My personal Mt. Rushmore of American Sports with credit to our northern counterparts:
Jimmy Brown (edging out runner-up Terry Bradshaw by considerable margin), U. San Fran's own Bill Russell, Bobby Orr (narrowly edging out Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, and Rocket Richard despite his too short career), and Jack Nicklaus (cause he was a fine hoopster, and footballer, not just a golfer). If there was room for a 5th, Rocky Marciano hands down even though the younger Sugar Ray (Leonard not Robinson) was a personal favorite on style, and if a 6th I guess I'd have to debate between Boston's Splendid Splinter with his USMC interrupted career, San Fran's Say Hey Kid, and Jackie Robinson of America's Former Favorite Pastime fame. None of them were boring.
You left a few off the list...
Sporting News listed the top 50 coaches of all time in all sports. Number 1: John Wooden (who is in the hall of fame as a player and as a coach...he was the best college player in the country his senior year). Good that you included UCLA multi-sport athlete Jackie Robinson. Where is Roger Federer, Kareem (6 time MVP, one more than Jordan), Rafer Johnson? |
