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Steve Van Buren

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Football Player

The Resume

    (December 28, 1920-August 23, 2012)
    Born in La Ceiba, Honduras
    Halfback for the Philadelphia Eagles (1944-51)
    Career totals of 5860 rushing yards and 69 rushing touchdowns
    #15 retired by the Eagles
    Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1965)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was nicknamed 'Wham-Bam.'
    Despite being the Eagles' first-round draft pick, he was so unsure if he was good enough to play at the pro level that he did not sign his contract for three weeks.
    He almost missed the 1948 NFL Championship Game when he woke up, saw near-blizzard conditions, figured the game would have to be cancelled, and went back to bed.
    He was so shy, he almost skipped his Hall of Fame ceremony. ('My family made me go.')

Why he might not be annoying:

    Both his parents died before he was ten, and he was raised by grandparents in New Orleans.
    As a senior at Louisiana State, he led the nation in points (110) and touchdowns (16).
    Coach Earl Neale said, 'I've seen them all -- Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski -- but he's the greatest.'
    His combination of power and speed paved the way for successors such as Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson.
    After a frantic phone call from his coach, he made it to the 1948 Championship Game, and scored the only touchdown of the game.
    Unlike many veteran players, he was not bitter about the huge salaries paid in today's NFL, saying about the $15,000 a year he earned, 'That was a lot of money in those days. Times change.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 77 Votes: 57.14% Annoying