ST. LOUIS — We've been doing some serious all-time ranking at 5 On Your Side while the COVID-19 pandemic has most of the sports world on pause.
Sports director Frank Cusumano is rolling out his list of the 10 most intimidating sports figures in St. Louis history this week.
Our town isn't short on guys who could make you scared. You wouldn't want to cross any of these athletes.
Do you agree with the list? Let us know.
10: Blues enforcers Kelly Chase, Cam Janssen and Ryan Reaves
First up, a trio of Blues enforcers together at 10.
Kelly Chase was a middleweight who fought, and won, against heavyweights.
Cam Janssen, the pride of Eureka fought for his town and never backed down from a challenge.
And Ryan Reaves, at 6 feet 2 inches and 225 pounds, could scare you with a look. You didn't take any cheap shots with Reaves on the ice.
9: The Greatest Show on Turf
Not just one person, but a collection of some of the greatest offensive talent in football history.
Mike Martz would tell his team every week they were going to put a 50 spot on the opponent.
The offense has four hall of famers, with Torry Holt likely to make it five.
You couldn't stop them, you could only hope to contain them. And nobody did.
8: Albert Pujols
It wasn't a full-on scowl, but Albert always had that look in his eye when he stepped to the plate.
For 11 years in St. Louis, Pujols terrorized opposing pitchers and became one of the most feared hitters in the history of baseball.
7: Chris Carpenter
I wouldn't want to run into an angry Chris Carpenter in a dark alley.
He intimidated opposing players, and sometimes even guys on his own team. (Ask Brendan Ryan)
The bigger the game, the better he was. Carpenter's complete game gem against Roy Halladay and the Phillies in the 2011 NLDS is one of the greatest games in Cardinals history.
6: Tony Twist
Perhaps the baddest man to ever wear the Bluenote.
Tony Twist was a heavyweight champion on skates.
He had the look, body and passion to annihilate the competition.
5: Maurice Lucas
He's one of the most legendary enforcers in basketball history, and we get to claim him. Lucas began his career with the Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA.
He became an all-star and NBA champion in Portland, but he'll always be known as one of the toughest guys to ever play in the league.
4: Conrad Dobler
Talk about someone you didn't want to mess with.
Dobler is famously one of the dirtiest players in the history of professional football.
He leg whipped and bit his way to three Pro Bowls as a member of the most dominant offensive line St. Louis had ever seen.
3: Bob Gassoff
A motorcycle accident tragically took his life at just 24, but Gassoff's impact on the Blues was secure.
He was just 5 feet, 10 inches and 190 pounds, but he fought with a fury rarely seen.
The hair was wild, the punches were heavy and the pride of the Bluenote was strong.
2: Sonny Liston
The former heavyweight champion of the world wasn't born in St. Louis, but he did grow up here.
Liston famously said the only thing his old man ever game him, was a beating.
He won 50 of 53 fights, including 29 knockouts in his career.
His childhood also landed Liston in the Missouri State Penitentiary for five years. When he got out, everyone felt his pain.
1: Bob Gibson
Who else?
Bob Gibson is the most intimidating player in St. Louis history.
You'll never find a photo of Gibson fraternizing with the other team before a game. It doesn't exist. They were the enemy.
If you didn't stay in line, you'd find yourself on the dirt. The plate belonged to Gibson.
His catcher, Tim McCarver was even scared to go out to the mound sometimes.
Breath-taking ability and that legendary scowl put the greatest pitcher in Cardinals history into Cooperstown.
