Hamilton boy who played the game the way the people in Hamilton love. Even when he left the team and played 3 games for the Eskimos, he was given a hero's welcome upon his return.

Other players have come through Hamilton and accomplished more, but it was Hitchcock's passion for the game, and passion for the city, that lands him at the #7 spot on my list.

PREVIOUS: Tony Champion (#8)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #8

#8: Tony Champion







Point blank, Tony Champion made the greatest catch I have ever seen a player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make, and that is the sole reason that he made my list. Champion will forever be remembered for his catch in the 77th Grey Cup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Cats would go on to lose that game 43-40 at the SkyDome in Toronto, but Champion's is catch the stuff of legend. Champion contorted himself into a human pretzel to make the grab. Would it make it even more special if I told you he made the catch with broken ribs? While I'd love to show you a video of Champion's catch, the only one I could find was a terrible video of someone taping the catch with a camcorder off the TV. If a better video ever surfaces I will post it immediately.

As I said, that catch alone is the reason he made my list, but that was hardly Champion's only contribution to the Tiger-Cats during a fabulous 8-year career. Champion was a two-time All Star, and he was the runner-up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award in 1989. He owns the team record for receiving TDs in a season with 15 (which he set in 1989), and he was a member of the 1986 Grey Cup championship team.

All added up, it is unquestionable that Tony Champion deserves a spot in the Top 10. On this list he comes in at #8.

PREVIOUS: Mike Morreale (#9)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #9

#9: Mike Morreale
How can a Ti-Cat fan not love Mike Morreale? Born and raised in Hamilton, Morreale played high school football at Cardinal Newman in downtown Hamilton, played university football at Hamilton's only university, McMaster, and starred at WR for the Tiger-Cats for almost a decade. Hell, he was even part of Hamilton's "First Couple" when he married Canadian Olympian, and Hamilton native, Joanne Malar. Yes, he did spend some time playing for that other team down the QEW, but Morreale was a Hamilton boy who bled Black & Gold.

His accomplishments are many. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 1998 and the Most Valuable Canadian in the 87th Grey Cup in 1999, which was the last time that the Tiger-Cats hoisted the Cup. Morreale had 3 catches for 51 yards in helping the Tabbies beat the Calgary Stampeders 32-21 at BC Place in Vancouver for the team's 15th championship. Morreale also won the Tim Pate Memorial Award in 2000, which recognizes outstanding play on the field and outstanding service in the community.

Mike Morreale was never a truly dominant player, but he exemplified the heart and grit that define many of the great Tiger-Cats and that, along with his accomplishments, merit him a spot on this list at #9.

PREVIOUS: Paul Osbaldiston (#10)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime: #10

#10: Paul Osbaldiston











Yes, a kicker. I know how people feel about kickers being "real" players, but when it comes to Paul Osbaldiston, those feelings are unwarranted. He is by far the most decorated Kicker in Ti-Cats history, and a true legend for the Black & Gold.

Very few players ever suited up for the Tabbies that had the same passion as the man affectionately referred to as "Ozzy." Osbaldiston's accomplishments are many. He was a 3-time CFL All Star, a member of both the 1986 and 1999 Grey Cup Championship teams – being named the Most Valuable Canadian in the 1986 game – as well as the holder of almost every significant Ti-Cat kicking record.

Osbaldiston also ranks near the top in many of the CFL's career kicking records. He stands third all-time in FGs made with 669, second all-time in singles with 257, and third all-time in points with 2,939 over an 18-year career.

Ozzy provided me with one of my greatest memories involving the Tiger-Cats. It was 1998, the Tiger-Cats were hosting the East Division Final against the Montreal Alouettes, and with no time left, and the Cats trailing 20-18, Osbaldiston lined up for a 54-yard FG to win the game. As the clock hit 0:00, Ozzy booted the winner right down the pipe to send the Tabbies to their first Grey Cup appearance since 1989. The stadium was pure pandemonium. I high-fived and hugged everyone around me. It was a great moment.

Ozzy's accomplishments speak for themselves, but adding in my own personal story is what lets him, somewhat fittingly, kick off the list of the Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime, coming in at #10.

PREVIOUS: The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime (Criteria, Introduction and Honourable Mentions)

The Greatest Tiger-Cats of My Lifetime

Everyone has their favourite players from their favourite teams. Ask me my favourite Knicks and I'll tell you Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson. With the 49ers it's Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Joe Montana. With the Maple Leafs, it's Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark and Ed Belfour. I guess having admitted I'm a Ti-Cat/Knick/Niner/Leaf fan, I've just outed myself as a masochist. In any event, my favourite Tiger-Cats of all-time can't be shrunk down to a list of two or three players. So many guys have come through town and donned the Black & Gold that I think the only way to properly get them all in is with the tried and true "Top 10" list.

Let me lay out some ground rules that made me decide who to place in the Top 10. First, they must have played during my lifetime. To make it a nice round number, this list will only encompass the past 30 years (1980-2010) of Hamilton Tiger-Cats football. Angelo Mosca, Bernie Faloney and the like will not be on the list. Not to take anything away from any of them, but since I never had the opportunity to watch them, I don't feel as if I can accurately judge them.

Second, I will only take their time in Hamilton into consideration. Where they played before or after means nothing to me. What they helped the Tabbies achieve is the only part of their careers I will use to measure them. That's why you won't see guys like Matt Dunnigan, Damon Allen or Dieter Brock on this list. Their time in Hamilton was too short for them to be considered.

Third, I am only choosing players. As much as I'd love to put former coaches Ron Lancaster, Ralph Sazio or Al Bruno on the list, I don't think it would be fair to judge players with coaches and coaches with players. Let it be known that I have nothing but the utmost respect for those three former Head Coaches.

Finally, I did not consider anyone who is currently on the team. Not that some of these players might not one day make the list (Dave Stala is quickly ascending the ranks) but no one who is currently a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has accomplished anything with the team. I believe it would be unfair to judge the current players' accomplishments with that of players who have retired.

I will unveil one player each day for 10 consecutive weekdays beginning on Monday, March 15, 2010. Each player will be revealed at 12PM EST. I will begin with #10 and work my way up to #1.

However, before we kick things off with the Top 10, I figured I could give some space to a few Honourable Mentions (which will be listed in alphabetical order):

Archie Amerson
A CFLPA All Star in 2002, Archie Amerson was Mr. Everything when he played for the Tabbies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He could run, catch and return, and he did all of them greatly. He was also a key member of the 1999 Grey Cup Championship team. While he would later sign with Toronto, Amerson still received a hero's welcome when he returned to the Cats. Leaving Amerson off wasn't easy, but since he was never a dominant player I feel justified in not having him in my Top 10.

Less Browne
A member of the 1986 Grey Cup Championship, and twice named All-Eastern and All-Canadian during his time in Steeltown, Less Browne is one of the all-time great Canadians to play for the Ti-Cats. Browne played 5 stellar seasons at DB for the Tabbies during his Hall of Fame career. Omitting Less Brown from the list was one of the toughest decisions to make, but when it came right down to it, he was never an All Star with the Tabbies, and he won more championships with other teams than he did with Hamilton. Less Browne was a great player, but he does not make my list.

Mike Kerrigan
A 2-time CFL All Star and the 1986 Grey Cup MVP, Mike Kerrigan was one of the best QBs in Tiger-Cats history. He led the team to the 1986 Grey Cup and came within a whisker of winning another one in 1989, losing it in what many consider the greatest Grey Cup game of all-time. No one loved Mike Kerrigan more than I did growing up, but he was never a truly dominant QB, so his omission is justifiable.

Ben Zambiasi
An 8-time All Star and the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1979, Ben Zambiasi was a key component of the Tiger-Cat teams in the 1980s. Zambiasi was voted into the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour in 2002 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He was a key member of the 1986 Grey Cup Championship team. All the accolades make him a perfect candidate for the list, but he falls just short, mostly due to my age. I know that seems rather unfair for a guy who was an 8-time All Star, but I was very young when Zambiasi played, and I don't recall many of the things he did. His greatest season was before I was born, so while I feel uneasy about leaving him off, I decided to do so anyway.