The Original Bronk

So while I was doing residency at the University of Minnesota, I was quite taken with the long and storied history of the sports team of UMN.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that some of their alumni went on to have incredible professional careers.  And of course I will always remain faithful to the true UW (Prounounced "You-Dub," and a trademark of the University of Washington), despite what all those nonsense midwesterner Wisconsinites say.

I like Bronko because he went on to become a Chicago Bear.  And because people say he was a mountain of a man.  I think it speaks volumes that Grantland Rice, the best known sportswriter of his time, said that "Who would you pick to win a football game - 11 Jim Thorpes - 11 Glen Davises - 11 Red Granges - or 11 Bronko Nagurskis? The 11 Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close to murder and massacre. For the Bronk could star at any position on the field, with 216 pounds of authority to back him up."

He was born and died in Minnesota, although International Falls may as well be Southern Canada.  I've ran into a few people that had the pleasure of knowing him and they all agree it was such.  With all due respect to the "Gronk," there was an original "Bronk," who was just as much of a monster on the field, without all the baggage off it.  Something to aspire to.