Aside from being a fun little exercise, it's sort of an indictment of the current crop of athletes who play in Philly. Because finding 10 guys whom the general population would know isn't as easy as it sounds. And it's even more difficult now that fan favorites Pat Burrell and Brian Dawkins aren't in town any longer.
Our lists that night averaged out to be Phillies-heavy, Eagles-light, and almost devoid of Sixers and Flyers. Pretty much everyone picked Donovan McNabb first. But after the top six or seven, the names got a little squirrely. The final players ranged from Jeff Carter to Samuel Dalembert to Scottie Reynolds. Someone even suggested Marty Biron.
That last one kind of surprised me. I'm not sure that wearing a goalie mask helps your face and/or name recognition much.
Here's my personal top 10. Good luck putting yours together; it's harder than you think.
1. Donovan McNabb: The universal No. 1.
2. Ryan Howard: Everyone remembers the big, cuddly, teddy-bear-looking dudes. Plus, those Subway commercials don't hurt.
3. Cole Hamels: He's the reigning World Series MVP. He has a celebrity(ish) wife. He lives in Center City and walks around down here all the time. He did just about every talk show in the country after the Fightin's won it all. He has an ESPN the Magazine commercial with Jameer Nelson and Chad Ocho Cinco. And now E! is doing one of those True Hollywood Stories about him and his woman. Hollywood Hamels, indeed.
4. Jimmy Rollins: Even before he called Philly fans front-runners, he was a recognizable face. That jab simply put him over the top.
5. Chase Utley: If this question were being answered by females only, Utley would be No. 1, and it wouldn't even be close.
