Let the Great Debate begin. Who is the greatest Greek-American athlete of all time? Who are the top 20? The National Herald readers will help decide with an online poll for voting in a Special Section, offering 50 nominees – plus room for a write-in for those who pick 19 and feel someone has been left out.
The list was put together with the invaluable assistance of AHEPA Athletic Hall of Fame Director Greg Stamos, who knows more about the field than perhaps anyone and has overseen the induction of many of them over the years.
He helped convince that only one without Greek heritage – Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis – deserved to be on the list because he grew up in a Greek family after being adopted.
It won’t be easy because Greek-Americans have stood out in virtually every sport including baseball, basketball, hockey, track and field, soccer, wrestling, tennis, diving, fencing, martial arts, boxing, running, and skating.
The names ring out from over the decades: Londos, Sampras, Chelios, Lalas, Maroulis, Agganis, Pihos, Karros, Karras, Moustakas, Galis, Matsos, Smerlas, Grammas, Loes, tying our community together over the years.
The poll will go online and your picks will help decide who makes the TNH Top 20 and in what order. Your selections, however, don’t have to be in order, just list 20 or 19 plus a write-in.
For those who want to be more involved, TNH offers the chance for you to write up to 200 words on your #1 pick and why, and if you want, send a headshot and we will pick from among them to be put in the Special Section to be published later this summer.
Here’s a sneak peek so you can begin your thinking.
TNH TOP 50 ATHLETE NOMINEES
- Lou Tsioropoulos – Basketball
- Nick Spanakos – Boxing
- Pete Spanakos – Boxing
- Nick Calathes – Basketball
- Dean Karnazes – Runner
- Leah Poulos – Speedskating
- Milt Pappas – Baseball
- Eric Karros – Baseball
- Gene Rossides – Football
- Christina Loukas – Diving
- Chris Farasopoulos – Football
- Mike Moustakas – Baseball
- Harry Agganis Football/Baseball
- George Parros – Hockey
- Nick Galis – Basketball
- Jimmy Carson (Kyriazopoulos) – Hockey
- Pete Sampras – Tennis
- Archie Matsos – Football
- George Saimes – Football
- Anton Christoforidis – Boxing
- Alex Karras – Football
- Tom Pappas – Decathlete
- Nick Rodis – Football
- Pete Pihos – Football
- Jim Londos – Wrestling
- Fred Smerlas – Football
- Bill Atessis – Football
- Alexei Lalas – Soccer
- Chris Chelios – Hockey
- Gus Triandos – Baseball
- Alex Kampouris – Baseball
- Alex Grammas – Baseball
- Billy Loes – Baseball
- Kosta Koufos – Basketball
- Nick Fotiu – Hockey
- Nick Markakis – Baseball
- Cody Bellinger – Baseball
- Matt Stover – Football
- Greg Louganis – Diving
- Helen Maroulis – Freestyle Wrestling
- Matt Stover – Football
- Alexei Pappas – Running
- Alexander Massialas – Fencing
- Nick Mantis – Basketball
- Gus Niarhos – Baseball
- Kurt Rambis – Basketball
- Joe Panos – Football
- Gust Zarnas – Football
- Billy Gazonas – Soccer
- Lonnie Paxton – Football
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