Top Ten Chicago Speedsters

I was the slowest guy on my track team in high school and so I feel especially qualified to write this.

10. Curtis Conway
WR, Bears

Though the Bears selected the former USC receiver in the first round ahead of Jerome Bettis, it is hard to accurately judge Conway's career. Conway stayed in the NFL for a long time, and his prime was wasted with the likes of Erik Kramer, Steve Walsh, and Rick Mirer throwing him the ball.

9. Juan Pierre
CF, Cubs

Pierre has been one of baseball’s premier base stealers for a long time, and proved to be just that during his lone season as a Cub, swiping 58 bases. If only Pierre had better plate disciple, he may just be one of baseball's best leadoff men.

8. Dee Brown
PG, Illinois

Arguably the most beloved Illini player in recent memory, Brown came to Champaign as a highly regarded recruit and lived up to the hype. While he doesn’t have much of a pro career, Brown will always be remembered as the heart and sole of the Illinois team that went in the Final Four in 2005.

7. Jerry Azumah CB/KR, Bears

Before there was Hester, another #23 who could return kicks pretty well too. While a neck injury cut short his football career, it certainly hasn't diminished Zoom's ability to spot the best dressed Bears player after every game.

6. Tony Amonte
F, Blackhawks

One of the few stars the Blackhawks had during 90’s, Amonte was known as one of the NHL’s fastest skaters. If only he had more help, maybe Amonte would have revered in Chicago.

Few players could swipe bases and drive in runs like Raines, who was a key cog on the 94’ White Sox, a team that some believe could have won the World Series if not for the strike. While Rock experienced his best years in Montreal, he made the most of his five seasons as the Sox leadoff man.

He may spell his name like a girl and have the football intuition of a box of rocks, but Manning sure can run. It’s the reason the Bears made him their top overall pick in the 2006 draft. One would think Manning could be quite the kick returner, but the Bears kind of have that position covered.

His world class speed may be only slightly more famous than his insistence on always running out of bounds to avoid a hit, but Gault was a pivotal playmaker on the 85’ Bears.

2. Scott Podsednik
LF, White Sox

It may not make sense to sabermatricians, but this speedy, slap-hitting left fielder was one of the biggest reasons the White Sox were world champions in 2005. After not hitting a home run in the entire regular season, Scotty Pods belted two dingers in the playoffs, including a walk-off shot to end game two of the World Series.

Honestly, who else could we put in this spot? Hester has impacted every game he’s played in with the Bears, from taking back a punt against the Packers in his NFL debut to returning the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl. Now if they could only teach him how to successfully run a fly pattern.