Sportsmaster
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The Sportsmaster is a DC Comics villain who uses his sportly skill for personal profit.
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[edit] Sportsmaster I
He was the foe of the original Green Lantern as well as Wildcat and was first known as Crusher Crock who was a frustrated athlete who turned to a life of crime. He teamed up with and later married the Golden Age supervillainess Huntress (later called Tigress II) and they had a child named Artemis Crock who became Tigress III. He was a member of different incarnations to the Injustice Society and following his death, his body was cloned by a secret organization called The Council for their enforcers (they had previously used Paul Kirk, Manhunter).
In the Elseworlds miniseries The Golden Age, Sportsmaster I's real name was revealed to be Lawrence Crock. While Elseworlds stories are by definition outside of regular DC Comics continuity, there is nothing in the current canon that contradicts this particular revelation.
[edit] Sportsmaster II
The Earth-1 version of the character (see DC Comics Multiverse) had the same name and origin, but was the foe of Robin and Batgirl. He also married his universe's version of the Huntress. After losing a villains versus heroes baseball game they reformed, and have not been seen since. (Since the Crisis on Infinite Earths, this version was apparently wiped from existence)
[edit] Sportsmaster III
There was also another Sportsmaster whose identity was of Victor Gover, who possessed "photographic reflexes" but he apparently died after a few appearances as a member of the Suicide Squad.
[edit] Sportsman I & II
There were two individuals who modeled their modus operandi after the Sportsmaster, the Sportsman of Earth-2 and Micky Mantle the Sportsman of Earth-1.
The Earth-2 version gained his powers from absorption of an anti-proton globe which enhanced his physical attributes and allowed him to wield seemingly telekinetic control of various sports related implements. This version embarked on a life of crime as a result of the globe's effect on the rational functions of his cerebral cortex. He battled several heroes including the Golden Age Robin and Wildcat.
The Earth-1 version was a frustrated former athlete who subjected himself to his father's enhancement treatment and embarked on a brief life of crime with olympian level physical attributes and specialized equipment of his own design. His adversary was the Silver Age Batman who allowed him to "win" once he became aware that Mantle's life was nearing its end.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Sportsmaster I & II uses sporting-themed weapons such as exploding baseballs, flying bases, rocket baseball bats, knockout basketballs, lacrosse snare nets, exploding hockey pucks. Their outfits generally included a baseball cap, pitcher's mask, padded jersey, pitcher's chestguard, football-style pants, and cleetes. Each of the Sportsmasters and Sportsmen had superb physical attributes on par with Olympian level athletes in their prime.
[edit] Other media
The Justice League animated series 2-part episode "Legends" featured the Sportsman, a character inspired by the Sportsmaster. He was played by Michael McKean
Later, Sportsmaster made a brief appearance as the first opponent seen being defeated by Wildcat in the secret metahuman tournament Meta-Brawl held by Roulette.
In the Batman Adventures comic (set in the DC Animated Universe) Sportsmaster appeared as one of Black Mask's lieutenants.
