It is! The JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. I'm coming to you live from Atlanta, Georgia.
Thank you to everybody tuned in and locked in all over North America. I hope you've had a tremendous Wednesday. You're starting to get over the hump. Get a little bit closer to Thursday, Friday, and the weekend. I'll be hanging out with you for two more hours.
This show gets started every weekday at 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 Pacific. We've got a lot more to get into. How about this? In a few minutes, it's going to be a new top six list. We're going to look at some of the best international players to ever play in North America.
We'll get to the top six in a second. Where have you been over the last two hours? We had a great chat with New England Patriot, two-time Super Bowl champ, and then also this man played for Navy. He's a part of the Naval Reserve Unit right now. He's a lieutenant in the reserves. Thank you to Joe Cardona for joining us.
A true patriot in two type of ways. Hey, we talked about Anthony Edwards, some of his language, some of his words. We talked about the return of the NBA tonight. The Lakers are going to host the Charlotte Hornets. Luka Doncic will play. No minutes restrictions. LeBron James still worried about his foot.
We won't see LeBron tonight. Also talked about Deebo Samuel and his trade request got into Jamar Chase. Jamar Chase just might be the first $40 million wide receiver in the NFL. And then I told you about the guys who robbed all those players.
Kelsey Burrow. My homes. They caught these guys.
Well, at least seven seven idiots who decided to take photos with all the jewelry that they stole. What a great idea. Let's steal from these guys.
Let's get away with it. And then let's let's take photos. What a great idea. Send them to our friends. I'm going to put on Joe Burrow's chain and send it to my buddies in Chile. Geniuses that bad guys, stupid guys, idiots, they're everywhere all over the damn place.
Hey, I might be in Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you to our producer holding it down in New York City. Chris Percy on and for holding it down. You OK, Chris? So far, so good. Yeah, man. Good, simple. So we'd like to hear keeping things simple, you know, to piggyback a little bit on why tonight's top six list is about international players. By the way, you missed any part of the show.
Hit rewind on the free Odyssey app. Thank you. People listening live their local affiliates, Sirius XM three seventy five and on a smart speaker. But there have been so many conversations about the face of the league and it bothered me yesterday. It bothered me last night when we discussed it. The dumb ass comment. That's what it is. Terrible comment from Stephen A. Smith that an international player can't be the face of the NBA. And I go, what?
My what? Basketball is an international sport. Like if you step into a locker room, forget basketball for a second.
I don't think basketball is exempt in any type of way. Sports is the the ultimate unifier. It can be the ultimate unifier. It's the ultimate team sport. It brings people together regardless of where you are. Where you're from.
Your background. If you can compete. There's a simple language. Put the ball in the hole. Put the ball in the net. Put the puck in the net. Not too many people playing American football all over the world, but dammit, take the ball and put it over the line. It's as simple as that. And if you can do that, if you can compete. International language. I mean, we know the Olympics.
I'm not going to call it a scam. We know it's a gigantic money grab, but we got countries that compete in sports all over the world. That's why everybody all over the world watches the Olympics. Well, what can we do?
You know, who's going to come out on top? Sports is international. You don't have to open your mouth. You don't have to use words to describe what's taking place on the field, on the pitch.
At all. So I found a comment just to be stupid for a lack of a better term. And so with all the talk about international players and who they are and what they can do, what they're capable of. I wanted to highlight tonight some of the best international players that we have ever seen in North America. Now, I'm talking about team sports. If we got to think about the biggest and best leagues that we have. It's the NHL. Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NFL. Now, we know NFL is an American sport. It is nobody playing this at any level, any high level on any other space or spot on earth. I mean, they could pop open an arena league in Germany and have a league in South America.
They could do what the hell they want. The NFL is pretty much exclusive. The American football is exclusive to the United States of America. And so don't anticipate any NFL players being here on this list. We can pull apart a couple of kickers that have come from overseas. But to say that there's some of the best international athletes ever that we've had here in the United States and Canada.
No. So here's a spoiler. Don't expect any NFL players on this list. But I am going to take some time to talk about some of the best players who have come outside the United States and Canada and have had success and have entertained us all. And so without wasting any more time, it's time for a new top six list. This is a list of the top six international athletes who've played here in North America. Six, five, four, three, two, one. It's time to get J.R.'s latest top six list only on the J.R. sport brief. Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network.
It's Wednesday. It's time for a new top six list. It's time to take a look at some of the best athletes, some of the best international players that we have ever had here in North America. The top six list. It's a countdown, which means we start at this number right here.
Number six. Hey, we got to go to Puerto Rico. Hey, we got to go to Puerto Rico. We got to talk about one of the greatest baseball players of all time. We got to talk about a Hall of Famer. We have to talk about an individual who played primarily in the 50s and 60s. We got to talk about a 15 time All-Star. We got to talk about a man who won a World Series title in an MVP. Here's a hint for the Pirates in 1971. Got to talk about a four time batting champ, someone who has 12 gold gloves and someone who wasn't just a great baseball player. He was a great humanitarian.
One of the greatest imports for North America. His name was Roberto Clemente. And you hear this all the time. And this is what athletes should do. I believe in this wholeheartedly.
Use what you have, not just to improve life for yourself, but for other people as well. That's what Roberto Clemente did. Unfortunately, he died at 38 years old.
In a plane, excuse me, a plane crash delivering aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. You need to know more? Just listen to this. This is courtesy of the biography channel.
Listen. In his era, Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest players. He was unique. Clemente played in a way that none of those other great players of that era, Mays, Aaron or Mantle, did. Baseball legend Roberto Clemente paved the way for Latinos in the major leagues. Clemente is best known as that rare ballplayer who actually grew as a human being as his talents were diminishing. And he became a great humanitarian whose motto was, if you have a chance to help others and fail to do so, you're wasting your time on this earth. That man is a go.
I mean, it was go and it'd be nice if we got plenty athlete to do amazing things behind the scenes in front of the scenes. He helped set the stage. Roberto Clemente is one of the best international athletes we've ever had here in North America. Roberto at six. What's the next number? Number five.
At number five, we're going to stay and stick around here in baseball. We're going to talk about a guy who will be inducted into Cooperstown this year. He came over in 2001. He won an MVP. He won Rookie of the Year.
He did it in the same year. He's a 10 time All-Star, has 10 gold gloves, a two time batting champ between Major League Baseball in his time in Japan. This man has four thousand three hundred and sixty seven hits. He has more than three thousand hits in Major League Baseball alone. His name is Ichiro Suzuki out of Japan. I want you to listen to this courtesy of the Seattle Mariners, because they pretty much you hear from the entire world.
Ken Griffey Jr. to Harold Reynolds. You hear from everybody, Lou Panella, about how great Ichiro Suzuki is and was. I found him very amusing. I found him very relaxed.
I found him very confident. So I really felt that he could come here and be a great player, just a hitting machine. My favorite Ichiro moment is probably the first time we met. I met him in 95.
We went to Benihana's and we just hit it off. I love Ichiro. We have a common goal, and that was to be the best player that we could be. Greatness is the word that I think about when I think about Ichiro. Pure greatness in every facet of the game. And I think also he glorified a guy being able to hit the ball over the ballpark. He's one of the greatest players ever played Major League Baseball, period.
Yeah, he is. I've never seen a guy hit like him. That guy was contact. I mean, we can think about some of the great hitters, the Pete Rose, Tony Gwen, guys who saw the ball and hit it. Ichiro was in that space.
Wasn't overthinking, wasn't extra. That guy saw the ball and he hit it. You want to talk about one of the best international players of all time coming over to North America? Ichiro is number five on the list. What's next? Number four. At number four, let's see, we've gone from Puerto Rico with Roberto Clemente. We have gone to Japan with Ichiro. So at number four, you know what?
Let's let's go to Germany. Let's go ahead and look at somebody who actually stuck around with the Dallas Mavericks. He was allowed to play his whole career with the Dallas Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks didn't trade him. They actually won a championship in 2007. They won another championship in 2011. And this guy, one of the top international players to play here in North America, it's Dirk Nowitzki. Yeah, this man has a statue outside of the American Airlines Center.
And I'll say it again. They weren't dumb enough. Mark Cuban wasn't dumb enough to trade him like the current regime did with Luka Doncic. Dirk Nowitzki is sixth all time in scoring in the NBA. Dirk Nowitzki came over to the United States of America. And he was basically bullied.
They basically told this man that he was soft. Dirk Nowitzki battled through all of that and played from 1998 to 2019 with the Dallas Mavericks. This man was a finals MVP.
Let me tell you something. Dwayne Wade was sick on looking at this guy. Dwayne Wade did not want to see this man coming. From number nine in the draft in 98 to the Hall of Fame, Dirk Nowitzki sat down and talked about what it meant to be in the Hall of Fame, to have his jersey retired, to now be recognized for all of his success.
Listen to Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk Nowitzki I was very fortunate to be here and stay in one spot and stay injury free throughout my whole ride. I was blessed. It was an incredible ride.
To me, it topped it off this summer with the Hall of Fame. I think now, to me, that was sort of the closure. My first half of my life is over with this. I couldn't have gone any better, honestly. I'm extremely happy and, of course, proud. My family is super proud. Out of Germany, I was able to play in the NBA for 21 years. It's been a hell of a ride.
We'll see what the next chapter looks like now. Dirk Nowitzki I was very fortunate to be here and stay in one spot and stay injury free throughout my whole ride. I was blessed. It was an incredible ride.
To me, it topped it off this summer with the Hall of Fame. I think now, to me, that was sort of the closure. My first half of my life is over with this. I couldn't have gone any better, honestly. I'm extremely happy and, of course, proud. My family is super proud.
Out of Germany, I was able to play in the NBA for 21 years. It's been a hell of a ride. We'll see what the next chapter looks like now.
What's the next chapter? Following Luka Doncic around with the Los Angeles Lakers because the Dallas Mavericks are just complete idiots. They are. Dirk Nowitzki This man is one of the greatest athletes to play here in North America. Look at the success. This guy has a statue. There's a big German guy, a seven-foot German guy, who has a statue in Dallas, Texas. I told you sports is absolutely amazing. I got Dirk at number four on my list. What's the next number?
Number three. Top six international athletes to ever play here in North America at number three? This guy is still playing.
This man is 39 years old. This guy is from Russia. This man, and we talked about this last night, at some point this season, if he gets on a hot streak, most certainly next season if he's healthy enough to do it, Alex Ovechkin is going to have the most goals scored ever in NHL history. I got Alex Ovechkin coming out of Russia at number three on the list.
I mean, it's a lot to say that you have done something. He hasn't done it yet, but he's on his way to do something that Wayne Gretzky never did. Alex Ovechkin selected number one overall in the draft in 2004. In 2018, he finally won that Stanley Cup.
In 2018, 19, that was a good year to be a fan in Washington now, wasn't it? And right now, as it stands, the great one, Wayne Gretzky, has 894 goals. He ain't adding to that total. He's not.
Not happening. Alex Ovechkin, 879 goals. He already has 26 this year. And Wayne Gretzky, pretty funny. He was on CNBC and he was asked whether or not he's bothered or jealous or feels threatened by Alex Ovechkin getting ready to take his record. And he's just like, no, that's my guy.
Listen to the great one. I'm very proud of what I accomplished with the 894. Nothing can take anything away from that. But if, you know, Alex has been exceptional for our game and for the Washington Capitals, I hope I'm the first guy to shake his hand when he does break the record because people used to ask me all the time, is Alex going to break your record?
And I would say, yeah, eventually, you know, those are those. That's what happens. That's progression in our sport. Records are made to be broken, aren't they? Come on, LeBron just passed and damn, it's already two years. LeBron passed Kareem. You know, as much as I love Wayne Gretzky, Ovechkin is about to pass him.
Records are made to be broken. You want to talk about some of the best athletes to ever play here in North America? Alex Ovechkin coming over from Russia is number three on my list. The top six countdown. What's next?
Number two, man. This is one of my favorite players, one of my favorite athletes of all time. This man didn't say a lot.
He just went out there and he busted everybody's ass. This man is from Nigeria. This man is a nightmare.
This man. Well, I met him. He's a great guy. I love him.
He looks like my dad. It is Akim Olajuwon. Akim Olajuwon is absolutely amazing.
Do I need to walk you through everything that this man did? This man was an MVP in 94. This man also won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1994. There's no human being in the NBA who had as many blocks as he did. He still leads the league all time in blocks. Yes, that is Akim Olajuwon. This guy was a Finals MVP when he did it and went back to back. He's a 12 time All-Star. Don't even get me started on the offensive moves. This guy had a counter for everything.
His dream shake here, move into this. Akim Olajuwon was a ridiculously complete basketball player. He could bust your ass in the paint.
This man could bust your ass on the outside. This man was beaten up on poor David Robinson. He was beaten up on Akim Olajuwon. He was even beaten up on Shaq. And if you've never seen it, if you didn't live to see it, listen to Gary Payton basically say, yeah, Akim, he owned everybody, including Shaq. Shaq had a lot of power. I didn't hear what you said. You think Dream was laid way better. And then Shaq had a lot of power.
I didn't hear what you said. Dream was way better. The Dream had a lot of shake and bake.
He could fade away on you. He shot free throws. He did a lot more. Shaq was more of a dominant basketball player. Dream could run the floor really well. Shaq could run the floor when he first got in the lead and did like this. But then he became a player where you put it on the block.
And we had to double him because he was so strong. What the Dream is, Shaq couldn't guard Dream. Shaq couldn't guard Yaamin. Dude players that he couldn't deal with. He couldn't deal with him. He admits it. He couldn't deal with Yaamin because he couldn't move Yaamin.
He can go through Dream, but Dream will work him. Hakeem Olajuwon was amazing. One of my favorite athletes to watch ever. Period.
And you know what? Gary Payton had to compete against Hakeem Olajuwon. Let's listen to Robert Horry who played with Hakeem Olajuwon. Who also played with Tim Duncan. Robert Horry also played with Shaq.
Take a listen to Robert Horry on All the Smoke Breakdown the Dream. You know, defensive player of the year, MVP in one season, all-time leading shot blocker. You know, those things that you look at his history and what he's done for the game and how he started the game. You know, this dude didn't play basketball growing up. He went to U of H. You think about it.
We all went to college, but they're going to teach you. U of H, they just rolled a ball out there and he went to work. And so I think his body of work was just incredible. And he's just a good dude too, man.
That's what you have to think about. A good dude. Yeah, Hakeem Olajuwon, I can also attest.
He is a very good dude. When he wasn't slapping up his teammates in the locker room. Or busting the ass of Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning. All those big men that he bust they asses.
Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria. I have the dream at number two on my list. Top six international players that we've seen here in North America. It's the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. We're going to take a break.
When we come back on the other side. I told you the dream is number two on my list. I'm going to tell you who I have at numero uno. You're locked in to the JR Sport Brief Show coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. It's Wednesday. Every Wednesday I bring you a new top six list. I've been doing top six lists, dammit, since YouTube. About 15, 16 years now at this point. I've been able to bring it over the past five years to the Infinity Sports Network.
And so today and I guess throughout the past couple of days. So many conversations about international athletes. They're standing in the United States of America. Whether or not international athletes can.
Represent leagues and just just a lot of nonsense. I'm like, man, it don't matter where anybody is from. If you can come to North America and you could ball out. People are going to love you.
It's as simple as that. And so today I'm sharing with you a top six list of some of the best international athletes, some of the best international players who have ever played here in North America. I'm about to share with you who I have a number one.
Let me give you a quick recap. And number six, I gave you Roberto Clemente out of Puerto Rico. Not just an amazing athlete, but someone who is an amazing humanitarian. I mean, look, I love Pittsburgh as a city. I don't care about the snow. I don't care about the cold.
I do not care. I love their their whiskey places as well. I got some great whiskey places in Pittsburgh. But one of my favorite things is stopping by Roberto Roberto Clemente statue. And number five, I gave you Ichiro Suzuki out of Japan. And number four, I gave you Dirk Nowitzki out of Germany. And number three, this man is still active. I'm ready to pass the great one all time and goals. I gave you Alexander Ovechkin out of Russia.
And number two, this man is out of Nigeria. One of my favorite people I've ever met, spoken to, hung out with, had a conversation with. Oh, he was also one of the greatest sensors ever. His name is Hakeem Olajuwon. I got him at number two on my list. This man did everything on a basketball card.
Offense, defense, MVPs, the titles. He was a complete package inside, outside. Hakeem Olajuwon was pulling double duty out of Nigeria. I got him at number two on my list.
But if I have Hakeem at number two. It's time to share with you who I have at this number. Number one.
You want to talk about double duty? You want to talk about a complete package? At number one on my list. Top international player we've seen here in North America. We already had one individual from Japan, Ichiro Suzuki.
I'm bringing you another one. And this guy, he's he's not done. This man has more to do. His name is Shohei Ohtani. It's crazy when you could think about an athlete. And you got to compare him. And it's not an even comparison because Babe Ruth didn't spend his career doing both pitching and hitting. He didn't do both at the same time in an extended period.
But when you got to think back 100 years for a comp. Shohei Ohtani is numero uno on my list. And as I say, he's still playing. Last year, this guy helped set the stage for a contract that Juan Soto got. Seven hundred million dollars over 10 years.
Yeah, they're spreading it over 20. Seven hundred million dollars for Shohei Ohtani. Let's just think about the last year of his career. Not only did he secure seven hundred million dollars from a team in America, the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani just won the World Series. Shohei Ohtani just became the first guy to say, hey, 40 40, who needs that?
Here's 50 50 in a season. Shohei Ohtani just won his third MVP award. His first in the National League with the Dodgers.
He won the other two with that crap franchise. The the Angels down the road. Oh, yeah.
By the way. He pitches. Shohei Ohtani has pitched to a career era. Of three. What happened if he was just out there?
I don't know. Just pitching and not worried about hitting. We'd have more 50 50 seasons if he didn't have to worry about, I don't know, pitching. Oh, yeah.
And by the way, when he came over, just just rookie of the year, just rookie of the year in 2018. Just small stuff. Who cares? Hey, hey, Shohei, where's your rookie of the year trophy? I gave it to my dog. Where's your MVP?
I just put the latest one in the kitchen. I don't know. The impact that this man has had. And I made the point last night. To say that you cannot have an international face. Of a league based in North America is ridiculous. Look no further than Shohei Ohtani. Who rarely, barely speaks English in public. But is the face of the game.
On planet Earth. Shohei Ohtani is number one here on my list of international players that have played here in North America. Look at what he's accomplished.
He's only 30. He has nine more years left on this deal with the Dodgers. Who yet, by the way, if you haven't checked all the additions they've made, the Blake Snell's, the glass now's to the roster, who'd be shocked if they won another World Series? And who'd be shocked if Shohei Ohtani won, let's just say, another one, two or three MVPs?
I don't think anybody would be shocked or surprised. And speaking of Shohei Ohtani speaking English, it's it's such a rarity. You know, let's take a listen to Shohei Ohtani when he accepted the award for MVP from baseball writers of America.
Listen to this. I would like to thank the BBWAA for this special NLMVP award. DCU was a very special year in so many ways, and there are a lot of people to thank. I would like to start off by thanking the entire Los Angeles Dodgers organization for the opportunity they give me to play for this historical franchise.
Listen to Shohei Ohtani. He knows how he basically said thank you. That's after he won the MVP. The man said thank you. And that's him in his house saying thank you.
He didn't travel because of the California wildfires. And he's saying a thank you to a bunch of nerds in suits. And Shohei Ohtani can have fun, too, because when the guy won the World Series during the Dodgers parade and all of that and Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani, he sounded a whole lot happier speaking English right here.
This is so special woman movie. I'm so honored to be here and to be part of this team. Congratulations Los Angeles. Thank you fans. Congratulations Los Angeles with champs. We probably won't hear him speak English until they won the next World Series.
Hey, guess what? The phone lines are open. 855 212 42 27.
That's 855 212 42 27. This is a list of six. I could only fit six athletes on this list. Yeah, I considered a lot more athletes than the ones that we named here. My top six list of international athletes that we've seen play here in North America. Number six, I gave you Roberto Clemente out of Puerto Rico. And number five, I gave you Ichiro Suzuki out of Japan. And number four, I gave you Dirk Nowitzki out of Germany. And number three, Alexander Ovechkin out of Russia. And number two, represent Nigeria.
He is a nightmare. His name is Akeem Olajuwon. And the number one on the list, this guy is still rolling.
We haven't seen anybody close to this man in about a hundred years and he still has more to do. And number one, I just gave you Shohei Ohtani. I can sit here and name a bunch of other hockey players. I can name other baseball players. I can name a lot of people.
But I'm going to leave that up to you. 855 212 42 27. That's 855 212 42 27. Who are some of the best players to come from outside of the borders of the United States and Canada? I'm going to get to your calls on the other side of the break. It's the JR Sportbreeze show on the Infinity Sports Network. It is the JR Sportbreeze show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. 855 212 42 27.
That's 855 212 42 27. I just delivered to you a new top six list. We took a look at some of the best international players and athletes that have ever played here in North America.
If you missed the list and all the fancy audio and all the fancy stuff, you can go ahead and hit rewind on the free Odyssey app. And number six, I gave you Roberto Clemente out of Puerto Rico. And number five, I gave you Ichiro Suzuki out of Japan. And number four, I gave you Dirk Nowitzki out of Germany. And number three, I gave you Alexander Ovechkin from Russia. And number two, I gave you Akima Lajuan out of Nigeria. And the number one athlete I have here on my list, the top international player that we've seen compete here in the United States and Canada.
And number one, I gave you the active Shohei Ohtani out of Japan. 855 212 42 27. That's 855 212 42 27. Let's just go ahead and talk to John. John is calling from Colorado. Hey, John, you're on the JR Sport Brief Show.
Thank you for taking my call. Just heard the list by Clemente. Clemente is American. He's from Puerto Rico. He served in the Marines. All the other guys are from outside the United States, Canada, North America.
But technically, he's not international. Oh, my God. Oh, my God, John.
Yeah, you are 100 percent correct. He is a Marine. But when you think about the amount of athletes who come out of Puerto Rico, who play in the United States of America, which is recognized as a territory and a commonwealth, we're really splitting hairs now, John. Wouldn't you say? Well, he was an American. No, I'm I'm asking I'm asking you a question, John, for the incentive purposes of not looking at someone's passport, but to look at how they are viewed inside North America as an athlete. Wouldn't you say you're splitting hairs? No, I mean, it'd be like saying somebody from Hawaii wasn't, you know, or Hawaii. Hawaii and Alaska are states, whereas Puerto Rico is a territory. So, yeah, but at the time when Clemente was born and started playing, they weren't. I mean, it's yeah, I mean, it's out from outside North America.
I imagine a lot of people would. Well, it's also America. It's also well, you are you are correct and I'm correct. It's also part of the Caribbean. Whereas please find me. Find me the contiguous state or territory in Canada that's considered a territory. Find it. Where is it?
There's only one of them. It's Puerto Rico. But like you're asking like territories in the mainland of North America.
Oh, John, you're missing the point. Puerto Puerto Rico, wouldn't you say is special, wouldn't you say is a little bit different? Then say actual Massachusetts versus Massachusetts. It's it's is is Massachusetts in the Caribbean. It was last time I checked.
OK. All right. Now, is Massachusetts considered a state? Yes. OK. Now, is Puerto Rico considered a state?
At this current juncture in time, no, it is not. So wouldn't Puerto Rico be a little bit different than let's just say Massachusetts or Montana or Texas? Or dare I say, I don't know, Toronto.
I want to be a little different than a city or state, a little bit different. I mean, it's not part of the continent of North America. Well, John, it's very, very fast. It depends on who you're talking to. It's also part of the car. Is it a part of the Caribbean? Yeah. OK. Now, can you find me another state?
Miami is, too. Well, can you. Oh, well, well, John, let me ask you a question, John. Yeah. What the hell do you do for a living?
What do I do for a living? Yeah. Go ahead. Share.
I have a last mile logistics specialist. Oh, well, there you have it. I can tell. And John, thank you for calling from Colorado. Thank you for taking my call.
No problem. That's not a shock or a surprise. That guy just busts people's balls all day long.
It said. He's a lot a last mile logistics specialist. He had nothing better to do than call me and go, hey, J.R., did you mean I'm from the Bronx, New York? My aunts and uncles are all Puerto Rican. I think I have a better idea about Puerto Rico than him.
Last mile logistics specialist. John, thank you for calling from Colorado. John, as we talk about international athletes, thank you so much for being the smartest person all across North America.
You are the guy who called up out of all of our listeners and told us what none of us knew. That Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you so much, John.
We have seen oh, so many all thousands of Puerto Rican players who are playing in Major League Baseball, of which right now. I don't think we had more than 30 or 40 last year. Well, thank you, John. We appreciate that. Eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven.
That's eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven. I ain't changing my list. I'm not changing my list at number six on my list. Top international athletes and players that have played here in North America, the United States and Canada at number six. I proudly say it because he was a damn good human being and a baseball player. Roberto Clemente.
There you go. He's number six on my list. And number five is Ichiro Suzuki. Number four is Dirk Nowitzki. Number three, Alexander Ovechkin. Number two, Akima Lajuan. And number one, Shohei Ohtani. I guess somebody is going to call me now and, you know, hey, JR, you can't talk about Joel Embiid because, yeah, he came over and and now he's a citizen and he came from Cameroon.
But we can't include him either. We really, really split in hairs. Eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven. That's eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven.
Who are some of the greatest international players that have played here in the United States and Canada? Phone lines open if you want to give me a holler and not break balls on logistics. I need to let you know this. You should think O'Reilly Auto Parts for all of your car care needs.
Get guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Go ahead. Sing the song on your time. It's the JR sport re-show here with you coast to coast on the Infinity Sports Network. Do me a favor.
Who is someone outside of the United States and Canada that had a big impact on their team? I'll get some more of your calls on the other side of the break. You can also find me online at JR Sport Brief. Call us up. Eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven. That's eight five five two one two forty two twenty seven. You're locked into the JR sport re-show here with you coast to coast and in Puerto Rico on the Infinity Sports Network.
