In honor of Bob Wickman signing with the D-backs we humbly present to you our all time Top 5 Arizona Sports “Big Boys”. Before you snicker we are defining the term “big boys” as athletes that lack the physique of the true professional athlete. The athlete that looks more like the average man than the million dollar machine.
5. Mike Fetters, P Arizona Diamondbacks (2004)
While Mike Fetters is more likely to be remember for his demonstrative head snap on the mound he was also one of Arizona’s best “big boys”. Listed at 6′ 4″ 212 lbs he always seemed to tip the scale and the mound at a much larger weight. He was entertaining and mean on the mound and jolly off of it. Everything you wanted from a man of larger girth.
4. Oliver Miller, C Phoenix Suns (1992-94, 1999-2000)
Listed at 6′ 9″ and 280 lbs Oliver Miller, “The Big O”, was suppose to be the great Suns center. Instead he turned into the great Suns buffet killer. A slimmer Oliver Miller played a part in the 1992-1993 trip to the NBA Finals for the Suns but he soon found himself a member of the Detroit Pistons after just two seasons with Phoenix. It wasn’t until his second stint with the Suns that fans saw his true “big boy” potential as he looked double the size he had been in his first stint with the team and was listed at 325 lbs.
The Suns Gorilla even got in the act of recognizing Miller’s size. In 1998 when Miller was playing with the Sacramento Kings and visiting the America West Arena the Gorilla came out during a time out in an inflated suit with an huge Sacramento King’s Oliver Miller jersey with the Jimmy Buffet Cheeseburger in Paradise playing over the PA system.
3. Leonard Davis, OT Arizona Cardinals (2002)
The number 2 overall pick in 2001 Leonard Davis was one of the biggest in Arizona in size and in how big he tanked based on potential. Davis is listed at 6′ 6″ and 366 lbs and never amounted to much in Arizona despite his size. He is such a “big boy” his nickname is just BIG and when he wore the Cardinals red jersey he tended to look like the kool-aid man.
2. Phil Mickelson, PGA Golfer
Hefty lefty Phil Mickelson has a big game and had a bigger gut. He at one point was battleing it out with Tiger Woods to be the best in the world and battleing it out with John Daily to be the biggest boy in golf. It’s honestly not that bad in golf to have a little meat on your bones but 6′ 3″ frame carried over 200 lbs at one point.
1. Charles Barkley F, Phoenix Suns (1993-1996)
What would a list of bigger athletes be with out Sir Charles the “Round Mound of Rebound”. Charles Barkley’s midsection was only surpassed in size by his personality. Barkley provided the Phoenix Suns with a trip to the NBA finals and about as much national media attention as they could want. He helped put Phoenix on the map for sports and his appetite for food and controversy kept things interesting in his time in the valley and since he has left.
