Who is the most popular Lion of all-time?

[LFITQ]

Wow, tough choices out there David. You really don't want to ask the simple questions do you?

Some good write-in suggestions as well. JHW and Larry Key at first glance would be my choice, but that's being selfish. Those two were who brought me into watching the Lions. As for being the most popular, I don't think they woudl rank up there with some of the names already bandied about.

Norm Fieldgate is a good choice, merely for his longtime association with the Lions. You could also add his playing days with other clubs to help improve his "popularity". Afterall, David merely stated who is the most popular Lion of all time - he didn't say "amongst Lion fans".

Hebeler and Parker are also good candidates as they were pretty popular at the height of Lion fanaticism in Vancouver in the 80's.

But I think I would have to go with Mr. Leo himself, Lui. When most people think of the Lions they think of Lui - even some people who didn't follow football knew Lui and the Lions go together, like peanut butter and jam.

Whereas I like Jim Young, James Parker, Hebeler, Fieldgate and JHW as choices, I think Lui just has a broader range than any of those. Plus due to his longevity, more people know of him than the others.

[Soundy]

Whereas I like Jim Young, James Parker, Hebeler, Fieldgate and JHW as choices, I think Lui just has a broader range than any of those. Plus due to his longevity, more people know of him than the others.

That was my thinking too: most players come and go over the course of a few years; it's rare that one guy will put in more than 5 or 6 years on the same team before moving on, and your team's most-loved player becomes someone else's most-hated. Someone that was a fan-favorite one year may be gone by the next year and new fans will never know who he was.

Lui was a mainstay here for a quarter-century. Literally generations of fans watched him play. AND save the day more than once

[Lions_Fan_4_Life]

I picked Carl, he motivated not only his team, but the fans too. We'll miss you Carl!

[KnowItAll]

Lui has been known as a personal jerk in the past

say what??

known by who??

[nelson95]

I loved watching Ray Alexander play. Devestating blocker

[KnowItAll]

FTR - my post Lui vote would go to JC

[KnowItAll]

For write in, I would say that long timers such as Al Wilson and Jamie Taras should alway be considered fan favorites.

[Soundy]

Lui has been known as a personal jerk in the past

say what??

known by who??

That's what I'm wondering. I met him when I was working at ICBC and he'd just started doing marketing work with them... one of the nicest guys in the place.

[TheZeppo]

Jim Young was tremendously popular with his "take no prisoners" smash mouth style. He epitomized the BC Lions of the early to mid 70s.

Lui was a great contributor, but "Dirty Thirty" was out there on every offensive down, playing with only one shoulder working. He was adored by many.

I totally agree. In the late sixties and early seventies, Jim Young was
the Lions' only reliable receiver. And despite the opposition defensive
backs knowing this, he continued to get open and make big plays. He wasn't the fastest guy on the field, but he was smart, tough, and ran
great patterns. He even ran the ball a little bit out of the slotback
position.

[TheZeppo]

Lui has been known as a personal jerk in the past,

Known as a jerk by who? I hope you have some evidence
to back your statement up!

[Robbie]

Norm Fieldgate is a good choice, merely for his longtime association with the Lions.

Whereas I like Jim Young, James Parker, Hebeler, Fieldgate and JHW as choices, I think Lui just has a broader range than any of those. Plus due to his longevity, more people know of him than the others.

I agree with these points. I chose Fieldgate because of his off-field activities and gregarious personality. While there are exceptions, there is usually a direct correlation between a player's longevity with the team and his popularity with the fans of that team.

Last summer, I created a list of most games played by individual Lions players on this thread:
http://lionbackers.com/cheer/viewtopic.php?t=10201

Here is the list again. There are still several players that have not been mentioned. Either they were forgotten or they were just simply not popular among the fans.

Lui Passaglia - 408 *
Jamie Taras - 264 *
Al Wilson - 233 *
Norm Fieldgate - 223 *
Cory Mantyka - 202
Jim Young - 197 *
Glen Jackson - 192 *
Ian Sinclair - 180
Greg Findlay - 178
John Blain - 174 *
Kevin Konar - 162
Sonny Homer - 162 *
By Bailey - 158 *
Sean Millington - 150
Terry Bailey - 144
Glenn Leonhard - 143
Rick Klassen - 142
John Henry White - 138 *
Tom Hinton - 136 *
Gary Robinson - 135
Ken Sugarman - 133 *
Larry Crawford - 130 *
John Pankratz - 130
Jim Mills - 129 *
Bret Anderson - 125
Roy Dewalt - 125 *
Willie Flemming - 124 *
Neal Beaumont - 123 *
Gerald Roper - 122
Joe Fourqurean - 122
Damon Allen - 120
Mike Cacic - 117 *
Nelson Martin - 116
Trevor Ekdahl - 115

* Inducted on the BC Place Wall of Fame and/or Ring of Honour

[Soundy]

Probably just by LF4L because Lui wouldn't come to his birthday party.

[CB123]

My favourite current Lion is JC, but the all time fan favourite is by far Lui.

[TheLionKing]

How about Cory Philpott ?

[SammyGreene]

All-time: Lui

Today: Geroy Simon/Dave Dickenson