Which Olympic Bostonian Would You Like to see Light the Olympic Flame

Who do you choose, assuming alive?

  • Bill Russell, Gold 1956

    Votes: 14 35.0%
  • Larry Bird, Gold 1992

    Votes: 13 32.5%
  • Jenny Thompson, Gold (8) 1992-2004

    Votes: 2 5.0%
  • Aly Raisman, Gold (2) 2012

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Joan Benoit, Gold 1984

    Votes: 4 10.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 4 10.0%
  • Pedro

    Votes: 3 7.5%

  • Total voters
    40
Dec 10, 2012
6,943
I can't really think of anyone from the Summer games (not counting Eruzione, Orr, etc) with both a Gold and a Boston/New England  connection who would be a good choice. Who should be added to the poll, if anyone?
 
My choice is Russell, by far, if he's alive and semi-healthy.
 
edit: added Pedro
 

Ralphwiggum

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Jun 27, 2012
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I think Bill Russell will be 90 if he's still alive then.

Larry will be an almost 70 year old man but to me would be the logical choice assuming Russell is either dead or not able to do it.
 

Harry Hooper

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Jan 4, 2002
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Summer gold with local ties?
 
He's a Brit, but '68 gold medalist {hurdles} David Hemery attended Thayer Academy and Boston University. He could be in position to help plead for some IOC votes.
 

singaporesoxfan

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Jul 21, 2004
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I don't care if he's not from Boston originally, the correct answer is Pedro throws a fastball so fast it catches fire and lights the flame. You have a Boston icon, an international sportsman in the spirit of the Olympics, and you get to make the case that baseball should be an Olympic sport.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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Bill Russell hates Boston and I doubt he would be up for it anway. Larry Bird would be fine. The correct answer would be Tom Brady, just so we could sneak him in there.
 

Fred not Lynn

Dick Button Jr.
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Jul 13, 2005
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singaporesoxfan said:
I don't care if he's not from Boston originally, the correct answer is Pedro throws a fastball so fast it catches fire and lights the flame. You have a Boston icon, an international sportsman in the spirit of the Olympics, and you get to make the case that baseball should be an Olympic sport.
 
IOC Is leaning towards allowing one or two site specific sports, popular in the host country and maybe borderline for full time admission, starting with Tokyo in 2020 - with baseball and softball likely there. If 2024 is in Boston, I would expect to see baseball at Fenway Park.
 

singaporesoxfan

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Fred not Lynn said:
 
IOC Is leaning towards allowing one or two site specific sports, popular in the host country and maybe borderline for full time admission, starting with Tokyo in 2020 - with baseball and softball likely there. If 2024 is in Boston, I would expect to see baseball at Fenway Park.
All the more reason it should be Pedro.
 

Fred not Lynn

Dick Button Jr.
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Jul 13, 2005
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The '80 hockey team wouldn't have been a bad idea, if they hadn't been used in Salt Lake. Double shame, because it should have been Heiden in Salt Lake.