View Full Version : ALL: Mount Rushmore of Sports
VoxAngelikus
01-16-2009, 10:20 AM
ESPN is having some gay fan-voting thing called the Mount Rushmore of Sports, where you vote on which sports stars you think would go on Mount Rushmore, if Mount Rushmore were dedicated solely to sports.
Well, fuck ESPN. I think ESPN sucks a big dick. And just like they steal people's stories, I'm stealing their shit right here and now.
I would suggest that everyone do the following:
Name your all-time Mount Rushmore of sports - the four athletes from any sport who would be carved into the mountainside.
But to make things a little more exciting, who would you consider your finalists from the following sports (add anything I'm forgetting):
NBA
MLB
NHL
NFL
Tennis (men/women)
Golf (men/women)
NASCAR
F1
Soccer
Olympics (men/women)
Other?
NBA: Michael Jordan
MLB: Babe Ruth
NHL: I dunno, Gretzky?
NFL: Toughie
Golf: Woods or Nicklaus
NASCAR: Who the fuck cares
F1: No idea
Soccer: Pele? What the fuck do I know.
Olympics: *shrug*
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:28 AM
4 people for ALL sports? Really?
Well...hmmm...I'd probably go with Jim Thorpe, Ted Williams, Mohammed Ali, and Michael Jordan.
VoxAngelikus
01-16-2009, 10:31 AM
NBA - Michael Jordan
MLB - Babe Ruth
NHL - Wayne Gretzky
NFL - you know.... I don't know. Montana? LT (the original)?
Tennis - W: Martina Navratilova / M: Martina Navratilova
Golf - W: Annika Sorenstam / M: Tiger Woods (too early for him? Ha... like I'd put a fucking golfer on my Mt. Rushmore, anyway)
NASCAR - Jimmie Johnson
F1 - Tom Pryce (ha ha)
Soccer - Pele
Olympics - Your mother
Other? Stone Cold Steve Austin
Coach/Manager - Vince Lombardi
College - Dean Smith
EDIT: Boxing - Muhammed Ali
My Mt. Rushmore would go like this:
Jordan. Gretzky. Ruth. Jennie Finch.
Maybe, instead of one Mt. Rushmore, you can just list your top 4 in each sport?
redsox39
01-16-2009, 10:33 AM
NBA Jordan
MLB Ted Williams
NHL Gretzsky
NFL Montana/Walter Peyton
Tennis (men/women) - Sampras/Billie Jean King
Golf (men/women) Jack/ Women Golf?
NASCAR - Dale #3
F1 - Some guy named Mario
Soccer - Pele
Olympics (men/women) The 1980 hockey Coach/ some little girl in a leotard
Other? Lance Armstrong?
4 people for ALL sports? Really?
Well...hmmm...I'd probably go with Jim Thorpe, Ted Williams, Mohammed Ali, and Michael Jordan.
On what planet would you say Williams and not Ruth?
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:34 AM
It's more fun to do it for all sports.
My choices went with those who revolutionized sports in general. That's the main reason I went with Thorpe and MJ and Ali, and why I went with Williams over any other baseball player.
Although, Tiger Woods is real close to being up there. Dude's done more for golf than 99.99% of athletes have done for their sports. Also...there should totally be a 5th option for Hulk Hogan. Or at least at the bottom of this new Mt. Rushmore...have it say "Hulkamania" or something.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:36 AM
Williams > Ruth in my book. Everyone looked up to Williams, and he did a LOT for the game, and still does.
Just because Ruth has better stats, doesn't mean he was more influential. Same goes for the 4 presidents on the real Rushmore.
Plus...it's my own god damn rock.
It's more fun to do it for all sports.
My choices went with those who revolutionized sports in general. That's the main reason I went with Thorpe and MJ and Ali, and why I went with Williams over any other baseball player.
What did Williams revolutionize about baseball? He was very very good and wrote a book on the Science of hitting, but what did he personally change. Revolutionary players for baseball, I would think, would be King Kelly, Babe Ruth, Jose Canseco, and maybe Bob Gibson (although he wasn't really the big reason for the 68 rules change he sort of gets credit for it because of his crazy season).
Williams > Ruth in my book. Everyone looked up to Williams, and he did a LOT for the game, and still does.
Just because Ruth has better stats, doesn't mean he was more influential. Same goes for the 4 presidents on the real Rushmore.
Plus...it's my own god damn rock.
Seriously what did Williams do that Ruth didn't?
VoxAngelikus
01-16-2009, 10:40 AM
If we're going for athletes who revolutionized sports, then my Mt. Rushmore would be Jordan, Gretzky, and Tiger Woods, with Blackie Robinson and Muhammed Ali tied for that fifth spot.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:42 AM
The dude had the perfect swing. He was the perfect hitter. Ruth was unnaturally good...but he was just a big fat drunk slob (=awesome)
When you hear about guys playing today having "almost perfect" swings....they refer back to Williams. Not Ruth.
Ruth was a better baseball player. But Ted Williams is more of a statue of what baseball IS. He better showcases what baseball is, IMO, than Ruth.
Like I said...it's my own damn rock.
The dude had the perfect swing. He was the perfect hitter. Ruth was unnaturally good...but he was just a big fat drunk slob (=awesome)
When you hear about guys playing today having "almost perfect" swings....they refer back to Williams. Not Ruth.
Ruth was a better baseball player. But Ted Williams is more of a statue of what baseball IS. He better showcases what baseball is, IMO, than Ruth.
Like I said...it's my own damn rock.
Ken Griffey has a perfect swing too. He's an all-time great and a HoFer but I don't think anyone is confusing him with Babe Ruth.
Phil Theehor
01-16-2009, 10:47 AM
Homerism aside, the reason you'd put Williams on the mountain is that he is in the "best ever" conversation for two completely different sports.
However, I would put Ruth on the mountain over Williams. If you are using "four most iconic athletes" as your criteria, then Ruth gets the nod.
And using the icon barometer as opposed to "most accomplished", I put Ali, Tiger & Jordan on the mountain as well.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:47 AM
Ken Griffey has a perfect swing too. He's an all-time great and a HoFer but I don't think anyone is confusing him with Babe Ruth.
You just made my point.
There are quite a few players I'd put up there before Robinson. Like I said...this isn't stats driven. That makes it too easy. I'm not looking just at the "best" in their sports.
Plus...for the last fucking time, it's my own fucking rock. If I want to put Marcus Giles up there I fucking can.
redsox39
01-16-2009, 10:49 AM
Ken Griffey has a perfect swing too. He's an all-time great and a HoFer but I don't think anyone is confusing him with Babe Ruth.
It hurts to agree with Mike, But Ted Williams was baseball. Ted Williams is the American in "American Pastime". He was the best player of his era, then he fought in the war because he wanted to, came back, still was a stud, Hit .400 and said "peace out."
That guy is a hero, on and off the field.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 10:50 AM
That's EXACTLY why he'd be on my rock instead of Ruth.
Phil Theehor
01-16-2009, 10:51 AM
It hurts to agree with Mike, But Ted Williams was baseball. Ted Williams is the American in "American Pastime". He was the best player of his era, then he fought in the war because he wanted to, came back, still was a stud, Hit .400 and said "peace out."
That guy is a hero, on and off the field.
I forgot that in my post. Ted Williams was the guy that John Wayne played in the movies.
redsox39
01-16-2009, 10:51 AM
But if it is just my rock, I'll have Ted Williams, Carl Yaz, Mike Greenwell, and Jim Rice all teabagging Babe Ruth, Jeter, Arod, and Steinbrenner.
Because its my fucking rock.
Homerism aside, the reason you'd put Williams on the mountain is that he is the "best ever" conversation for two completely different sports.
However, I would put Ruth on the mountain over Williams. If you are using "four most iconic athletes" as your criteria, then Ruth gets the nod.
And using the icon barometer as opposed to "most accomplished", I put Ali, Tiger & Jordan on the mountain as well.
"Big Lip Mountain"?
VoxAngelikus
01-16-2009, 11:00 AM
Mount Lip-more
TheImpossibleMan
01-16-2009, 11:01 AM
Ruth was not only better than Williams as a rate player (as in, per game, per season, he was better), he was vastly better as a totals player (since Williams missed so much time due to the war). Ruth also changed the way the game was played. He's by far the most important player in the game's history - by far. Putting any other baseball player up is stupid.
The way ESPN is doing it is by having you sent in the top three players from your state, then holding a general poll and having people vote for the fourth. I'd send in Cal Ripken Jr., Johnny Unitas, and Ray Lewis, then vote for either Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson or Wes Unseld for the fourth guy. If I had to do four across every sport, I'd go...
NFL - Johnny Unitas
NBA - Michael Jordan
MLB - Babe Ruth
NHL - Gretzky
You just made my point.
There are quite a few players I'd put up there before Robinson. Like I said...this isn't stats driven. That makes it too easy. I'm not looking just at the "best" in their sports.
Plus...for the last fucking time, it's my own fucking rock. If I want to put Marcus Giles up there I fucking can.
It being "your rock" doesn't mean it can't be judged.
And Ruth was just as much "baseball" as Williams before Williams stepped onto a Major League field.
And no I DIDN'T make your point. Griffey had a pretty swing, would you put him on your rock? Williams didn't revolutionize anything (like a Jackie Robinson, who I stupidly forgot on my list of revolutionary players) he was just GREAT. That's fine, but for someone whose making a case based on greatness I would think you would take the greatEST (Ruth).
Ruth was not only better than Williams as a rate player (as in, per game, per season, he was better), he was vastly better as a totals player (since Williams missed so much time due to the war). Ruth also changed the way the game was played. He's by far the most important player in the game's history - by far. Putting any other baseball player up is stupid.
The way ESPN is doing it is by having you sent in the top three players from your state, then holding a general poll and having people vote for the fourth. I'd send in Cal Ripken Jr., Johnny Unitas, and Ray Lewis, then vote for either Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson or Wes Unseld for the fourth guy. If I had to do four across every sport, I'd go...
NFL - Johnny Unitas
NBA - Michael Jordan
MLB - Babe Ruth
NHL - Gretzky
Looks good to me, other than I don't know what to do with the NFL. Unitas seems a decent choice.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 11:05 AM
You are basing it solely on stats. Williams was more of a man, and meant more to the american people than Ruth ever did. PERIOD.
If this was going to just be stat-based, then yeah...you might as well just find the flashy players. Might as well put Barry Bonds up there too, although you'd have to build an extra part to add the rest of his head.
redsox39
01-16-2009, 11:08 AM
You are basing it solely on stats. Williams was more of a man, and meant more to the american people than Ruth ever did. PERIOD.
If this was going to just be stat-based, then yeah...you might as well just find the flashy players. Might as well put Barry Bonds up there too, although you'd have to build an extra part to add the rest of his head.
Sometimes we forget we are talking to a Yankee nation, a nation who can only name 7 players before 1960 and they are all Yankees except for that scrub Ted Williams.
No one cares about hockey
Hanover Fist
01-16-2009, 11:24 AM
Lance Armstrong
Jesse Owens
Ty Cobb
Jim Thorpe
Sometimes we forget we are talking to a Yankee nation, a nation who can only name 7 players before 1960 and they are all Yankees except for that scrub Ted Williams.
Yes, clearly my problem is I'm not familiar with baseball history. I clearly don't spend ENOUGH time thinking about baseball.
You are basing it solely on stats. Williams was more of a man, and meant more to the american people than Ruth ever did. PERIOD.
If this was going to just be stat-based, then yeah...you might as well just find the flashy players. Might as well put Barry Bonds up there too, although you'd have to build an extra part to add the rest of his head.
Then how about Stan Musial? He was so much "The Man" that that was his nickname. And he went off to war too.
TheImpossibleMan
01-16-2009, 11:42 AM
Please, all this Williams love about how "he WAS baseball!" was invented long after Williams was retired. Williams was hated in his day, both by Boston media and by the national audience. It's funny that you mentioned Bonds, because in many ways Williams actually has more in common with him than Ruth.
TheImpossibleMan
01-16-2009, 11:43 AM
And I don't know what the fuck "more of a man" means.
Phil Theehor
01-16-2009, 11:51 AM
Quiet, TiM, the adults are talking.
He's right, though. Ted Williams was pretty heavily disliked by many during his time playing the game.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 12:01 PM
Then how about Stan Musial? He was so much "The Man" that that was his nickname. And he went off to war too.
As often as I get called out around here by being called a "homer"...me NOT picking a Cardinal should explain a lot.
Just let it go, Stax. You go off of stats. I go off of truthiness.
Phil Theehor
01-16-2009, 12:02 PM
I know. From everything I've read, he could be an ornery cuss. But numbnuts just crossed the line into blashpemy.
And for the record (I'll repeat), I put Ruth on the mountain.
As often as I get called out around here by being called a "homer"...me NOT picking a Cardinal should explain a lot.
Just let it go, Stax. You go off of stats. I go off of truthiness.
I don't know what was truthy about your post. He wasn't the better player, he wasn't better liked, he wasn't more revolutionary.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 12:05 PM
You just really want to fucking argue with me, don't you?
I HAVE HIM ON MY ROCK BECAUSE I SAID SO. NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM.
You just really want to fucking argue with me, don't you?
I HAVE HIM ON MY ROCK BECAUSE I SAID SO. NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM.
Ok, my Rock:
MLB: Robinson Cano
NFL: Chad Pennington
NHL: Chad Pennington AGAIN BECAUSE HE'S SO AWESOME
NBA: Bo Jackson (who the fuck cares what sports he really played)
DON'T ARGUE, IT'S MY ROCK!
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 12:09 PM
See...now there you go. I call you a retard, and we are back to square one. Was that really so fucking hard?
TheImpossibleMan
01-16-2009, 12:11 PM
I know. From everything I've read, he could be an ornery cuss. But numbnuts just crossed the line into blashpemy.
And for the record (I'll repeat), I put Ruth on the mountain.
He was hated in his time, despite superstar status, another in a long line of unpopular superstars, like Ty Cobb or Manny (that's right, I just compared Manny to Teddy, bitch).
As often as I get called out around here by being called a "homer"...me NOT picking a Cardinal should explain a lot.
Just let it go, Stax. You go off of stats. I go off of truthiness.
You're the George W. Bush or sports fans.
mongo
01-16-2009, 12:11 PM
do they base whole movies around ted williams? yeah, i didn't think so.
also, "the splendid splinter" is a stupid nickname.
Penguin Rick
01-16-2009, 12:11 PM
It's best to do all sports combined. I'm going to do that since I play for keeps.
Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali
He was hated in his time, despite superstar status, another in a long line of unpopular superstars, like Ty Cobb or Manny (that's right, I just compared Manny to Teddy, bitch).
Cool couple articles on a similar subject:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/yaz-v-manny/
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/yaz-v-manny-part-2-defense-counts/
do they base whole movies around ted williams? yeah, i didn't think so.
also, "the splendid splinter" is a stupid nickname.
Pepper Martin (http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/martipe01.shtml) wins just about all nickname wars. "The Wild Horse Of The Osage"
What the fuck?!
TheImpossibleMan
01-16-2009, 12:14 PM
Maryland's Rock, on ESPN, will probably end up being Cal, Unitas, Brooks Robinson, and Ray Lewis.
mongo
01-16-2009, 12:14 PM
i think i'm gonna watch the sandlot tonight.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 12:28 PM
Maryland's Rock, on ESPN, will probably end up being Cal, Unitas, Brooks Robinson, and Ray Lewis.
Oklahoma's rock is probably Top 5 out of the nation. That's pretty awesome.
Jim Thorpe
Mickey Mantle
Barry Sanders
John Smith
mongo
01-16-2009, 12:31 PM
Oklahoma's rock is probably Top 5 out of the nation. That's pretty awesome.
Jim Thorpe
Mickey Mantle
Barry Sanders
John Smith
you are such a fucking homer. gtfo.
ShitBreak
01-16-2009, 12:35 PM
Nigggga please.
VoxAngelikus
01-16-2009, 01:25 PM
I'm in New Jersey. So that means I get the Devils and Nets to pick from. But do I also get the NY Giants and NY Jets, seeing as how there games are played in NJ?
Football: Walter Camp? Steve Young?
Baseball: Mo Vaughn?
Basketball: Marcus Camby? Calvin Murphy? (for all UConn's awesomeness, dang)
Boxing: Mike Tyson? Willie Pep?
Tennis: James Blake
Man, CT kind of stinks past Camp and Young.
Swurgen
01-16-2009, 03:55 PM
Williams > Ruth in my book. Everyone looked up to Williams, and he did a LOT for the game, and still does.
Just because Ruth has better stats, doesn't mean he was more influential. Same goes for the 4 presidents on the real Rushmore.
Plus...it's my own god damn rock.
I just want to know what ol Ted's been up to lately.