Boston’s Sports Mt. Rushmore
It’s not a new debate, but still one that can get fans talking and often arguing, especially when it comes to a personal favorite. In the rich and extensive history of professional sports in the city of Boston (and Foxboro) who are the best of the best? Who are the athletes that would belong in the Hall of Fame’s Hall of Fame? What greats of the games have surpassed records and rings and dipped into the national conscious and become pop culture icons? Before I breakdown my list, let me explain how the rankings would go:
Bit Players
Examples: Bill Walton, Curtis Martin, Corey Dillon, Orlando Cabrera, Dave Roberts, ML Carr and Darryl Stingley. For one reason or another these athletes had short (some very short) stays in Boston. Their contributions, however, will never be forgotten. Guys like Corey Dillon and Orlando Cabrera complemented championship teams during their brief stays, while Dave Roberts’ one play has immortalized him forever.
Maybe one day
Examples: Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, Wade Boggs, Lawyer Milloy and Mo Vaughn. These would-be greats are kind of stuck in limbo in the hearts of Boston sports fans, most of them because they went on to become Yankees. While Boston has more or less made peace with Wade Boggs, the image of him riding a horse after winning a ring with New York and talking about retiring as a Devil Ray still leaves a bad taste in some mouths. Others, like Lawyer Milloy and Mo Vaughn had bitter departures.
Underrated
Examples: Robert Parish, Bobby Doerr, Jimmy Foxx, Nomar Garciaparra, Jo Jo White, Mike Haynes, Mike Vrabel, Andre Tippett, Ben Coats, Paul Pierce, Lional Hitchman, Dit Clapper, Jim Rice, Wayne Cashman, Warren Spahn, Bruce Armstrong, Jim Lee Hunt and Bob Dee. Most of these greats are hall of famers in their own sports. They are, however, for one reason or anther never fully appreciated for their greatness. Parish was always over shadowed by Bird and McHale. Clapper, Hitchman and Cashman are victims of a decrease in interest in the Bruins. Jo Jo White and Mike Vrabel have the rings and the incredible performances, but are never the first ones out of your mouth when you talk about the greatness of their teams.
Beloved
Examples: Dennis Johnson, John Bucyk, Drew Bledsoe, Steve Grogan, Tommy Heinsohn, Gino Cappelletti, Brad Park, Louis Tiant, Dwight Evans, Terry O'Reilly, Tony Conigliaro, Gerry Cheevers, Cedric Maxwell, David Ortiz, Rodney Harrison, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Tedy Bruschi, Steve Nelson, Troy Brown, Stanley Morgan, Milt Schmidt, Fred Lynn, and Bill Lee. These stars were truly great in Boston, but not necessarily receiving of national praise. Evans and Maxwell may not be in the hall of fame, but when fans in the Hub wax nostalgic about their favorites these are the ones that they named their dogs and cats after. Battles have been fought to put Gino and Tony C into halls of fame, while El Tiante is so beloved people ignore the fact that he spent two years with the Yankees.
2nd Level
Examples: Carl Yastrzemski, Bob Cousy, Adam Vinatieri, Phil Esposito, Cam Neeley, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Manny Ramirez, Carlton Fisk, Kevin McHale, Pedro Martinez, John Hannah, Ray Bourque, Richard Seymour, Marvin Hagler and Eddie Shore. In any other city these guys would be on the mountain. Hog Hannah may be the best lineman of all time and Adam may be the greatest leg ever, but they both played the less glamorous rolls of football. Bourque had to win his cup elsewhere, while Yaz was the closest on this list to be considered a Mount Rushmore pick.
Mount Rushmore
Ted Williams: Perhaps the most recognizable sports figure from Boston, nationally. Teddy Ballgame is a legendary figure with his .406 season and his 2 triple crowns and his on-base percentage (only now getting the full appreciation it deserves). Not to mention that he spent a huge chunk of his career away fighting in World War II and Korea. The amazing thing about how great Ted was, and how he is remembered, is that he never won a ring (only played in the 1946 Series). He was not much of an outfielder, and during his playing days wasn’t a huge fan favorite. The media hated him so much that he missed out on what could have been several MVP season, but yet only has 2 and neither came during his triple crown years.
Bobby Orr: He was barely a teen when he was signed by the Bruins, but when he hit the NHL at the age of 18, he changed the sport forever. Suddenly the speedy kid from Parry Sound, Ontario, was taking the puck from net to net, and won eight straight Norris trophies. After brining the Stanley Cup home to Boston in 1970 with his famous flight across the Boston Garden ice, hockey rinks were thrown up all over New England. A humble attitude and another cup in 1972 (the last the Bruins have won) have made Bobby, perhaps, Boston’s most beloved athlete.
Larry Bird: Even after years of Michael Jordan’s dominance and Larry’s exile to the Pacers, Bird is still called the best ever by many Boston basketball fans. He was everything you loved about being a Celtics fan. He would bust his ass just as hard during a regular season game in Baltimore as he did playing the Lakers in the finals. And he never seemed to miss when the game was on the line. 3 Rings, 3 straight MVPs and a library of highlights that you would never expect from a slow, white guy in the NBA.
Bill Russell: It is amazing to think that there would be any debate on this one. Sure Russell and the city of Boston may have butted heads during the racially heated 60s, but the ice appears to have thawed as new generations learned of his 11 titles in 13 years. He is the greatest winner in the history of team sports. He invented the blocked shot and created defense in the early days of the NBA. And yet he is often over looked in the discussion of who is the all time greatest because of his size compared to today’s NBA stars. In a recent interview on WBZ’s Sports Final, Russell said he agrees that there were better players, “But I won all the games.”
Tom Brady: Some may argue that Brady is too young to be placed among the city’s elite. That may be true, but does anyone see him slowing down? He’s been in the league for 7 seasons and has 3 rings. 2 MVPs from the Super Bowl and is dating Gisele (that should count for something). He is the face of the NFL at their most popular point in history, the way Bird was the face of the NBA in the 80s and he’s got Orr’s personality and Bill Russell’s drive. He keeps it up and they’ll name a tunnel after him like Ted.
Rocky Marciano: The Brocton Blockbuster may be the most underrated icon in the history of boxing. He is the only undefeated champion in the history of the sweet science at 49-0. He had epic KOs that still rattles the bones of viewers on ESPN Classic. His bouts were epics as he was often knocked down early, only to comeback and put his opponent on the floor. And as the elderly Jewish gentleman so eloquently put it in Coming to America: “He beat Joe Louis’ ass!”