Not in Hall of Fame If it's not in the Hall of Fame, it's at Not in Hall of Fame

2023 Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame - Round 1

Tony Banta

TV Show/Movie Appeared: Taxi (1978-1983)
Actor/Actress: Tony Danza
Why you should vote:: His boxing plotlines were often referred to.
Why you should not vote:: He may have been Italian, but he was no Rocky.
At no point do we remember when we were watching Taxi, did we think that Tony Danza would have a long career in acting, but the former boxer started off playing a role he understood; a former boxer. As the dim-witted Tony Banta, Danza had the kind heart, tough fists and the New York attitude that helped make the ensemble comedy work. The show also paid a lot of attention to Banta’s boxing career, and made a point of incorporating it in minor plotlines. Incidentally Danza’s boxing record was considerably better than Banta’s; who was often knocked out.