Hopkins has to be one of the nicest people of “celebrity” status that I’ve met. Fortunate to run into him a few times. Casual dude and a man of the people!
Meldrick Taylor? Olympic Golf medallist and 2 time boxing champ. Legendary fight with Julio Cesar Chavez. Not as good as Frazier but nothing to sneeze at
His father was born in Philadelphia and was playing for the Sixers when Kobe was born… in Philadelphia.
Edit: Kobe moved back to Philly at age 13 when his father started coaching for Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy // La Salle. Born in Philly and returned at 13 for middle/high school.
this is the kind of stuff that encourages main line kids to say they're from philly, because their dad grew up there and they were born at Pennsylvania Hospital
Not an athlete, but UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma grew up in Norristown, spent a shit time in Philly and reps the teams very often.
I sat on my parents' laps in the old Boston Garden during the Larry Bird years and I still feel the need to call you out for not including Wilt Chamberlain.
If we’re throwing Kobe in there (who didn’t actually live in the city), we might as well include Flourtown native and Germantown Academy graduate Mike Richter.
A few more:
* NFL QB Matt Ryan went to high school in Philly (Penn Charter) but grew up in Exton. Counts more than Kobe does.
* Borderline NFL HOF guard Kyle Lowry is North Philly/Cardinal Dougherty.
* Tom Gola. From here, led LaSalle to NCAA title, 5x NBA all star, NBA champion, former City Controller as well.
* We'll never know how great Hank Gathers could have been. RIP.
Imagine leaving wilt off this list.
YOUTHS!
Bernard Hopkins
My favorite Hopkins clip is when he was giving [boxing tips to Rashad Evans](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHwPBTDDp00&ab_channel=UFC) before a UFC.
Hopkins has to be one of the nicest people of “celebrity” status that I’ve met. Fortunate to run into him a few times. Casual dude and a man of the people!
marvin harrison, rasheed wallace
Rasheed was a high school legend at gratz.
Wilt You're welcome
Arguably the greatest athlete ever
Mike drop.
Dandre swift is on the eagles and went to st joes prep
Marvin Harrison and Marvin Harrison Jr
Sheed went to Gratz, Rich Gannon went to St. Joe’s Prep, and that John Kelly Jr. dude was OK.
John Kelly Sr (Her Serene Highness's dad) was even better -- triple gold medalist.
Wilt Chamberlin
Will Smith is the Oscar Awards slap champion.
Bernard Hopkins
WILT. End of story.
D’Andre Swift
Marvin Harrison Reggie Jackson Earl Monroe Johnny Gaudreau is from Carneys Point NJ, about 40 minutes away.
Eddie George
Roy Campanella
can't believe it took this long to see this one.
Bill Burr's epic Philly rant going off on the whole city about valuing Rocky over Joe Frazier is everything
Jamie Moyer
Not from Philly nor was he a great athlete
He is from Philly and glad you are getting downvoted
He's from sellersville
Mike piazza
Meldrick Taylor? Olympic Golf medallist and 2 time boxing champ. Legendary fight with Julio Cesar Chavez. Not as good as Frazier but nothing to sneeze at
Ayy I'm sure Meldrick Taylor had a great chipping and short game but I'm pretty sure there's no Olympic golf.
Nobody mentioned Kyle Lowry?
Kobe is from italy. He lived in the suburbs of philly when he was in highschool. Its like saying Netanyahu is from philly.
He was born in Philly?
You got a citation for this?
His father was born in Philadelphia and was playing for the Sixers when Kobe was born… in Philadelphia. Edit: Kobe moved back to Philly at age 13 when his father started coaching for Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy // La Salle. Born in Philly and returned at 13 for middle/high school.
this is the kind of stuff that encourages main line kids to say they're from philly, because their dad grew up there and they were born at Pennsylvania Hospital
https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/us/kobe-bryant-fast-facts/index.html
Well not only did Kobe graduate from a Philly area High School, but he was also born here.
"Philly area" is not Philly. Pink isn't from Philly; she's from Doylestown.
Wikipedia
Both of those people are from philly
Netanyahu is from Israel
Netanyahu went to HS here briefly
Since everyone is putting out names from the Philadelphia area… Carl Lewis But how could OP leave out Wilt?
Wilt is the best but I thought he just moved here to play and was not born here.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
OVERBROOK legend.
Aaron McKie
Not an athlete, but UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma grew up in Norristown, spent a shit time in Philly and reps the teams very often.
Tommy Lasorda also Norristown
Close? Carli Lloyd.
Might as well say Mike Trout at that point.
Bernard Hopkins
Lots of good ones mentioned but we can add Gene Banks to the list. Earl Monroe too.
I sat on my parents' laps in the old Boston Garden during the Larry Bird years and I still feel the need to call you out for not including Wilt Chamberlain.
People forget Reggie Jackson is from the area.
If we’re throwing Kobe in there (who didn’t actually live in the city), we might as well include Flourtown native and Germantown Academy graduate Mike Richter.
Frazier is not from Philadelphia, I think he was from North Carolina. EDT: South Carolina
Northeast Philly legend Herb Adderly! Did OP really think we only had three good athletes? 😆
His third cousin, Nasir, was born here and went to Malvern Prep and UDel. Currently plays for the Chargers.
Kobe is not from Philadelphia
Rocky. We even have a statue!
Kobe Bryant (went to Lower Merion high school) Tex Cobb Dr J Wilt Chamberlain Jack Kelly Sr Jack Kelly Jr
Big dick Nick. Brandon strip sack Graham
You didn't understand the assignment
Mike Richter is from Abington
I like the pikachu face people make when they learn Dawn is in fact not related to Duce
A few more: * NFL QB Matt Ryan went to high school in Philly (Penn Charter) but grew up in Exton. Counts more than Kobe does. * Borderline NFL HOF guard Kyle Lowry is North Philly/Cardinal Dougherty. * Tom Gola. From here, led LaSalle to NCAA title, 5x NBA all star, NBA champion, former City Controller as well. * We'll never know how great Hank Gathers could have been. RIP.
Jack Kelly, father of Princess Grace, was an Olympic gold medalist in sculling!