Fanshots

With the recent success of the Ron Artest Exhibit “Loveable Badass” in Toronto, I got to thinking more about sports and art.

What athletes or dynasties would make great subjects for artists of multiple disciplines?

My list goes a little something like this.

Wayne Gretzky: Not only is Gretzky an icon in his home country of Canada, but he’s the man that allowed hockey to grow in the United States. And with a nickname like “The Great One” you have to know that there are a lot of opportunities to make some sweet art happen.

Dennis Rodman: “The Worm” was arguably the most colorful athlete of a generation. The hair styles, attitude, wedding dress wearing in public and general day-to-day life of the former NBA rebounding champ is almost too bizarre to believe and I think that’s the best reason to put something together about him.

Georges St-Pierre: The MMA star is a physical specimen unlike many others. His body alone would make for some pretty fantastic inspiration… And maybe even a canvas.

Deion Sanders: “Prime Time”, “Neon Deion” it doesn’t matter what you call him, this is a guy that made people stop and take notice. And he did it on the football field as well as the baseball diamond. If there was ever an athlete that had an ego big enough to carry him into being the focus of an art exhibit it is Deion Sanders.

The Showtime Lakers: Lead by Magic Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers were an almost unstoppable force in the NBA for 10 years from 1979 to 1989. They were fast, fun, successful and they were in Hollywood. Going back to look at a mix of the environment and the team could make for some great pieces.

Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant/ LeBron James: There is little doubt in my mind that all three of these athletes could be the subject of their own exhibits, but with so many comparisons drawn in the basketball world between them it seems almost natural to keep them together for one grand presentation.

The 1985 Chicago Bears: “The Monsters of the Midway” have become legend. Coached by Mike Ditka and led on the field by Walter Payton, Mike Singletary and Jim McMahon, the Bears went 15-1 in the regular season and blew by the opposition in the playoffs on the way to winning Super Bowl XX. This was a tough, mean, hard-nosed football team that got dirty and won games. I would love to see something come together to showcase that.

Who would you like to see featured in an exhibit?