The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: BrandonFG on November 21, 2016, 03:33:30 PM

Title: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: BrandonFG on November 21, 2016, 03:33:30 PM
So not to hijack the Michael Strahan birthday wishes, I figured why not start a topic here: how many hosts have won a major sports title or played in a big game?

On the NFL side:
-Michael Strahan (Super Bowl)
-Lynn Swann (4 SBs)
-Jerry Kramer (hosted a pilot, but won the first 2 SBs)
-Ahmad Rashad (played in SB XI)
-Jimmy Cefalo (played in two SBs with the Dolphins)

If "American Gladiators" counts, there's the late Todd Christensen, who won with the Raiders back in the early-80s.

Opening this to all sports, BTW.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: TLEberle on November 21, 2016, 04:01:17 PM
The host of Gold Case and The Chair piled up nine Grand Slam wins.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: parliboy on November 21, 2016, 04:03:37 PM
World Series for Joe Garagiola?
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Marc412 on November 21, 2016, 05:34:00 PM
If the Olympics count, Summer Sanders and Apolo Ohno.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Bob Zager on November 21, 2016, 07:12:16 PM
Another one is John Salley who won four NBA championships, and later hosted a game show called "I Can't Believe You Said That!"  on the Fox Family Channel.   
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Joe Mello on November 21, 2016, 07:37:42 PM
If "American Gladiators" counts
Joe Thiesmann has a ring, Larry Csonka won two, and Laila Ali retired undefeated, winning several boxing titles.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: BrandonFG on November 21, 2016, 08:44:24 PM
To answer the above, Olympic medals count in my book.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Jimmy Owen on November 21, 2016, 09:53:39 PM
Rolf Benirschke was named to the 1983 Pro Bowl.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: MikeK on November 21, 2016, 10:04:18 PM
John Naber, from ESPN's The Dream League, won four gold medals in swimming in the '76 Olympics.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Jamey Greek on November 22, 2016, 11:09:35 AM
Rick Barry I believe has won some and he hosted the pilot for Catch Phrase. 
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Jamey Greek on November 22, 2016, 11:10:21 AM
Joe Namath did and he was considered to host Feud in 1988 before the job went to Ray Combs.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: BillCullen1 on November 22, 2016, 11:39:22 AM
World Series for Joe Garagiola?

Sorry, no.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: TLEberle on November 22, 2016, 12:39:17 PM
World Series for Joe Garagiola?

Sorry, no.
Except yes. Joe did play in a World Series.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: clemon79 on November 22, 2016, 02:04:37 PM
Except yes. Joe did play in a World Series.

And possessed two rings, making me wonder on what authority BillCullen1 felt qualified to fire off a flippant "sorry, no."
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Kevin Prather on November 22, 2016, 02:36:42 PM
Except yes. Joe did play in a World Series.

And possessed two rings, making me wonder on what authority BillCullen1 felt qualified to fire off a flippant "sorry, no."

Not a Cardinals fan?
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: aaron sica on November 22, 2016, 03:14:36 PM
Joe Namath did and he was considered to host Feud in 1988 before the job went to Ray Combs.

I'm not sure I would count hosts of pilots  - just shows that went to series.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: clemon79 on November 22, 2016, 03:15:49 PM
Not a Cardinals fan?

Still no excuse. The second one he won riding the bench with the New York Giants. :)
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: johnnya2k3 on November 22, 2016, 07:09:35 PM
Though he's somewhat of a Hall of Famer:

Vin Scully, former longtime Dodgers announcer and one-time game show host (It Takes Two), was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom today (11/22), the nation's highest-ever civilian honor.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: PYLdude on November 23, 2016, 01:13:08 AM
Don't the broadcasters get rings too? Vin would certainly qualify as he would have six.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Jimmy Owen on November 23, 2016, 11:44:28 AM
Dick Enberg may have covered a couple of those types of events.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: clemon79 on November 23, 2016, 12:56:19 PM
Dick Enberg may have covered a couple of those types of events.

Yeah, but only as a national broadcaster. None of the local professional teams he worked for won titles during his tenure with them.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Neumms on November 23, 2016, 03:00:33 PM
Yeah, but only as a national broadcaster. None of the local professional teams he worked for won titles during his tenure with them.

Enberg did UCLA basketball play-by-play when they won title year after year. Not sure if they hand out rings for that.

Another question: Which game show hosts ever hosted Saturday Night Live? It struck me while seeing Alec Baldwin. Drew did. Milton Berle hosted Jackpot Bowling and the SNL Lorne Michaels has never let be rerun.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: clemon79 on November 23, 2016, 03:12:24 PM
Yeah, but only as a national broadcaster. None of the local professional teams he worked for won titles during his tenure with them.

Enberg did UCLA basketball play-by-play when they won title year after year. Not sure if they hand out rings for that.

Which is why I said *professional* teams.

/yeah. there's an argument
//moreso if it were USC
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: SamJ93 on November 23, 2016, 03:43:00 PM
Another question: Which game show hosts ever hosted Saturday Night Live? It struck me while seeing Alec Baldwin. Drew did. Milton Berle hosted Jackpot Bowling and the SNL Lorne Michaels has never let be rerun.

Just going off the exhuastive Wikipedia list of hosts...

Betty White-Just Men! in 1983, hosted SNL in 2010
Harry Anderson-pilot for a What's My Line? revival in 2000, hosted SNL several times in the 80's
Dick Cavett-College Bowl in 1987, SNL date unknown
Greg Kinnear-College Mad House in 1989, SNL in 1998
Norman Lear-Quiz Kids in 1981, SNL date unknown
Bob Saget-1 vs. 100 in 2006, hosted SNL in 1995

Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: SuperMatch93 on November 23, 2016, 05:23:32 PM
Another question: Which game show hosts ever hosted Saturday Night Live? It struck me while seeing Alec Baldwin. Drew did. Milton Berle hosted Jackpot Bowling and the SNL Lorne Michaels has never let be rerun.
Dick Cavett-College Bowl in 1987, SNL date unknown

Dick hosted SNL on January 31 and November 13, 1976.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on November 23, 2016, 05:37:27 PM
While the definition of "big game" may vary, Rolf also appeared in the 1981 AFC Championship game.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: PYLdude on November 23, 2016, 10:16:35 PM
While the definition of "big game" may vary, Rolf also appeared in the 1981 AFC Championship game.

That's coming close, I'd say.
Title: Re: Game show hosts who have won a ring or come close
Post by: gromit82 on November 24, 2016, 02:03:54 AM
Another question: Which game show hosts ever hosted Saturday Night Live? It struck me while seeing Alec Baldwin. Drew did. Milton Berle hosted Jackpot Bowling and the SNL Lorne Michaels has never let be rerun.
Norman Lear-Quiz Kids in 1981, SNL date unknown

Norman Lear hosted SNL on Sept. 25, 1976.