When Tiki Barber retired, it was a decision questioned by many.  It was thought that he had a lot left to give on the field despite the golden path he was given to broadcasting.  The critics may have been proven right as the New York Giants won the Super Bowl the year after he left and he was chastised for criticism of his former players. It is too bad that is what he is known for now, as during his prime he was one of the best Running Backs of the game.

It is one thing to be highly touted out of college and rack up serious statistics in the National Football League.  It is quite another to do that when you go undrafted.  Rod Smith lit up the league when nobody saw it coming.

In the first incarnation of our Football list, how could we we forget about a legendary Atlanta Falcon?  Granted, there have not been that many in the past history of the Falcons, but we may very well have forgotten about a solid Linebacker in Tommy Nobis who was easily the first bright spot of the Southern franchise.

As one of the finest linebackers in collegiate history, Tommy Nobis was the first draft pick (and first overall of 1966) for the expansion Atlanta Falcons.  Nobis was a feared tackler and was the star of the early Falcons defensive squads.  He was a Pro Bowler in his first three seasons and would lead the Falcons in tackles on nine occasions.

Baseball Players are notorious for being superstitious.  We really don’t know if Bret Saberhagen consulted the Psychic Friends Network, but it always seemed curious that he performed significantly better in years that ended in odd numbers than he did in even ones.