Recently, thanks to LeBron James, there has been a lot of talk about the Mount Rushmore of sports. Mount Rushmore of sports meaning the 4 best players of a particular sport. LeBron was referring to the NBA obviously but watching sports television, they have carried the conversation to other sports. This is of course right up my alley so I felt obliged to weigh in with my Mount Rushmore of sports for the four major US sports.
I want to mention a few caveats and notes to people who don’t know me personally or the extent of my sports history knowledge. First, I have a photographic memory for stats, dates and other useless facts. I am 35 years old and watch all sports religiously. Obviously I didn’t see older generations of players play in person but I have a great idea of their historical significance and place in that sports’ history.
I also want to acknowledge that I have not taken into account steroids, and don’t hold lack of championships against a player. I have picked the best players in my view of all time in that sport based on their play on the field/court/ice. So here we go in no particular order.
Baseball
Babe Ruth is a no brainer, no argument, and automatic inclusion in the Mount Rushmore of baseball. He is unquestionably, by all metrics, the greatest baseball player of all time. His numbers, stats, personality and even his pitching made him the icon that he still is today.
Willie Mays is not a no brainer but he’s pretty close. He is generally considered the greatest center fielder of all time and believe me there’s some pretty good competition at that position. His 660 home runs after missing a few years for the war are legendary and his athleticism is perhaps the best of all time. The ‘Say Hey Kid’ gets a spot on the Mount Rushmore of baseball.
Barry Bonds is the greatest hitter that most of us have ever seen. Believe me, I am well aware of the steroid issues plaguing him but for the purposes of this article, he gets on Mount Rushmore because his best seasons and his career stack up ahead of or right behind Babe Ruth. Barry Bonds was an unbelievable hitter, the best I’ve ever seen.
Walter Johnson is the best pitcher of all time. While there are many baseball players that could warrant inclusion, a pitcher had to be selected, and there has never been a better one than the Big Train. 417 wins, a 2.17 era and 110 shutouts are unreal stats. I put him just ahead of Roger Clemens, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver and others but Johnson is on Mount Rushmore.
Football
Jerry Rice is the only 100% no doubt, there can be no argument choice in football. He was and still is the best player to ever play in the NFL and his records may never be approached. The all-time touchdown and receiving leader, former Superbowl MVP and 3-time champion is the George Washington of the NFL Mount Rushmore.
Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player of all time in my mind. He changed the position of linebacker and led the New York Giants to two Superbowl championships. LT was the most feared defensive player I ever saw and barely edges out Dick Butkus, Reggie White, Deion Sanders and Ray Lewis as the top defensive player ever. LT gets a spot on Mount Rushmore and I don’t think it’s very debatable.
Barry Sanders, in my view, is the greatest running back of all time. He did more with less than anyone ever. His teams were always bad and were only half as good as they were because of him. Sanders was must see TV and I would watch a meaning Detroit Lions game just to watch him play. This pick is debatable of course as Barry never won a Superbowl or even played in one. Notable challengers to this spot on Mount Rushmore are Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton but to me; Sanders gets the spot.
Peyton Manning is the greatest Quarterback of all time. When all is said and done, he will own every passing record there is. He has won a Superbowl, even though he’s lost two but he has also won 5 MVP’s and arguably could’ve won 2 others. Peyton is the most debatable member of the football Mount Rushmore as you could easily argue Joe Montana, John Elway, Tom Brady, Brett Favre and a few others. For me, Manning gets the spot on the mountain.
Basketball
Michael Jordan is the start and end of this conversation and cannot be argued. Even the most hardened Jordan hater would still include him on the NBA Mount Rushmore; he was that good and honestly could’ve done a lot more if he didn’t retire a few times!
Wilt Chamberlain has stats that dwarf anyone else in the history of basketball. He once averaged 50+ points over a whole season! He scored 100 points in an NBA game and was the most physically dominating player in history; possibly in any sport. Wilt the Stilt won 2 championships and has his number retired by three teams. Wilt is on the mountain.
Magic Johnson was the best point guard I ever saw. He won 5 NBA championships and 3 MVP’s. He beat Larry Bird head to head in the finals twice and he led the Showtime Lakers. Magic lost time because of his HIV diagnosis and could’ve done even more. He was a fierce competitor and a great leader. To me, Magic is on the mountain although it is not 100%.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has to be on the Mount Rushmore of basketball. He is the all-time leading scorer; won 6 championships and had an indefensible shot that couldn’t be stopped. While he is by no means a slam-dunk choice here and Bill Russell people are going to go nuts, to me he has to be on the mountain. Apologies to Russell, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and LeBron James.
Hockey
Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time and holds pretty much every scoring record there is. The man can make every shot of his a home run with the field with the best field hockey stick in his hand. He was the most dominant player of any sport-ever. His goals and assist records will never be approached. He won 4 Stanley Cups and is unquestionably the best player ever and cannot be argued.
Gordie Howe played in every decade from the 40’s to the 80’s; he won 6 MVP’s and was the best players in the league for decades. Gordie had over 800 goals and even played for the Hartford Whalers. Howe is generally considered the second best ever player and warrants inclusion on the Mount Rushmore of hockey.
Mario Lemieux was a beast. He was talented, tough and a great leader. His Pittsburgh Penguin teams won 2 Stanley Cups and he was an MVP 3 times and even ended Gretzky’s run of 8 straight. Lemieux made everyone else better and he was the second best player I ever saw.
Bobby Orr was the greatest defenseman to ever play hockey. He won 3 MVP’s for the Boston Bruins and had perhaps the greatest photo ever taken in hockey where he was parallel to the ground scoring a goal. I include Orr because of his position but I think either way he edges out Mark Messier, Maurice Richard, Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito, Bobby or Brett Hull. Orr is on the mountain.
There’s no way you can pick Peyton after that Superbowl. Pretty much anyone else I would go along with but not him. That’s 2 awful Superbowls he’s had…what about Elway or Montana?
Elway lost 3 Superbowls and in my opinion he is the 2nd best QB ever and perhaps the most talented. Montana was unquestionably great, especially in the Superbowl going 4-0 with 3 MVP’s but I don’t consider him as great as the other two guys…I also out Brady ahead of Montana. You cannot just judge people on titles because everyone but Montana and Bradshaw has a blemish and nobody is claiming TB to be tops.
Walter Johnson-I have never even heard of that guy? What about Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle or Joe DiMaggio?!
Look him up, he was pretty good…those 3 are great but not as good as Mays…Mantle might have been had he stayed healthy
Mount Rushmore is tough, especially in sports like baseball, football and basketball because there are many different positions and factors. I have to ay this is a pretty good list but I disagree with a few. First, I don’t follow hockey but I do appreciate that you gave a Whaler a picture on the list.
I don’t think you can have 2 centers in the NBA on a 4 man list. I think center need to be counted separately. That way kareem, Wilt, Russell, Shaq, Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson and Moses can all be judged as 7 footers.
Oscar Robertson has to be on the mountain because he averaged a triple double over a year and I think Kobe gets on ahead of Magic because Magic never won without Kareem and Kobe won without Shaq.
I totally agree
Brady not Manning; Brown not Sanders; Russell not Kareem; Bird not Magic
OK all fair choices
Emmitt over Barry but otherwise I pretty much agree but ya Manning is a weak choice-best regular season QB ever but can’t ignore struggles in playoffs
I can’t get behind EMmitt because of the line he had but he was obviously a great RB and killed the Giants
I just can’t accept Barry Bonds
ok
Great post but I gotta disagree with Manning
who would you put instead?
Interesting discussion. I think it would be impossible to do something like this because fans would yell about all the great players who got left out. I’d want to see Joe Montana for football.
One point that demands a response: Gretzky “unquestionably the best player ever and cannot be argued”? Think again. Lots of hockey enthusiasts, myself included, have no doubt that Lemieux was the more dominant player. Gretzky played with Hall of Famers while Lemieux was playing with nobodies for the first half of his career. Had it not been for all his injuries, Lemieux would have eclipsed many of Wayne’s records. Gretzky is the “greatest” because of his longevity, but Lemieux was “the best.”
Scott, you could also argue that most of those guys were made great because of Gretzky…remember he has the most assists as well. Lemieux was awesome for sure and as I said on Mt Rushmore but not possible to put him ahead of Gretzky and also after Gretzky left LA, he didn’t do anything so the longevity thing doesn’t fly much with me as he had already established all his marks more or less…always a fun discussion though.
LT made defense fun…great post agree or not on others
Yes he did!
Emmitt over Barry but otherwise I pretty much agree but ya Manning is a weak choice-best regular season QB ever but can’t ignore struggles in playoffs
I like Gordie Howe in the Whalers Uniform. Do you remember the Whalers game we went to in high school, Lee, circa 1994 or 1995? I think they actually won! I wish they’d bring them back… Also, I’d like to see your Mount Rushmore for tennis.
Doug Rowe, what’s up my man! Yes of course I remember and ya they did win!
My Mt Rushmore for tennis is Federer, Laver, Nadal and Sampras…Borg just misses as he only won the French and Wimbledon and retired way too early.
WHile I’m at it, for golf it’d be Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Player with Watson and Hagen just missing because they didn’t win all 4 majors.
Emmitt over Barry but otherwise I pretty much agree but ya Manning is a weak choice-best regular season QB ever but can’t ignore struggles in playoffs
I Think Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a very good player but sometimes, he isn’t good player.there is condition problem.My friend, you sould hard training
I think the hockey list is great, but I always argue Mark Messier’s place. Gretzky left the Oilers and Messier still took them to another championship. Gretzky would never win again, but Messier went to New York and won a 6th championship.
I’m not even arguing against Gretzky being removed, but I’m not sure how the list of greatest Evers seems to allay miss the all-time greatest captain, 2nd career points leader and a guy with 6 rings.
Mt. Rushmore of Sports
1. Michael Jordan
2. Tom Brady
3. Tiger Woods
4. Lance Armstrong
Runners Up:
Football: Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice
Baseball: TY Cobb, Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Derrick Jeter, Jackie Robinson
Basketball: Wilt, Kareem, Bill Russell
Tennis: Federer
Golf: Jack Nicolas
Olympics: jessie Owens, Michael Phelps
Soccer: Messi
Hockey: Greztky
Boxing: Ali
Auto Racing: A J Foyt
Coaches: Lombardi, Wooden
NCCA: Tim Tebow, Bo Jackson, Herschal Walker, Bill Walton
Announcers: Harry Carry, Vince Scully, Curt Gowdy, Keith Jackson, John Madden